Plug Won't Stay In Outlet

Klein Voltage Tester: amzn.to/3yYjzh8
This is a very common issue especially as the number of devices we are charging with 2 prong plugs seems to be increasing each year. I will show you why this happens by opening up an old outlet and also how to replace the old outlet with a new one. We will also discuss the recommended grade of outlet to use lowering the chance of failure in the future.
Parts and Tools Used
Outlet Tester: amzn.to/3nylliW
Leviton Receptacle Used: homedepot.sjv.io/Ma3E2
Tools Every Weekend Warrior Needs
Makita Corless Drill Combo Kit: amzn.to/2Jsw78j
Dewalt Drill Bit Set: amzn.to/2w0xAA4
Dewalt Screwdriver Bit Set: amzn.to/2UqTvK9
Craftsman Screwdriver Set: amzn.to/3bAsNEG
Eklind Allen Wrench Set: amzn.to/2wKDu8M
Pliers (4-Piece Set): amzn.to/2JlYUM7
Stanley Utility Knife: amzn.to/2Us2pqG
Stanley Tape Measure: amzn.to/2WPzr5K
Studbuddy Stud Finder: amzn.to/38MdzfV
Johnson Torpedo Level: amzn.to/3dzx5Ot
Stanley Hammer: amzn.to/39tudPL
Buck Bros Wood Chisel Set: amzn.to/2QTebYO
Klein Voltage Tester: amzn.to/3yYjzh8
Wire Strippers: amzn.to/2NHHKuS
Little Giant Ladder: amzn.to/2UrFmfG
DISCLAIMER: This video and description contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission.

[@fishingpinky3165]

Thank you for not having annoying background music like so many youtubers do. Great video from a 63 year old handywoman.

[@rhoonah5849]

Agreed. I have stopped watching so many videos because of annoying music or the video being split between the content I am interested in and someone playing a video game, etc.

[@Tinyteacher1111]

Me too!

[@janetphillips2875]

I cant stand annoying music, or those silly laughter tracks added to videos when theyre not part of the content necessary. Im the only one in my family that fixes things at my Mother's house, and I like to learn anything new.

[@gene9230]

well he has some annoying noise in the backgrownd

[@jamesborton9237]

Fishingpinky, I also hate it when the youtubers, have pets, kids, nature noises, background noises in their videos. I often give a THUMBS DOWN when I encounter these videos. OR I stop the video and back out of it. When the you tuber WASTES my time with this nonsense, I boycott their videos.

[@danpeterson7770]

Great job of explaining! Tip: if you're working by yourself - and you have no idea which circuit breaker it is - in order to find the correct circuit breaker - plug in a radio and turn it on. Then you keep shutting off circuit breakers till the sound quits.

[@traceymcgaughey3504]

Never thought of this.. Great tip!

[@litedesign82]

If you’ve got $50, invest in a circuit breaker finder kit. Plug the transmitter into the outlet, then go to the panel and wave the wand past each breaker till it beeps. Great device.

[@debimoseley3590]

That is a great idea. My husband always makes me stand there with lights. Love the radio idea ☺️

[@DiabloOutdoors]

Brilliant!

[@keithpoole3358]

​@@litedesign82 unless you're in the trade, don't waste your money on such a specific tool. Coming from an electrician

[@carolynbrookens5348]

Thank you...I am a 74 year old grandma and I do a lot of repairs myself (almost all my life) and your voice is easy to listen to, you speak clearly and explain the project to be fixed exactly to the point. (No chit chat about family or other non essential information. ) This has been very helpful and I have subscribed.

[@e-spy]

lol, he looks a bit like Nicholas Cage, I think.

[@Whistlewalk]

Yes. Thanks for pointing this out clearly.

[@realtyrocks1969]

Well grandma your family is non-essential too.

[@imadumas2]

I really appreciate how well-done and informative these videos are. No annoying flair bs , just well-presented solid, easily-understood information about almost any topic a homeowner is likely to encounter- Thanks so much!!!!

[@aliceinwonderland887]

I always bend the prongs on the plug and the plug will ALWAYS snug up perfectly.

[@DADSGETNDOWN]

"How to 'fix' a loose outlet". REPLACE IT WITH A NEW ONE. Nice and short, quick to the point.

[@jamesharris8583]

Seriously. He doesn't say anything about fixing, just replace with a new outlet. Just know that's all this is. Seeing the inside of the outlet was cool though.

[@jager9825]

No, no, no, you guys forgot wrapping the plug ends with tin foil!

[@DADSGETNDOWN]

@@jager9825 Even if Sarcasm, it still doesn't have anything to do with the video or the comment. Totally and completely unrelated, out in and out of left field as they say.

