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Electrical Maintenance
How to Fix Loose Outlets and Plugs Download Article Co-authored by Daniel Stoescu and Hunter Rising
Last Updated: March 10, 2025 Fact Checked
Download Article
Repairing a Loose Outlet Box in the Wall
|
Replacing an Outlet with Loose Plugs
|
Tips
|
Warnings
|
Things You'll Need
|Show more|Show less X
This article was co-authored by Daniel Stoescu and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising. Daniel Stoescu is a Master Electrician and the Owner and Operator of Home Tech Solutions, LLC in Hampton, Virginia. With over a decade of experience, Daniel specializes in wiring residential, commercial, and light industrial structures. The Home Tech Solutions team has over four decades of combined experience and offers comprehensive solutions for residential electrical needs. There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 57,736 times.
When you plug something in, does your outlet box wiggle around in the wall? Or do plugs feel loose and fall out of the outlet? Loose outlets can create a fire hazard, so it’s important to fix them as soon as possible. Even if you haven’t done any electrical repairs before, you can fix either type of loose outlet on your own within an hour. Keep reading for everything you need to know to fix your outlet so it’s secure and safe to use again.
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 2:
Repairing a Loose Outlet Box in the Wall
Download Article
1 Shut off power to the outlet. Find the main circuit box in your home, which is usually on a wall in a hallway, basement, or garage. Find the circuit that controls the room with the outlet and flip the switch to the “OFF” position to cut the power completely so you don’t risk getting shocked while you’re working on your repairs.[1]X Expert Source Daniel StoescuMaster ElectricianExpert Interview [2]XResearch source
Plug a voltage tester into the outlet to test if the outlet is still live.
If you aren’t sure which circuit your outlet connects to, you can turn off the main breaker at the top of the box, but it will shut off all of the power in your home.
2 Unscrew the cover plate from the wall. Use a screwdriver to turn the screw in the middle of the cover plate counter-clockwise. Once the cover plate is loose from the wall, pull it off to expose the outlet and wires in the electrical box behind it.[3]XResearch source
Keep the screw in a cup so you don’t lose it during your repairs.
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3 Try tightening the outlet screws if they feel loose. Sometimes, the outlet will loosen over time as the screws get looser. Use your screwdriver to turn the screws at the top and the bottom of the outlet clockwise. Try to gently wiggle the outlet from side to side to check if it’s secured in place.[4]XResearch source
If the screws are already tight, then the electrical box inside the wall might be loose instead.
4 Put electrical spacers on the screws if the outlets are recessed. Get a pack of electrical spacers, which look like small C-shaped clips with snaps on the top and bottom. Line up the snaps on 2 spacers and squeeze them together until they click. Loosen the screws on the outlet and position the spacers on the screw’s shaft right behind the head. Tighten the screws back into the wall so your outlet doesn’t move around.[5]XResearch source
If the outlets are still recessed into the wall after you tighten the screws, click on another spacer and screw the outlet back in. It may take a few tries to figure out how many spacers you need to use.
5 Attach an electrical box extender if spacers don’t work. An electrical box extender is a rectangular plastic piece that fits into the outlet hole, and it lets you screw in the receptacle tightly. Unscrew the outlet completely from the wall and gently pull it out from the wall, but leave it connected to the wires. Slide the outlet through the hole in the middle of the electrical box extender. Then, push the extender flush with the wall before screwing your outlet into it.[6]XResearch source
Some electrical box extenders come with longer screws to secure your outlet even better.
Extenders are perfect if you need if you’re extending an outlet after installing a backsplash or any other addition to your wall.
6 Install a wall plate spacer if the electrical box is loose inside the wall. If you can still wiggle the outlet around, then the box came loose inside the wall. Loosen your outlet from the wall, leaving the wires connected, and simply slide a wall plate spacer behind it. Screw the outlet back into the electrical box so the screws go through the holes in the top and bottom of the wall plate spacer.[7]XResearch source
The wall plate spacer clamps the outlet against the drywall so the box doesn’t move around anymore.
7 Reattach the cover plate and turn the power back on. Once you’re finished with your repairs, use your screwdriver to reattach the cover plate to hide the wires inside the electrical box. Go back to your circuit breaker and flip it to the “ON” position so you can start using your outlet again.[8]XResearch source
Advertisement Method 2 Method 2 of 2:
Replacing an Outlet with Loose Plugs
Download Article
1 Turn off the power to the outlet at the circuit breaker. Locate the circuit breaker in your home, which is usually on a wall in a hallway, basement, or garage. Find the switch that controls the room with the outlet and turn it to the “OFF” position to cut the power.[9]XResearch source
Use a voltage tester to check that the outlet doesn’t have any power running through it. If the outlet is still live, then it’s controlled by a different switch.
