Outlets can become loose for many reasons, which can be frustrating to deal with. Loose outlets can cause fires and electrical shocks. However, there are many different ways to resolve this problem. If you are unfamiliar with these fixes, or if the outlet is located in a difficult-to-reach location, you may call an electrician.
If you would like to fix it yourself, follow this guide. In this article, I will share the most common causes of loose outlets and offer solutions on how to solve them without seeking assistance.
Why Is My Outlet Loose?
First of all, you need to know that every electrical outlet is mounted within the wall attached to an electrical box. In some cases, the wall space for the box is more profound, so the box must be mounted appropriately.
The stability of the entire set may be poor. That’s why your outlet becomes loose, so whenever you plug something into the outlet and take it out, you see that the whole outlet box is wobbling. This can cause serious safety hazards, including leakage into the wire, damaging the entire setup, or loose wire of the main electric panel. Wires can spark or shock you when touching the board. It also can be an issue of fire and other safety hazards.
Tools needed
It would help if you have these tools in your bag. Otherwise, you can’t fix a loose outlet.
Steps Before Start Fixing Loose Outlets
How To Fix a Wobbled Outlet?
You can use a box extender that will work and fill in some of the slack. What the box extender will do is, it will just fill the empty place between the box and the outlet. This will ensure that the outlet doesn’t go inside when you plug something into it.
If the box extender is insufficient to fill the space, tighten up the outlet with the container. If you still see loose outlets, you need to use outlet shims. Get the outlet shims and place them in between the screw hole and the box mounted within the wall.
Then screw up the outlet and the box together and see if it’s still wobbling or not. If you are not satisfied with the result, add more shims and get your desired outcome.
How To Fix a Plug That Falls Out?
If the receptacle is loose, the plugs will constantly come out from the outlet, or the outlet will not hold the plugs. There are two narrow slots in the receptacles that keep the pins from falling out.
When you use an outlet for years, the slots of the receptacles become wider.
This means that the pins can’t hold tight enough so the plug falls out. Also, worn-out outlets and receptacles can produce sparks or shock, resulting in fires. If the receptacles are loose, you can replace them. There are a lot of inexpensive outlets on the market with child protection cases inside.
How to Replace an Outlet?
Replacing an outlet is a straightforward thing to do. All you need to do is, unscrew the plate first and then unscrew the outlets from the box. After that, disconnect all the wires from the old outlet using your screwdriver. Make sure that the outlet does not have any power supply before proceeding.
Then take the newly purchased one and connect the wires the same way they were attached to the older one. Before joining the new one, you can cut off a small portion of the cables. Then screw up the new outlet within the box, and lastly, attach the outside plate to the outlet.
At the end of the post, having a loose outlet in your home can cause some serious electrical hazards. It is unsafe for your children, and you are also not safe to use them. It’s best to fix your loose outlets or call an electrical expert before you experience a spark, shock, fire, or other issues.