[@ramavijaya148]

Bro, it is just loose. WEcan take it out or just tighten the metal contact, or solder a small strip , it will work. why to throw it out . no waste

[@kellykerouac2615]

No doubt. They are a few bucks and it takes a few minutes. Pfft.

[@kkvz2228]

I live in a rental & had no idea why 3 of the outlets in my bedroom were like this. I have bent the prongs & the cords still fall out. I'm a 70 year old woman & found your video to be informative, to the point, & you have a pleasant speaking voice. Thank you for the information.

[@brianperry4815]

Don`t feel bad, When I lived in an apartment it was so old the outlets would not allow the newer plugs and no ground. I had to replace them myself with my own money to use. Spent around $20 to put decent outlets in so the landlord could not say it would cause fires or popping of the breakers.I was there because rent was cheap.

[@Layarion]

damn, 70? i'm surprised your hip doesn't break when you reach down to the outlet.

[@kkvz2228]

@@Layarion I guess you haven't been around many older women since what you said is pretty ridiculous.

[@Layarion]

@@kkvz2228 oh idk, i just see the numbers "70" and think about how ancient that must feel

[@hellkell8693]

@@Layarion clown.

[@carlbussmann7559]

I always learn something from Scott. The camera angles and lighting are good to learn from and his presentation is excellent. I try not to miss any of his videos; there's always something to learn from each.

[@GaryLiseo]

I recently bought a house and had to replace most of the outlets because they were worn out, nonfunctioning, or even broken. Great video and clear explanations of what’s going on inside the outlets

[@dweblinveltz5035]

Subbed because of this. most other diy channels would have completely skipped the outlet receptacle removal, reattaching of wires, etc, leaving me with tons of questions. Learned more than I expected to with this one.

[@Caitja]

I’m not by any means a ‘handy woman’, but have always been intrigued by how things work. Thank you for a clear and concise explanation of how things work and how to repair. I won’t ever attempt, but it’s nice to have the knowledge to relate to a repairman if need be.

[@DallasBoricua]

Thanks for taking the time and making this video. I never thought about it, I just replaced the outlet. However, your video explained more than just replacing. Your outlet comparisons and explanations made all the difference. I know of one outlet I need to replace today. It too is an outlet that is used for a vacuum cleaner all the time. All the best.

[@gordjohn2322]

THANK YOU for such a clear, easy to understand and informative presentation. Another thing I really appreciate about your presentations is that you have none of that silly so called music or any other distractions in your video's. I've seen other people have that useless noise so loud it almost downs out their voice. Keep up the good work.

[@alvallac2171]

*videos (plural non-possessive) video's = possessive (or a contraction of "video is/has") Apostrophes are for contractions or possessive nouns, not for pluralizing or random words that happen to end in -s. *drowns

[@gordjohn2322]

@@alvallac2171 Thank you for correcting me about the proper use of apostrophes. It seems I've picked up a bad habit or two during the past 60 or more years since I sat in a classroom trying to absorb that kind of knowledge. I think I also need to hunt up one of the manual typewriters I learned to type on and practice my spelling. :) Electric typewriters were just coming on the market, but we didn't have one at my school. Computer? What's that? Never heard of such a thing.

[@c17nav]

@@gordjohn2322 Using a computer is not a factor. Poor grammar and misuse of a word are.

[@gordjohn2322]

@@c17nav Thank you Mr. Alexander for reminding me that everyone should always use proper grammar and be very selective in their choice of words. It must be very frustrating for you to read comments made by ordinary people like myself and have to endure the way they mutilate the English language. Would I be correct in assuming that you have never made a typing error in your whole life? Now sir, I hope you have a nice day.

[@c17nav]

@@gordjohn2322 Responding to your previous question, I have made thousands of typos in my life. And grammar problems. Your reply exhibits that you carefully crafted it, as opposed to publishing the first draft. I do the same, especially for technical authoring. But like other mere mortals, I unfortunately can (and do) err - particularly when deadlines are near. KZbin commentary rarely requires deadlines. Contributors should allow themselves time to finesse their comments. Peace ☮️ 🖖

[@vivianlawrence778]

GREAT VIDEO. You're very good at explaining this. I'm a 65 year young woman who has never had to do home fixes because my husband is very handy, however, after watching this video, I honestly believe I could sucessfully replace an old outlet; and without frying myself!!!! Thank so much!

[@everettwhite9874]

This simple repair was interesting and I enjoyed it. Also, the comments were interesting hearing the explanations of possible problems and how one fix them was also very helpful. Big thanks for sharing the video and thank you to all the guy who offered some excellent information.

