Alexei Volkov
Replacing a plastic outlet box can be a simple task, but it requires careful attention to avoid further problems. The first step is to turn off the circuit to the outlet at the main service panel. The next steps involve removing the screws holding the outlet cover to the wall, exposing the wiring and outlet box, and removing the screws holding the outlet in the box. To access the screws that hold the wires to the outlet, pull the outlet from the box. After making a note of the wire placement, loosen the terminal screws and detach the wires. The next step is to examine the area where the wires enter the box and turn any locknuts counterclockwise with pliers or fingers. If the box is plastic, use pliers to break the plastic tabs securing the wires. The final steps include removing the screws holding the outlet box in place, inserting the wires through the new box, and tightening the screws to secure the new box.
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What You'll Learn
Turn off the circuit to the outlet at the main service panel
Before you begin any electrical work, it is important to turn off the power to the circuit you will be working on. This is a critical safety measure to avoid electric shocks and short circuits.
To turn off the circuit to the outlet at the main service panel, first locate the electrical service panel. This is usually a grey metal box, found attached to one of the walls in or around your home, such as in the garage, basement, or outside of the house. It may be recessed into the wall in a closet or laundry area.
Once you have located the service panel, open the door. You should see rows of individual circuit breakers, which look like toggle switches, and possibly a larger main breaker above or below. The breakers will be labelled, indicating which parts of the house each controls. Identify the circuit breaker that controls the outlet you want to work on.
Now, turn off the circuit by flipping the toggle switch to the 'OFF' position. You should hear an audible click as the breaker turns off, and you may see a red or orange tab in a small window on the breaker.
Before you begin work, it is important to check that the power is indeed off. Use a non-contact voltage tester to check for power at the outlet. Hold the tester against the outlet, and if it beeps or flashes, the circuit is still live. If this is the case, ensure you have turned off the correct breaker, and if so, try resetting the breaker by toggling it to the 'OFF' position and then back to 'ON' again.
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Remove the duplex outlet cover and expose the wiring
To remove the duplex outlet cover and expose the wiring, start by turning off the circuit to the duplex outlet at the main service panel. You can then test for electricity still being present with a non-contact voltage tester. This type of tester will beep and flash if electricity is still there.
Next, remove the screws holding the duplex outlet cover to the wall. Once the screws are removed, carefully take off the cover to reveal the duplex outlet, the wiring, and the outlet box.
Now, you can begin to disconnect the wiring. First, pull the outlet from the box to access the screws that hold the wires to the outlet. Make a note of the wire placement or take a clear picture with a digital camera for reference when reconnecting the wires. Loosen the terminal screws and carefully pull the wires off the duplex outlet.
Finally, examine the area of the box where the wires enter. If you see locknuts, turn them counterclockwise with a pair of pliers or your fingers to release the wires. If you have a plastic duplex outlet box, you may need to use pliers to break the plastic tabs securing the wires in the box. With the wires disconnected and free, you have now exposed the wiring and can proceed to the next steps of replacing the plastic outlet box.
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Loosen the terminal screws and pull the wires off the outlet
Before starting work on your outlet box, it is important to ensure that you are comfortable working with electrical wires and that you have checked local building codes to confirm that this is a project you are allowed to complete yourself. You should also turn off the power for the circuit at the breaker box and test with a voltage tester to confirm that the power is off.
Now, to the task at hand: loosening the terminal screws and pulling the wires off the outlet. First, make a note of the wire placement or take a picture with a digital camera or your phone. This will help you remember how the wires were connected when it comes time to replace the outlet box.
Next, use a screwdriver to unscrew the terminal screws. Be careful not to touch the wires or terminals. Once the screws are loose, gently pull the wires off the outlet. If locknuts surround the wires, turn them counterclockwise with a pair of pliers or your fingers. If you have a plastic outlet box, you may need to use pliers to break the plastic tabs securing the wires in the box.
Once the wires are free, examine the area of the box where the wires enter. Look inside the box for any visible screws that hold the outlet box in place on the wall. You will need to remove these screws to release the outlet box from the wall stud. If you cannot locate any screws, you may need to break the box away from the wall stud.
Remember to bend the wires away from the interior of the box and place a sturdy piece of wood inside the box to avoid pinching the wires between the wood and the box.
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Remove the screws holding the outlet box in the wall
To remove the screws holding the outlet box in the wall, you will first need to turn off the circuit to the outlet at the main service panel. You can then remove the cover plate screw that is holding the plate to the wall. Next, remove the screws holding the outlet in the outlet box. Now, you can pull the outlet from the box to access the screws that hold the wires to the outlet. Loosen these terminal screws and pull the wires off the outlet.
At this point, you should examine the area of the box where the wires enter. If locknuts surround the wires, turn them counterclockwise with a pair of pliers or your fingers. If there are plastic tabs securing the wires in the box, use pliers to break them. Now, look inside the box for any visible screws that hold the outlet box in the wall. Remove these screws to release the outlet box from the wall stud. If there are no screws, you will need to break the box away from the wall stud.
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Push the new outlet box into the wall opening
When preparing to push the new outlet box into the wall opening, ensure that you have run the cables to the new box location. If the new outlet is a simple circuit extension, there will likely be just one NM-B electrical cable running from the last outlet location to the new box location. In more complicated wiring scenarios, you may require two cables. Ensure that the new lengths of cable are appropriately sized for the amperage of the circuit. There should be 8 to 12 inches of excess cable at the new wall opening.
Before feeding the cable into the new box, use a cable stripper to remove about 6 inches of the outer vinyl sheathing from the NM-B cable, exposing the conductors and the ground wire. Once the hole is cut in the wall for the box, feed the cable out through the wall opening. Position the template provided with the new remodel duplex outlet box over the opening left in the wall by the original box. Trace the template onto the wall if the hole in the wall is smaller than the template. Use a jabsaw to cut the drywall along the trace line if needed.
Now, push the new outlet box into the wall opening. Ensure that the wires are inserted through the openings in the back of the remodel duplex outlet box, at the top or bottom. The tabs connected at the box openings will keep the wires from pulling out of the box. Tighten the screw at the top of the remodel box and the one at the bottom. When you tighten these screws, two wings clamp to the back side of the drywall to hold the new electrical box in place.
After this, refer to your notes or digital picture for the proper wiring of your duplex outlet. Wrap the ends of the wires around the screws and tighten them. Screw wire nuts for safety onto the ends of the wires until you are ready to make the final connections.
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Frequently asked questions
First, turn off the circuit to the outlet at the main service panel. Remove the screws holding the outlet cover to the wall and then remove the cover to expose the wiring and outlet box. Remove the screws holding the outlet in the outlet box and pull the outlet from the box to access the screws holding the wires in place. Loosen these screws and remove the wires. Look inside the box for any visible screws holding the box in place and remove them to release the box from the wall. If there are no screws, you will need to break the box away from the wall stud. Insert the wires through the openings in the back of the new outlet box and push the new box into the wall opening. Tighten the screws at the top and bottom of the new box. Refer to your notes or a digital picture of the original wiring to reconnect the wires to the outlet. Wrap the ends of the wires around the screws and tighten them.
You will need a non-contact voltage tester, a digital camera or pen and paper for taking notes, pliers, a jabsaw, and a screwdriver.
You can avoid damaging your wall by using an old work electrical box, which is designed to be installed on walls that are already finished. These boxes have a fastening system that uses retention tabs and mounting ears to secure the box in place without needing to attach it directly to studs.
