Why Do Plugs Keep Falling Out of The Outlet?
John Turpin is our resident home service repair expert here at Service Direct. He’s got the knowledge and experience to help homeowners like you make sense of most home repair issues. And with Service Direct, we connect you with top-tier service professionals to help with any repairs needed.
Here’s Why Plugs Aren’t Staying in Your Outlet
There is a risk associated with the electrical outlets in your home, but you probably don’t give them much attention despite their frequent usage. Because of this, it is extremely concerning if there is any kind of problem with them. When one of your electrical plugs slips out of the socket, you should immediately take action to resolve this problem. Loose electrical outlets might result in a range of different types of electrical dangers.
Simply put, you anticipate that electrical outlets will function as intended. There are outlets available, and they are ready to be utilized for everything from charging smartphones to preparing smoothies to operating an air diffuser. Because of this, having an insecure outlet and having plugs continually fall out from the socket may be a very annoying experience.
Strange as it may sound, one of the most frequent causes of electrical outlet failure in the house is a plug or outlet that has become loose.
Investigation Into Why Plugs Are Loose In An Outlet
If a plug will not remain inserted in an outlet, the problem is most often caused by either the prongs on the plug or the socket itself. Examine the prongs of the device to get things started. Have they been twisted or bent in any manner at all? If this is the case, their damage may prevent them from remaining in the outlet in the correct manner.
If you want to be absolutely certain, you can try plugging a few different things into the socket at the same time. In the event that it seems as if both prongs of the device are to fault, you could want to think about getting a licensed electrician to fix the plug for you.
If, conversely, the prongs seem to be in a straight line, then the problem almost certainly lies inside the outlet itself. It will be helpful to have a precise understanding as to the actual origin of the problem in order to make progress in finding a solution to the issue.
Why Won’t It Stay Plugged In?
A loose outlet face and worn down contact points are two common causes. Both of these problems pose a risk of starting a fire, therefore you should take care of your outlets as soon as possible rather than putting it off until later. They could also put you at danger of direct voltage. Having stated that, finding a solution to the issue mostly hinges on determining the root cause of your loose outlets.
● Contact Points That Have Become Worn
If the front of the outlet seems to be secure, but you still have a loose plug, the receptacle itself is probably the source of the problem. The term “receptacle” is used to describe the prong slots that are located on the outlet. It’s possible that a receptacle’s interior contact points may wear out throughout the course of its lifetime. A worn-out plug that won’t stay inside the outlet is an annoyance, but it may also generate an arc in addition to becoming a fire danger. Worn-out connection points can cause any of these problems.
Our resident home repair guru, John Turpin, discusses why your outlets are loose along with the best DIY suggestions and solutions.
● Face with a Loose Outlet
An electrical box is installed within your wall and is used to secure and attach all of the outlets. Most of the time, electrical outlets are attached to electrical conduits that are positioned at an inappropriate distance from the wall.
Over time, this will cause the electrical wiring to become loose, which will ultimately create major difficulties. Sparks, electrical shock, and a variety of other electrical risks may result from an outlet that is not securely fastened because it can pull and detach the wire.
A voltage meter, a screwdriver, and outlet shims are all you need to tighten a shaky outlet back into place. Like when doing electrical work, you should begin by turning off the outlet’s power at the circuit breaker. Then, to make sure everything is correct, use a voltage tester until you’re one hundred percent certain that there is no electricity going to the outlet prior to you beginning your investigation of the problem. This should be done before you begin looking into the matter.
When the outlet looks like it’s too far from your wall, you must use outlet shims to occupy the space between the enclosure and the outlet fasteners.
Replacing The Outlet Yourself
If you suspect that you have a broken receptacle, you will need to get a new outlet to replace the one you currently have. Changing out an outlet is one of those jobs that, thankfully, the vast majority of homeowners are capable of doing on their own.
Do not be afraid to seek a professional electrician for assistance if you ever have feelings of unease when working with electrical equipment in your house.
Remove The Outlet
To begin the process of replacing an outdated outlet, you must first remove it. Make sure that you have turned off the electricity to the outlet by switching off the circuit breaker located in the electrical control panel. After turning off the breaker, it is imperative that you check to see whether there is any residual power in the outlet by making use of a voltage tester.
Unsecure The Outlet
After turning off the electricity, remove the two screws used for installing the outlet, and then pull it away from the wall. The next step is to inspect the face of the outlet. You have to find two screw terminals that have electrical wires connected to them. After unscrewing the screw terminals to the point where you can pull each wire free, pull the outlet off the box and repeat with the remaining wires.
Install The New Outlet
When you have finished removing the worn-out outlet, take the new outlet then connect the wiring to the matching terminal screws of the new outlet. Put the black wire into the terminal screw for the brass, and put the white wire into the terminal screw for the silver. Follow it until you reach the green terminal screw, where you may attach the bare ground wire.
After you have done so, you can then finish securing them by tightening the terminal screws then inserting the outlet into the electrical box. At long last, using the mounting screws provided, fasten the outlet onto the electrical box, and then reinstall the cover. Check your new outlet once you have turned the circuit breaker back on.
Can I bend the prongs to secure them in the outlet better?
While this won’t be a permanent solution, it may alleviate some of your stress while you’re in a temporary setting like a motel. Be careful not to bend them too much, since this might result in an unusable outlet and more aggravation.
What should I look for in a new outlet?
There are two major factors you need when you’re shopping for new outlets, back wiring and safety.
To explain further, it’s likely going to be necessary for you to have one that can’t be tampered with, but this all depends on where you live. And if you’re going to the trouble of replacing it, you might as well upgrade to one that’s more difficult to manipulate.
Additionally, the outlet should have the function that enables you to back wire, which would save you from the necessity of doing the Shepard hooks that you would normally do.
Is it common for three prong plugs to be loose?
If your plugs have three prongs, you won’t often see this problem. Typically, the ground plug will offer you with a little bit extra strain to keep the outlet in place, and this is true even for an outlet that has worn out.
Hire a Local Electrical Pro
The methods above are effective DIY tips to investigate, diagnose, and fix your loose electrical outlet. But when you need professional help, don’t hesitate to contact a local expert using the phone number or form on this page.