[@debbiel1228]

This was EXACTLY what I needed! Thank you for explaining what causes loose connections. I had no idea that there were basic instructions on the back of the outlet either. My new plugs had holes on the back for the quick connection option.

[@bsanchez3563]

If avoidable try an use the screw terminals or ensure that the holes may be secured by the screws in order to avoid the small springs being all that connects to wire and weakens over time from constant tension

[@leekumiega9268]

Those with holes where the wire is not held by screws like heavy duty ones are referred to as stab-lock or "back-stab" and should not be used , better outlets pay for themselves in the long run by lasting longer than cheap ones.

[@jennywatts7054]

Me too but my mom won’t let me

[@jennywatts7054]

😢

[@bsanchez3563]

@@jennywatts7054 well try to explain what the reasoning for the safety necessitated method of a sidewire is.

[@netdoctor1]

Scott: I for one appreciate your willingness to share your skills and knowledge. Please don't be put off by constructive critique. These guys, regardless of their motivation, are taking the time to praise, correct, redirect, etc. The information they provide gives us all a complete picture of the issue or process. Keep doing what you're doing. 89 million views must mean you're doing something right!

[@BrianLopez-gz8ux]

Amen

[@hicknopunk]

If only he used a locking outlet for vending machines (key type). Then put on a locking consumer power bar (the twist lock type).

[@pakuma3]

It's his georgeous eyes 👀

[@toshikotanaka3249]

@@pakuma3 - I noticed that too.

[@vh4355]

Even if you are not comfortable replacing an outlet, this is still one of those helpful tidbits I think every homeowner should know.

[@RandyRandersonthefamous]

You should be comfortable swapping an outlet and switch.

[@MarcosElMalo2]

Another cause of wear is when people yank the cord to disconnect the plug. If you do this for a couple years, the lateral force is essentially prying open the contacts. Always grasp the plug and pull straight out. That said, you might have an outlet behind a heavy piece of furniture with perhaps a lamp plugged in. The outlet and plug are hard to reach. I would be less concerned about this as you’re probably not unplugging the lamp very often. Pulling by the cord once a year is probably not going to substantially damage the outlet.

[@juniorthornton3819]

I don't

[@juniorthornton3819]

I'm a master electrician and I love to shut your channel down

[@ptl5799]

I like to know the right way to do something before I hire someone. Yes, I watch over their shoulder......

[@johnalderman9899]

I cannot believe this is what I am doing right now. This is like instant knowledge. I cannot thank you enough !!!

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

You're very welcome!

[@andycopeland7051]

Lol instant knowledge

[@ndj9533]

You are so thorough in each video. I have been looking at your electrical videos and as a DIYer, try I am trying to follow the newest NEC code. Thank you for mentioning those throughout the videos.

[@brucegleason291]

Scott- thank you for a great video. You take your time and go step by step through the process explaining the what and why’s. All of your videos have been extremely helpful.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Thanks for the kind words Bruce 👍

[@bobby-bu3ky]

I’m subscribing, this guy goes go straight to the point! He knows his trade well! thanks for the excellent tips!!!add another subscription!! Rob

[@pinknsilverlady]

Thank You. This video has helped me understand why all my plugs keep falling out. I'm going out tomorrow and get the ones you suggested and replacing them. Again thank you. 🙏❤️

[@magnus_the_grouchy_gamer]

Thank you for this video. I am a new homeowner and the house I bought is 130 years old! I have several outlets where plugs just fall out and now I have the resource I need to replace them!

[@sherricabinaw8474]

Great video! You helped me understand what happened to the outlet and how to fix it. Thank you! My husband plays the guitar and his amps pull a lot of juice. Which in turn weakened the outlet. I look forward to more videos.

[@texasseastar]

Video Popped up in my timeline. I’ve got a house full of these crappy old outlets that I need to switch out. This video is really informative.

[@Sabbathissaturday]

They are watching us...they know ;) ✋🏻 from the high desert of Texas.

[@lovingatlanta]

👍The details of “why” it happens is interesting. Thank you for taking the time to make & post this video. 🙏💝

[@marccannon1776]

Most thorough and efficient how to fix outlet video on the tube. Thanks !

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Thanks Marc!

[@angelinef.3637]

Thank you for explaining why that happens and showing the solution! Even if I don’t replace it myself at least now I know why and how. Appreciate your generosity in sharing your knowledge so clearly.

