DIY... HOW TO FIX A LOOSE OUTLET...WITH BONUS TIPS !
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- Опубліковано 3 вер 2022
- This is a problem I've continued to see thought-out my 18 year career as an electrician. Outlets not installed properly and becoming loose over time. There is some good information in this video to help you fix this problem permanently. Make sure to watch the video all the way through to catch some other tips and tricks.
Thanks for watching and don't forget to LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE!
Check out the Amazon Associate links for everything I talked about in the video!
-Fluke Multimeter amzn.to/3CSTzZB
-Fluke Tick Tracer amzn.to/3KKlgFQ
-Plug tester amzn.to/3KL3pPe
-Outlet spacer kit amzn.to/3ebmpKs
I have never seen the tube over the screw idea. That’s a great tip, Thanks for the video!
No problem Doug!
Who would have thought about being able to size your screw that way!! This made my morning to solve the problem I was having without having to go to big box store! Thank you!!
Glad it was helpful for you.
Best electrical tip ever, thanks!
Thanks so much for this video! I am planning on building an apartment inside my metal garage and will be wiring the plugs and then getting an electrician to come inspect everything and this will help me not have the issues that I currently have in my old mobile home.
Glad it was helpful and good luck with your build.
Perfect! I've never used the tubing, but I will next time.
Wow Kyle! Great tip…
You should have way more views on this. Everyone needs to know this. Well done.
I have a few to fix myself…
Thank you! Hopefully it takes off one day.
Just started watching and your mixture of info and comedy is great. The outlet trick was greatly appreciated. Keep up the videos.
I try to keep it somewhat entertaining
@@SpicerDesignsLLC That's a water spigot @ 4.35 This had me rollin' lol
You are funnier, every time. So sorry to hear you lost your friend. I have been fixing thing for many years. I tell people all the time. Saving money is always good. Do it yourself if you can! That said, leave the electric stuff to the pro’s. It can’t be said enough, very dangerous. I recently installed a ceiling fan for a neighbor. More correctly, I installed a new fan. There was no support for the fan. A plastic light plate. How it didn’t drop, I don’t know. They were very confused as to the preparation. They had no idea. Keep them coming, again funny.
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the nice comment Allen!
great job, I bought those plastic spacers, apparently a WASTE of $$$ !!! THANKS !!!
The ones in my link or different ones?
Very good tips (more than one). Thanks
Thank you !
My tip is wiring a 15a outlet with 16ga and then add a 6 plug adapter over it. Lets you then run 6 power strips for 36 plugs total. Brilliant! Smell of bbq is just a bonus. 🤓
Haha people do it all the time. Those plug extenders should be illegal
OMG! So very helpful! Thanks much!!
No problem!
Super helpful… I’ve got 2 outlets that flex when I plug into them so I’m going to investigate to see if the issue is similar to what you demonstrated in this video. Good job 👍
Thank you. Im sure thats the issue. I see it all the time. Thanks for the comment!
Just for the hell of it (Because you like adding funny comments) you might want to go back and edit (Flash up a message...?) at the 2:55 mark. You say that you first turn it on and will hear a flash and a beep. I don’t recall the last time I was able to hear a flash. :) Only mention it because you like including humor in your videos. It’s not intended to rip on ya.
Sweet trade secrets 😉 very helpful thanks Kyle . How is that exterior wall of the house? All fix?
Thanks buddy! Pillar is still broke. Stone guys should be out next week to fix it. Having them do some other work too.
This used house we bought had several outlets that were loose in that the plugs were not tight. If you bearly wiggle a cord to a lamp the light would flicker. I changed all in this condition but I was wondering how common is that and what causes it to happen. Thanks in advance.
No problem. I hope it was helpful
Thank you for the video. That was very helpful. I was struggling yesterday with receptacles and switches and I could not get it flush with the wall. Do you mind sharing the link or the name of the black tube that you used in the video. I need to redo all the outlets :). Thank you and keep on the good work!!
I have a link in the description for a comparable product
Nice name. I wonder if we are kin. I'm a Spicer as well in south Georgia
Thanks for the video! What causes all my outlets to come lose is that it’s becoming so difficult to plug and remove appliances. What’s a good way to make this smoother? Can I use WD40?
Definitely no wd40. Dielectric grease would be the only thing you can use to lubricant the prongs. I would start with securing the outlet correctly first before you put grease on it.
