Replace A Broken Outlet In Your Fort Lauderdale Real Estate Home Or Condo
July 14, 2008
One of the most common electrical repairs in residential dwellings is a broken electrical outlet. This is an important repair for you as a homeowner to know how to correct as bad or broken electrical outlets have been known to cause fires. As your Fort Lauderdale real estate home or condo gets older, these are the types of small repairs that you can undertake yourself.
WARNING: Any time you work with electricity it is imperative that you be SURE you turn of the power to the circuit you will working on. If you are not sure that you have disconnected the right circuit, you can go to the main panel in the home and switch the main breaker to the OFF position to be sure. Do this EVERY time you are working with electricity around your home.
If you are going to be working with electrical wiring, we always suggest you buy and have available a voltage tester. It is a good habit to test your voltage tester before relying upon it, especially after periods of non-use.
To test, put the test end next to a power outlet you know has power running to it. Most voltage testers have a flashing light, as well as an audible alarm if the tester detects live current.
When you suspect an outlet may be bad, follow the steps below…
1. Turn off the power to the offending circuit. Test if you have turned off the correct circuit by probing the terminals with your voltage tester.
2. Unscrew the faceplate of the outlet. There will be two screws mounting the outlet into the wall box. Remove those screws so that the outlet can be pulled towards you and you can access the terminals on the outlet that receive the wires. DO NOT TOUCH THE WIRES.
3. Use the voltage tester again to test the wires directly. If the tester shows there is no current, you may proceed.
4. Unscrew or otherwise remove the wires from the existing terminals on the old outlet. Check the wires for any scorch marks or cuts. It may be necessary to prepare the wire for the new outlet. In this case, cut off any damaged part of wire, then strip the wire leaving approximately ¾” of clean exposed wire.
5. Install the new outlet by connecting the wires. The black wire always connects to the “Hot” side of the outlet which is usually denoted by a darker screw. The white wire will connect to the opposite side. Make sure both wires are securely in place by tightening down the screws.
6. Wrap the back of the outlet in electrical tape so that the wire connection and terminals are covered.
7. Place the outlet back into the wall box and secure it by using the mounting screws you removed from the old outlet.
8. Replace the old cover, or put a new outlet cover in place.
9. Turn the power back on for the circuit and test it with your voltage tester.
The whole process as outline above takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes for a beginner. The cost of a new outlet and cover will run about $1.50 at your local hardware or home improvement store. Typically, an electrician will charge $50 or more to replace an outlet.
If you enjoyed the tip, be sure to check out the entire home improvement and repair series. As with any of our tips and guides, if you do not feel comfortable doing this yourself, call a professional.
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If you are interested in learning more about buying a home or condo in Fort Lauderdale or anywhere in South Florida; or if you need any information about the Fort Lauderdale real estate market, please feel free to contact me and it would be my pleasure to assist you.You can contact me at the number shown below or please feel free to contact me by the form below and I, or one of my assistants, will be sure to get right back to you within a few hours, if not sooner.
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