[@johndidomenico6558]

Hello. I appreciate your effort showing the steps in replacing an electric outlet. I myself have been an electrician for over 30 years and have been an expert electric trouble shooter. If I may critique you a bit just for constructive purposes. As you had said licensed electrician do not like non contact volt sticks. That is correct . Any tester that you need to put batteries in to give a reading just isn't a good idea. Through experience I've learned this as many of my peers have as well. The next thing is. Putting 2 wires under thst same screw isn't the best idea in my opinion. You only have 2 wires on each side. Put 1 wire under 1 terminal screw and the other wire in the 2nd terminal screw. First reason is heat the one screw holding both wires will create more heat. Spreading out the load a bit by using both screws will help distribute that more evenly. Another reason the wire being solid copper does put resistive weight on the outlet as you push it in the box. The wire will push against the terminal screw and that weight plus the electric usage can cause the screws to loosen due to vibration and expansion and contracting. An even better method is to pig tail the wires so only 1 wire goes to the outlet on each side. If you do have an outlet issue and it goes bad it won't affect the rest of the circuit. Just my opinion.

[@tee86ify]

Pig tailing is best option. Yes contactless testers are ways electricians die. Bad battery and a bad thing can happen

[@jimzimmerman5288]

Double lugging is a code violation anyway.

[@christophervilla1891]

Great comment - I'm just a PC repair guy, however I have done some home repair on electrical items... Could you please elaborate on "pigtailing" - IF I understand correctly, does that mean twist the two wires on each side into a cap, with a third wire (presumable a small piece one would cut with the same gauge) extending out into the screw?

[@bobbygunn2393]

Another thing to mention is to check to see if the bonding tab that connects the two receptacles together has not been cut.if it has been cut then the two wires need to be one in each terminal because one receptacle is likely controlled by a switch on the wall. Usually in older homes without ceiling lights this way you can plug a lamp in the one controlled by the switch on the wall. By the way only break the hot bonding tab and leave the neutral intact

[@appel199]

I always pig taiil if there is more than one wire. Another reason to pigtail is if something goes wrong in the receptacle it will not knockout other receptacles down the line.

[@charliesgrumma5388]

*FUN FACTOID: A two prong cord that will only plug in one way is called a "polarized plug" and will have one spade that is wider than the other one. The smaller of the two spades is the "hot" side (copper colored screw on the receptacle) and the widest spade is the "neutral" side (silver colored screw). The "round" spade on a three prong plug is always the ground wire. When installing a GFI (ground fault interrupter) (where two or more receptacles are on the same circuit be sure to install the GFI at the first receptacle or closest receptacle to the breaker box. This will trip and stop the current to all receptacles down the line behind it in case of one shorting out.*

[@aliceinwonderland887]

Just bend the prongs. They always fit perfect and snug and there is never a problem. I have several outlets throughout my house where they are worn but I bent the prongs inwards and shoved the plug in and never had a problem again. You can't tell me that's a hazard, can ya? I mean I do wonder why that would not be an acceptable solution for someone who don't wanna take the damn thing apart. I have bent them for decades, never had a problem that I know of. There must be a reason why he does not mention that.

[@charliesgrumma5388]

@@aliceinwonderland887 Probably only two reasons that I can think of as to why this is not mentioned. One, when the connection is "loose" sparks or arching can occur inside the wall when contact is made with the plug. And also devices that use a moderate amount of electricity such as an electric heater for example can overheat the plug and cause an electrical fire if there is a poor connection between the appliance and the electrical connection.

[@7SeventhFromAdam]

First time viewer here. I have zero knowledge about electricity, wiring, etc., except for plugging my phone charger and turning on/off light switches. Great job explaining how to fix and replace sunken outlets. Straightforward. Clear. Understandable. Your demo made this job look so easy. You got me interested in doing electrical stuff. 😂 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@sns1804]

Yes, I didn't know there was a commercial and residential grade outlet. Now I know what to do about the extra contact screw that's typically left out. If not used, screw it back in. Thank you for filling in those "gaps" in my knowledge. You made my life more complete.

[@sig9girl]

Thanks for sharing this! I am finding a few of my outlets are loose. My house was built in 1954, so I guess that’s definitely to be expected! I will be tackling this issue this week!

[@janesmith716]

I wish I had the outlets from 1954, everything new is garbage.

[@robertagannon442]

Mines from 1949 & we definitely have the outlets from long ago 🤓

[@SJmystic]

Great visuals and easy-to-understand narration. I appreciated all the tips you included and how clearly you described and illustrated it all. Thank you for taking the time to make this!!!

[@terrbare60]

I'm a diy'r I do ground down. This is from the 10 things about an outlet. I really like your videos. I'm from South Dakota and I come across quite a few limp and lazy I called them outlets that are worn out from space heaters and whatever causes them to get hot and limp. Thanks and be safe!