@@SpicerDesignsLLC Thanks!
I buy the outlet shims
cool
Hey Kyle! Lol...what a fun & informative vid! I've been working on fixing my icemaker (again) and it's a struggle. One of my biggest obstacles is unplugging the fridge. The ex is a master electrician and while it's on a dedicated line I don't even wanna go into how it's wired! Anyway, the plug is so flipping' tight in the outlet. I know I can fix this myself, just like I fix everything, but I hate unplugging this fridge! Is there anything I can safely use on the prongs to make it easier next time...maybe alleviate the hassle and dread? (Keystone! 😂 Good idea.) Thanks, Judy in New York
You might try using some dielectric grease on the prongs. Should help lubricate it so it will come out easier.
@@SpicerDesignsLLC Thank you so much for your quick reply! I did face my fear & unplugged it, took out the ice maker, no ice in the line so & plugged it back in again. Now I hafta replace the water valve, which I've done before, but I'm definitely gonna take your advice and get me some o' dat grease. With some luck they'll have it at the appliance store. Thanks Kyle! CHEERS!
👍👍
How do you fix a stripped screw that holds the outlet?
You can get an 8-32 tap and retap it. Thats the next size up from a 6-32. Just make sure you use a counter sink screw or something with a lower profile head. Otherwise it might push out the cover plate when you put it on.
@@SpicerDesignsLLC Thanks, found the triple tap for this on Amazon.
I used an M4 (metric) screw since it’s pretty much in between a #6 and #8 (which are standard). I didn’t have to tap and they made their own thread into the plastic
I thought this was some revolutionary fix lol . Comedy.
Not revolutionary. Pretty basic fix but it works great and its the right way to do it.
Should I be concerned if the bottom outlet moves in a bit when plugging things in? The top one doesn't move, but the bottom does. I live in apartment maintenance and this was recently installed because my old one was getting black marks on it, indicating arcing. I don't see the marks on the new one, but I'm concerned about the movement. Apartment maintenance is never very good, this is the third time they have come back to try to fix it, the first time they installed my new outlet I lost power trying to plug something into it.
Yikes. Sounds like your not having very good luck. Its ok for the outlet to flex a little. The too and bottom should all be connected. Shouldn’t be moving separately
@@SpicerDesignsLLC Yeah, what's weird is that it only happens when using the bottom plug in, it moves in a little, but when i plug something into the top one, I don't notice anything. I hope I'm making sense!
@@sarayoung9395 they may not have tightened the bottom screw all the way. It’s likely they installed it wrong too.
@@SpicerDesignsLLC I thought so. Do you think its concerning enough to talk to apartment management again?
@@sarayoung9395 its hard to say without seeing it. Wouldnt hurt
The electrical box in the wall is i loose on one side. No matter how much tubing i use, or tighten down the box in the wall still pushes back. How do i fix this.
Are you able to angle a screw through the box and into the stud?
@@SpicerDesignsLLC the stud is on the other side that is still secured. Nothing to attach the outlet to inside wall
Assuming that’s 5/8” drywall for garage fire rating. The original rough-in electrician doesn’t know you need the proper 3/4” raise mud ring , not a 5/8” raise
I built the house and i am the electrician. Been one for 20 years IBEW. The outlet wasnt loose. I made it loose just to make the video. I never try to set my rings perfect with the drywall because its too unpredictable. And if it sticks out to far your screwed. So i tube all my outlets. It works great.
Why are the boxes and outlets designed the way they are? Almost EVERY outlet I’ve ever seen is loose so this design is clearly stupid.
Its not the box thats the issue. It really comes down to the installer. If they know what they’re doing the outlet will never get loose.
@@SpicerDesignsLLC If it’s an installation problem then they need to come up with a new design that is more idiot (ie installer) proof. Because practically no installer is doing what the manufacturers imagine the installers are doing.
On another front: The plastic boxes in my house are breaking where the outlets get screwed into them. I’m even finding that light switches with plastic parts are disintegrating. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I went in to replace some switches with dimmers and the old switches just fell apart when I moved them.
@@AdrianBoyko ya unfortunately all the plastic stuff is junk. The steel boxes are a much better install.
How on Earth did you make a 13 minute video out of this. It's a fine idea but it's 5 minutes before we even get the faceplate off the wall!
Your welcome to make your own version of it.