Standard screwdriver
Electrical receptacle, of the same type as you are replacing
Wire strippers
Wire connector or crimped connector and tool, as needed
Electrical receptacles can break, particularly lower-end receptacles that are made of brittle plastic. "Push-in" terminals used in most of these lower-end receptacles can give an internal open circuit or an intermittent circuit. In a worst case scenario, a broken electrical receptacle can be a shock hazard or a fire hazard.
To find out if your receptacle is no longer working properly, you can test it using a voltmeter, plug-in tester, or even a lamp. If the receptacle is indeed no longer functioning correctly, it must be replaced.
1.
Turn the Power Off
Before working on the receptacle, turn off all electrical power to the receptacle outlet box by pulling the circuit breaker or fuse. Never work on a "live" receptacle.
2.
Remove the Cover Plate
Remove the screw or screws holding the cover plate to the receptacle. Then remove (and save) the screws from the top and bottom yokes of the receptacle, thereby freeing the receptacle itself. (Fig. 1)
3.
Pull Out the Receptacle
Pull out the broken receptacle from the outlet box; you'll probably be able to pull it out only a few inches. Loosen the terminal screws on the side of the receptacle and unfasten the wires. You need to remember how the wires were connected so that you can fasten them to the new receptacle in the same order. You may want to label each wire using a piece of tape. Standard receptacle wiring is that all red or black wires are fastened to the brass-colored screws and that the white wires fasten to the silver-colored screws. In addition, the green or bare copper wire is attached to the ground screw. Discard the old receptacle.
4.
Install the New Receptacle
Re-attach the hot and neutral wires to your new, high-quality receptacle. Twist the wire strands tight with your fingers, and then wrap them clockwise around the terminal screws (Fig. 2). Then, using a screwdriver, tighten the screws, locking them in place but being careful not to overtighten them so much that they become stripped. If you do strip out a terminal screw, the receptacle is ruined and you will need a new one.
5.
Attach the Ground Wire
Fasten the ground wire (green or bare copper wire) to the ground screw of the new receptacle. Because the ground screw should only accept one wire, if several ground wires exist in the box, twist them together along with a pigtail ground wire. Connect the pigtail ground wire to the ground screw on the receptacle. Cap the twisted ends using a wire connector or a crimped connector. If the outlet box is metal, also make sure a pigtail ground wire is connected to the ground screw on the box. (Fig. 3)
6.
Finish the Job
Place the wires back in the box. Screw the receptacle into place, fastening the screws (saved in Step 2) to the top and bottom yokes. Make sure the receptacle is aligned correctly before you tighten down these screws.
Reattach the cover plate. Do not overtighten the screws or the cover plate may crack. When you turn the power back on, the receptacle is ready for use.