[@soniatriana9091]

Scott, thank you for sharing so much important information!! Whether you own, renter, or are a Landlord, everyone wants to be safe in their living environment/home!! You provided such excellent information about safety, that we all need to know!! What a great service you provided to those of us who need to learn/know this valuable information!! 👍🏻🤗👏🏻👏🏻

[@JWEmbry-wc7qi]

Good info and examples! Thanks for taking the time to record and upload this for us.

[@richardrobertson1331]

Well done. Thanks for posting this important basic video. I wish you would have let us see you get all those old wires back into the box after the new socket was attached. That's always been my challenge . . . they just seem to resist my best efforts (especially 12 ga wire). Thanks, again.

[@bsanchez3563]

Yeah well this is true- ngl solid core wire if it is either stiff type of metal or kinda thick then it can be pretty resistant to going where it's supposed to go.

[@natalianatasha-nikitaescov3147]

you are very patient. Thank you, wow you helped resolve other electrical issues that had simply stumped me. But you explaining the hot and the neutral etc... made sense why I have shorts in this house that I have been bequeathed by my late husband. God bless you.

[@MysticalMe131]

You are Totally Amazing at Teaching Someone who knows nothing about electrical plugs and all. Thank you so much.

[@heroknaderi]

I appreciate your video. And one thing I love about metal boxes is the screws turn very easily vs some plastic boxes the screws require more torque.

[@toriless]

It has never been any problem for me.

[@bludelphinium994]

I’ve been dealing with this problem and have been wanting to fix it for a long time but didn’t know how. Thanks! ⭐️

[@andycopeland7051]

Lol had no idea that I needed to replace it! O wait actually that was the only thing I could imagine doing. Is that what you're saying?

[@andycopeland7051]

@Twisted Hillbilly ditto

[@songsan807]

Thanks for this great video. Have 2 outlets at home with this current issue for a couple of weeks and now understand why this is happening. Should be able to change them out now quickly.

[@bertsheridan2567]

I love this guys simple and accurate descriptions of methods and materials

[@greenback123]

Great advice on upgrading to commercial grade. They seem to never lose their plug grip tension.

[@Quacks0]

7:10 Another advantage of cutting off the old hook-bent wire-ends (if the existing wire-length allows it) is that you will not be re-using the already flexed-several times wire-ends that could thus be embrittled from metal-fatigue; for maximum current-carrying capability, you'll always want nice "fresh" solid wire that hasn't been cracked or abraded.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Thanks for the feedback Fred 👍

[@Valavaern]

I love how the giant "SUBSCRIBE" thing comes up in perfect timing to cover up what you're pointing out. Top tier editing right there.

[@Yeakerr]

My dad was a electrician did houses and also worked at some nuclear plants .Im a sheetmetal journeyman i wish i listened to him more now that im remodeling my house but your videos are very helpfull .those steel boxes like that in my house i know my dad fixed for me at one time when i open them they always have a couple of black tape wraps around them to keep from shorting out .

[@jasonw6688]

Thank you for posting this, this was very helpful. 😊 Seriously, thank you. I've been having the same issue with an outlet at my house and now I learned something new. 😊

[@toriless]

Biggest issue I had was the GC used back wiring and the electrician side wiring so I had to remove all the back wiring and make it code compliant where the GC had installed it. All the GFCI was correct but not the AFCI and about half the switch were one way vs the other.

[@elsie3255]

Thank you. I live in an apartment complex. Have complained about the outlets doing just that. Not holding and was told to just bend the prongs so they hold. True statement. Guess I will go buy my own and then have them installed. Safety hazard, eh! God bless you and keep you safe.

[@stevenmartinez5531]

Lol..... That's what I did too!

[@TomCee53]

Send the landlord the bill for the outlets, at least, and get the better ones. If you are replacing 2-prong outlets, you should be using gfci or afci outlets. Even without a ground wire, they are preferred.

[@bagpipes978]

Fantastic video! I have a wobbly plug insert and now I not only know why but I know how to replace it. Thank you so much for your excellent step by step instructional video! I'm now a new subscriber! 😊

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Welcome to the channel!

[@zippyustar6350]

Thank you for taking the time/ easy to listen and no crazy drama or pink hair / thank you for being good at what u do 💡👏🏻🥳💋

[@markc2643]

I like how you mentioned hotel rooms with lose outlets. I've seen several hotel rooms where the wall outlets were inaccessible, and all the newer lamp base outlets were so loose that my phone charger wouldn't stay connected to charge my phone. I told the front desk the maids were plugging the vacuum cleaner into the lamp bases which is a problem since some of those outlets are only rated at maximum 3 amps.