2 Remove the cover plate from the outlet. Take a screwdriver and turn the screw in the middle of the cover plate counter-clockwise. Once the cover plate is loose, carefully pull it away from your wall and set it aside.[10]XResearch source
3 Unscrew the old outlet from the wall. Your outlet will have a screw at the top and the bottom holding it in the electrical box. Turn the screws counter-clockwise to remove them, and put them in a small bowl or cup so you don’t lose them.[11]XResearch source
4 Disconnect the wires from the screws on the old outlet. Carefully pull the outlet out of the electrical box to expose the wires and screws they’re connected to. Loosen the screws with your screwdriver so you can easily unhook the ends of the wires from the old outlet. Once you disconnect all of the wires from the outlet, you can toss out the old outlet.[12]XResearch source
Properly identify the wires. Some outlets have 1 black live wire and 1 white neutral wire attached to them. Others may have 2 live wires and 2 neutral wires to carry power to another outlet. Your outlet may also have a green or bare wire for a grounding screw.[13]X Expert Source Daniel StoescuMaster ElectricianExpert Interview
If there are multiple wires attached to the outlet, take a picture of how they’re connected. Alternatively, you can wrap a piece of masking tape around each one and label which screw it was connected to.
5 Attach the wires to screws on the new receptacle. Get a new outlet receptacle from a local hardware store. Wrap the exposed ends of white neutral wires clockwise around the silver screws and black live wires to the brass screws. If there’s a green or bare ground wire in the box, wrap it around the green grounding screw. Then, tighten the screws with your screwdriver.[14]XResearch source
Be careful not to connect the wires to the wrong screws since it could cause a short circuit or shock.
If the ends of the wires are frayed, trim them with a pair of wire strippers and strip the coating off the wires to wrap around the screws.
6 Screw the new outlet and the cover plate back onto the wall. Gently push the wires back into the electrical box. Hold the outlet tight against the electrical box, and screw the top and the bottom back in with your screwdriver. Then, put the cover plate over the outlet and secure it to the wall.[15]XResearch source
If the outlet doesn’t fit in the box, gently move the wires around to move them out of the way until the outlet fits in.
7 Turn the power back on to test if your outlet feels loose. Go back to the circuit breaker and flip the switch back into the “ON” position. Go back to your outlet and try plugging something in to see if the outlet holds your plug without falling out. If it’s working and plug doesn’t move around, then you’re all done with your repairs.[16]XResearch source
If your outlet doesn’t work, then you may have an issue with your wiring. Turn off the power again and recheck that the wires are attached properly.
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Expert Q&A
Search Add New Question Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement
Tips
If you’re uncomfortable doing electrical repairs or notice damaged wires inside your outlet, contact an electrician to fix the outlet for you. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement
Warnings
Never work on an outlet while it’s still connected to power since you could get shocked. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 0
Loose outlets could cause sparking and create a fire hazard, so fix them as soon as you notice them. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 1
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Things You’ll Need
Repairing a Loose Outlet Box in the Wall
Screwdriver
Voltage tester
Electrical spacers
Electrical box extender
Wall plate spacer
Replacing an Outlet with Loose Plugs
Screwdriver
Voltage tester
Wire strippers
Outlet receptacle
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References
↑ Daniel Stoescu. Master Electrician. Expert Interview
Co-authored by: Daniel Stoescu Master Electrician This article was co-authored by Daniel Stoescu and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising. Daniel Stoescu is a Master Electrician and the Owner and Operator of Home Tech Solutions, LLC in Hampton, Virginia. With over a decade of experience, Daniel specializes in wiring residential, commercial, and light industrial structures. The Home Tech Solutions team has over four decades of combined experience and offers comprehensive solutions for residential electrical needs. This article has been viewed 57,736 times. 8 votes - 75% Co-authors: 4Updated: March 10, 2025 Views: 57,736 Categories: Electrical Maintenance In other languagesJapanese
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Yes No Advertisement If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Daniel Stoescu Master Electrician 8 votes - 75% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 4Updated: March 10, 2025 Views: 57,736
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Download Article Co-authored by Daniel Stoescu and Hunter Rising 
