How to Wire Interior Outlets

While interior electrical outlets are ubiquitous throughout our homes and for the most part trouble-free, on occasion an electrical outlet can become damaged and need replacement. Wiring an interior electric outlet is a job that's well within the scope of the average do-it-yourself homeowner. Best of all, you'll save the money you'd spend getting an electrician to do this routine job.

Screwdriver
Paper
Pencil
Needle-nose pliers

Instructions

- 1
  Turn off the power to the circuit you'll be working on at the home's circuit breaker panel. If you're uncertain which circuit the outlet is on, throw the panel's main switch to "Off."
- 2
  Loosen the screw in the center of the switch plate and remove the plate.
- 3
  Loosen the screws at the top and bottom of the electrical outlet. Pull the outlet out of the outlet box.
- 4
  Make a chart of the wires attached to the different screws on the outlet, noting the color of each wire and the screw to which it's connected. Depending on the wiring in your home, you may have two or more wires connected to the outlet.
- 5
  Loosen the screws on the outlet and take off the wires connected to them. Use needle-nose pliers to unwrap wires that are bent around the screw posts. Discard the old outlet.
- 6
  Wrap the wires around the posts of the new outlet, using your chart as a guide. Tighten the screws to hold the wires in place.
- 7
  Place the outlet in the outlet box and attach with screws at the top and bottom. Replace the outlet cover and attach with the screw.
- 8
  Turn the power back on at the circuit breaker panel.

How to Fix Sagging Light Fixtures

How to Remove the Cover of a Square Recessed Light Fixture

Electrical Repairs