[@grandmajane2593]

I can understand why they do that. Those outlets are always located in some far inconvenient place. People don't want to move furniture just to plug something in.

[@toriless]

3A, what garbage dump were they from, I have never seen anything under 15A.

[@markc2643]

@@toriless I'm talking about the outlet built into the base of a lamp that you can plug in a phone charger. I'm in a hotel right now and it has a sticker on it saying 3.5AMP Max Combined. That is the norm for auxiliary outlets on appliances, not 15 AMPS.

[@CDeMar22]

Not specifically in reference to the socket on the lamp itself, but it genuinely amazes me that hotels don't use flat front, 90º plugs behind furniture like nightstands to keep the plugs of the lamps, alarm clock, etc., from getting mangled from the furniture shifting around and ending up pulled out exposed halfway from the wall just waiting for someone to touch - OR drop something metal off the nightstand and enjoy a nice fireworks show.

[@goldenpun5592]

Any do-it-yourself video where you aren't sitting there thinking, "GET ON WITH IT" is a good video. Good job.

[@sempertubby]

I second this notion. Just get to the job...I don't need the backstory. Thanks for keeping it to the point.

[@davidbeaulieu4815]

I'm very tempted when I move out to f*** this up for my landlord. I should be the one having to do this. Thankfully my dad's an electrician unfortunately he's dead but I have all his tools

[@jamesharris8583]

Maybe I'm getting old or impatient. Several times I thought "get on with it already" and skipped ahead.

[@FactsMatter]

Really? 11 minutes for a simple "how to replace an outlet" video? You're more patient than I am.

[@Sactowoman69]

Just fast forward already.

[@waynecole1918]

I like your videos,, they are well done and quite informative. One thing I think you could've mentioned, is you had two hots and two commons, that you removed from BOTH screws on each side of the old receptacle, but you put the two (hots & commons) back onto only one of the screws on each side of the new receptacle when you re-installed them. Perhaps you should've mentioned that the upper and lower receptacles are linked together by a "jumper" of sorts. Just in case anyone noticed and was confused.

[@marcd1981]

Thank you for this video. Very good information, presented in a straightforward manner. No-fluff videos are very much appreciated. And the tool list was a nice touch, thank you for that, as well.

[@jbs8659]

Great video. Big thumbs up for showing us the insides of the old receptacle and the new one. Thank you for the explanation on why it happens.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@pinchpeak5203]

An easy 20 minute fix for something that makes such a difference. Thanks a lot

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Glad it helped!

[@toriless]

MUCH less if experienced.

[@KennethShaggy]

Love your guide man it was a huge help towards restoring outlets around the halfway house I live in!

[@jimfogle184]

I REALLY liked your cutaways. Very clean and professional looking.

[@chriswatts2096]

Cool. I learned something, thanks. My mother’s house has several bad ones. Cord falls out and I get the call to come reset the clock.

[@rafabonati7757]

This is a very good informative home repair video. Your presentation was clear and concise. Seeing this made me want to subscribe to find other home repair tips you have.

[@mikesims1075]

Thank you for mentioning proper use of the stripping tool. Excellent video!

[@twopoolpeople]

Great to the point video and no annoying music! Thank you...

[@MrArdytube]

Lol, I have often run into this problem. It never occurred to me that an outlet could wear out!!! It is kind of amazing that a better quality part costs so little more than the cheap version. Another thing to be aware of is that you can now get outlets with usb power built in…. A nice convenience to avoid a power brick for electronics

[@joesphmurphy4013]

Thanks for the "how to" video; I learned something.

[@bikerchick563]

Wow! What an awesome video. Thanks so much for explaining all of this. I've already replaced my outlets before. But this video taught me more.

[@chilledoutpaul]

I use to be an electrician in the UK (retired now) and yes I do know a little bit about American electrics but it is nice to watch a Americans wire up things to see the differences between us! We have 2 new things we have to do now; The first is to PROVE something's dead (you can now buy a new 2 part test meters here). And the second is now the electrical council prefers you to use a torque wrench screwdrivers (obviously to make sure the connection is the correct tightness) "I dont know if the torque screwdriver is regulation yet". The UK the electrical council has for the last 20 years or so has been quite hot on health and safety and has always been hot on making sure the equipment your working on is dead and tagged out.

[@emmkaa2099]

Very helpful to know what it exactly is that is happening to make my plugs just fall out of the outlet... thank you for that. Also, interesting to know that it's necessary to check the top AND bottom outlet. I always thought if one is off line the other one would be as well. Hmmm 🤔 🙂 Got it! Thanks again. From the Southern California desert, MK 🙂🏜

[@BubbasDad]

Its always possible that there are two feeds to the receptacle, with the hots separate.