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Co-authored by: Daniel Stoescu Master Electrician This article was co-authored by Daniel Stoescu and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising. Daniel Stoescu is a Master Electrician and the Owner and Operator of Home Tech Solutions, LLC in Hampton, Virginia. With over a decade of experience, Daniel specializes in wiring residential, commercial, and light industrial structures. The Home Tech Solutions team has over four decades of combined experience and offers comprehensive solutions for residential electrical needs. This article has been viewed 57,736 times. 8 votes - 75% Co-authors: 4 Updated: March 10, 2025 Views: 57,736 Categories: Electrical Maintenance In other languagesJapanese 
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1 Shut off power to the outlet. Find the main circuit box in your home, which is usually on a wall in a hallway, basement, or garage. Find the circuit that controls the room with the outlet and flip the switch to the “OFF” position to cut the power completely so you don’t risk getting shocked while you’re working on your repairs.[1] [2] 
2 Unscrew the cover plate from the wall. Use a screwdriver to turn the screw in the middle of the cover plate counter-clockwise. Once the cover plate is loose from the wall, pull it off to expose the outlet and wires in the electrical box behind it.[3] 
3 Try tightening the outlet screws if they feel loose. Sometimes, the outlet will loosen over time as the screws get looser. Use your screwdriver to turn the screws at the top and the bottom of the outlet clockwise. Try to gently wiggle the outlet from side to side to check if it’s secured in place.[4] 
4 Put electrical spacers on the screws if the outlets are recessed. Get a pack of electrical spacers, which look like small C-shaped clips with snaps on the top and bottom. Line up the snaps on 2 spacers and squeeze them together until they click. Loosen the screws on the outlet and position the spacers on the screw’s shaft right behind the head. Tighten the screws back into the wall so your outlet doesn’t move around.[5] 
5 Attach an electrical box extender if spacers don’t work. An electrical box extender is a rectangular plastic piece that fits into the outlet hole, and it lets you screw in the receptacle tightly. Unscrew the outlet completely from the wall and gently pull it out from the wall, but leave it connected to the wires. Slide the outlet through the hole in the middle of the electrical box extender. Then, push the extender flush with the wall before screwing your outlet into it.[6] 
6 Install a wall plate spacer if the electrical box is loose inside the wall. If you can still wiggle the outlet around, then the box came loose inside the wall. Loosen your outlet from the wall, leaving the wires connected, and simply slide a wall plate spacer behind it. Screw the outlet back into the electrical box so the screws go through the holes in the top and bottom of the wall plate spacer.[7] 
7 Reattach the cover plate and turn the power back on. Once you’re finished with your repairs, use your screwdriver to reattach the cover plate to hide the wires inside the electrical box. Go back to your circuit breaker and flip it to the “ON” position so you can start using your outlet again.[8] Advertisement 
1 Turn off the power to the outlet at the circuit breaker. Locate the circuit breaker in your home, which is usually on a wall in a hallway, basement, or garage. Find the switch that controls the room with the outlet and turn it to the “OFF” position to cut the power.[9] 
2 Remove the cover plate from the outlet. Take a screwdriver and turn the screw in the middle of the cover plate counter-clockwise. Once the cover plate is loose, carefully pull it away from your wall and set it aside.[10] 
3 Unscrew the old outlet from the wall. Your outlet will have a screw at the top and the bottom holding it in the electrical box. Turn the screws counter-clockwise to remove them, and put them in a small bowl or cup so you don’t lose them.[11] 
4 Disconnect the wires from the screws on the old outlet. Carefully pull the outlet out of the electrical box to expose the wires and screws they’re connected to. Loosen the screws with your screwdriver so you can easily unhook the ends of the wires from the old outlet. Once you disconnect all of the wires from the outlet, you can toss out the old outlet.[12] 
5 Attach the wires to screws on the new receptacle. Get a new outlet receptacle from a local hardware store. Wrap the exposed ends of white neutral wires clockwise around the silver screws and black live wires to the brass screws. If there’s a green or bare ground wire in the box, wrap it around the green grounding screw. Then, tighten the screws with your screwdriver.[14] 
6 Screw the new outlet and the cover plate back onto the wall. Gently push the wires back into the electrical box. Hold the outlet tight against the electrical box, and screw the top and the bottom back in with your screwdriver. Then, put the cover plate over the outlet and secure it to the wall.[15] 
7 Turn the power back on to test if your outlet feels loose. Go back to the circuit breaker and flip the switch back into the “ON” position. Go back to your outlet and try plugging something in to see if the outlet holds your plug without falling out. If it’s working and plug doesn’t move around, then you’re all done with your repairs.[16]