- 1). Turn off the power at the circuit breaker (or fuse box) to the outlet you will be working on. Test the power to make sure it is off by plugging a lamp into the outlet. If you have a test light tool, insert the leads into the outlet to ensure there is no electric present.
- 2). Use the knife to cut a deep line into the paint around the faceplate of the outlet if it has been painted to the wall. If need be, use screwdriver to chip away paint from the screws on faceplate and remove the screws. With a screwdriver, remove the screw(s) holding the faceplate to the outlet. Remove the faceplate by placing the tip of the screwdriver near an edge of the faceplate and tapping the screwdriver with the hammer.
- 3). Remove the two screws that attach the outlet to the junction box, and carefully pull the outlet out. Unscrew the two screws connecting the outlet to the wires and set the old outlet aside. Make a note as to which screw terminals each wire is attached.
- 4). Check the wires. If they are frayed, cut away the damaged portion with diagonal cutters and strip insulation from the wire using a wire stripper. Use your length of wire to splice to the old wire.
- 5). Splice, or attach the newly stripped wires by turning clockwise a few times with Lineman's pliers and add the wire nuts by screwing them onto the spliced ends. Use the wire strippers to strip about 1/2 inch of insulation from the new wire.
- 6). Using needle-nose pliers create small hooks out of the exposed ends of the new wire. Unscrew the two screws on the new outlet but do not remove them.
- 7). Attach the wires in a clockwise rotation as follows: white wire to the silver screw terminal, black wire to brass screw and green for the ground screw. Place the wire hook you have made and wrap it around the appropriate screw and use the screwdriver to tighten the wires in place.
- 8). Push the excess wire back into the junction box with the screwdriver handle and align the holes on the outlet with the ones on the junction box; secure the outlet with two with screws. Reattach the faceplate as well, and turn on the breaker for the outlet.
- 9). Use a lamp and plug it into the outlet to test it. You can also use a test light and place the prongs into the long and short slot on the outlet; the tester should light. Now place the prongs in the short slot and the ground screw (on the faceplate); the tester should light. Finally, place the prongs in the long slot and the ground, and the tester should not light. If this process does not work, shut the power off again and check to see if you have reversed the wires on the outlet screws.
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