[@dmitripogosian5084]

Practically every kitchen over the counter receptacles in USA/Canada are on two separate circuits - bottom on one and top on the other. So don''t plug all your kitchen appliances into one level :), especially power hungry such as kettles/coffee-makers

[@bigboybuilder]

the 59 cent recpt is just for contractors to make extra money, a specification or hospital grade is the only one i buy because i worked at a place that built pumps and every single one was plugged in (thousand times a day) and ran to test flow, pressure and draw, as a result the cheep ones wouldn't last a day, on the spec and hospital grade the plastic would wear out to the point where you could touch the metal with your little finger but would hold the plug.

[@kayekaye251]

So glad I found this. The outlets at a relatives' house drive me crazy with most plugs falling out. Now at least I know why. Maybe I can get them to fix the plugs.

[@PalmerS05]

Thanks very much. Need to replace one of these tomorrow and a video like this is exactly what I was looking for.

[@raysmalley4725]

Rather than "worn out by current", it's more accurate to say the folded over metal in the receptacle has been used so much, it no longer has enough "spring" to hold the plug blade. Any house over 10yrs old will start having this happen in high use areas, especially in kitchens and bathrooms. I was a new build resi & service electrician for 12 yrs, and did tons of side work in old houses, particularly replacing plugs and switches in rental houses between tenants for a bunch of property management companies. Good videos, and good advice. And yeah, stop painting over receptacles.

[@TomCee53]

I agree with the paint, it really looks tacky after awhile. I generally remove the plates and put masking tape over the outlet. If necessary, you can plug into the outlet through the tape for a light, etc.

[@apackwestbound5946]

Scott, your video's are simply AMAZING! I watched enough of your videos and was surprised to hear you say that you were not a licensed electrician, Why not? You seem to have the knowledge base so what is keeping you from the certification? I will continue to try and buy supplies/tools from your "store" in an effort to support your time and energy that you have put into educating me. Thank you again!

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

That is a good question. I am not against it but just focused on growing this channel and investing in real estate at the moment. I do like the idea of becoming certified to help promote people getting into the trades as I think it can make for a great living if done right. Appreciate the feedback and all your support.

[@apackwestbound5946]

@@EverydayHomeRepairs Thank you for the time you put in replying and for the effort you place in your videos. I am SURE you are going to be wildly successful in everything you do. Scott, cream always rises to the top. By the way I just bought 2 Milwaukee ECX screwdrivers from your "store" $65+. Surprisingly the delivery date for one of the two screwdrivers is 6 to 8 weeks out..... -respectfully

[@neipas09]

The tamper protection was broken on that and you still installed it... WOW!!!

[@jyunte]

Thank you for the great video! The professional electrician I hired a few years ago to replace all my outlets and install new ones, used bargain basement outlets that still didn't hold 2-prong plugs! I replaced the worst offender with the outlet you recommended... No fire, no explosions... I know have a working outlet that even holds the plug for the vacuum cleaner that I used to clean up the mess from the drywall! Interestingly enough, the professional electrician had wound the ground wire on backwards! 😮

[@lrobie123]

I always use Professional grade plugs when replacing worn out 1980's style Residential grade 15 amp plugs at my home. Leviton brand

[@Nick-bh1fy]

@Brandon Penny by professional he probably means commercial or hospital grade which is more expensive, or u can get residential grade which is a lot cheaper in price. Both r sold at hardware stores

[@donsmith7354]

Old school electrician taught me as a last step. Wrap the outlet with electrical tape covering the contact screws as an added safety measure.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Yeah, I think there are a number of people who recommended the same. I honestly don't see it much here in Illinois from the properties I have worked on.

[@robertthomas5906]

Man, don't do that. That electrical tape will dry out, sometimes they get hot and could get into the socket itself and make a mess. I've seen it. Are you sure he's an electrician? If I found that I'd inspect every socket in the house. Who knows what you'd find. Follow the standards. They really know what they're talking about. If they say wrap it, wrap it. If the don't say wrap it, don't wrap it. That's because they didn't test it wrapped. Now you're making someone a test subject. What he's doing is substandard. As long as you stick with parts that are to code you're going to be fine. No need for tape.

[@daledoe-baggins]

@@robertthomas5906 Almost every electrician I've ever known will put electrical tape around the outlet if it's going into a metal box.

[@knotbumper]

@@robertthomas5906 Not sure where you got that information. 42 years in the trade, we do it all the time, that way when you re pulling an outlet or a switch you stand less chance of shorting it out. It also speeds up service work. Not sure what sort of tape you are using but even the current cheap vinyl plstic tape does not "dry out' you get something like 33 that is made to last longer than your lifetime.

[@robertthomas5906]

@@knotbumper A guy telling me I'm wrong who admits to pulling live outlets and switches. LOL. It's not needed. I have to wonder why you're pulling outlets and switches while they're live. You're not going to short out one if it's not live and if it's installed it won't hit. Unless you really try to make it short out or something is damaged I suppose. I've tried, the screw on the socket isn't long enough to touch as long as you're using materials that are to code. Even on a budget builder grade 60 year old socket. It's fool proof, however that's only idiot resistant. There is only one time I ever came across a socket that was wrapped like this. That same guy also hooked a 50 amp range to an original 40 year old 20 amp circuit. No change in wires. He also wired fans into a wall and dry-walled around it. The bug inside the wall was about the size of a baseball (and the tape was drying out and failing). In other words - he was clueless and a danger to anyone in the house. We found all kinds of serious violations in that house that had to be corrected. Many thousands of dollars to fix. New wires, new breakers, new sockets (he used cheapest and then broke plastic on some of them), one room we had to re-wire entirely to meet code. All the drywall had to come down and then we found out the wall wasn't even to code. 36" center to stud spacing. Non load bearing, however it should still be right. I feel safe betting $100 that I could pick at random 100 houses and not one of them would have a wrapped socket. Maybe you like wasting money on electrical tape? Wire it correctly, do neat work and you don't need electrical tape. It'll look like a professional did it. With tape it'll look like a home owner or "handyman" that was clueless did it. Just my advice.

[@jeannieelliott8519]

This video came up at just the right time. I have a bedroom I need new plug-ins installed, & now I know there's a difference 2 look 4. I'll definitely get the $2.00 plugs u recommend. Your Oregon Viewer.

[@buckmclean8391]

When I was in Europe I saw that all their outlets are recessed. Very smart design that we should be using here.

[@carljorgensen2813]

Really great explanation I am subscribing to you accidentally came across most people don’t give that kind of explanation thank you very much and keep up the good work

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Thanks Carl!

[@keithmikoff5547]

Sitting down or not, great video!

[@lumartin1908]

Very informative. All of the outlets in my bedroom are like this. They must have been pretty cheap outlets, because the bedroom addition is 50 years newer than the rest of my house. Will get those fixed right away!!

[@CDeMar22]

I've had the contractor-grade devices from the big chains (Lowe's, Home Depot) fail within 3 years with minimal use. It's upsetting how cheaply things are made with almost seemingly complete disregard for safety. Definitely spring for the higher-quality.

[@denny8548]

This whole 11 minutes of this video is to tell you to replace outlet. Amazing.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

You’re welcome.

[@SuperPaul2006]

When I was an electrician I learned that wrapping electrical tape around the screws of the plug after connecting the wires helps prevent the risk of the screws touching the sides of the metal box and prevents shortening out the breaker.

[@hiseminencetheholymacdiarmada]

When the proper outlets and proper boxes are used and the wires are connected properly, there is absolutely no chance of shorting. Wrapping tape around it is pointless. If you’re hooking up and there is a potential for shorting, then you need to find a new profession, and a good defense lawyer for that matter.

[@Tre16]

@@hiseminencetheholymacdiarmada there is absolutely a chance on single gang metal boxes. Tf you talking about lol

[@thecloneguyz]

Most people don't realize you're supposed to replace a breaker after 5-7 trips because it breaks easier every time

[@lufknuht5960]

What do you mean "screws of the plug"??? Typical plugs on appliances have no screws. Do you mean the screws of the outlets???

[@timhammond691]

@Kevin Matheson Did you think that this is an older home since the receptacle is obviously worn out and metal boxes were the only option when this was constructed? Wrapping tape around the receptacle before installation is a common practice that helps prevent shorts if the screw and wire termination becomes loose due to vibration or possible heating and cooling cycles when using high amperage appliances like vacuums.

[@everythinghomerepair1747]

Great video but I think you should mention that the screw terminals need to be very tight or else the connection will overheat.

[@briansd2772]

Interesting! Never thought about hotel service staff wearing out those oh so easily accessible outlets on the desktops/lamps with their sweepers. That explains alot. Thanks.

[@georgesadler7830]

Thank you so much for helping me with the electrical basics.

[@JasonEDragon]

The other safety issue besides exposed prongs is that a loose receptacle makes a poor electrical connection. The increased resistance at the receptacle produces localized heating that can damage the insulation of the wires. I'd replace any receptacle that doesn't hold a 2 prong plug as tightly as a new receptacle. If either the neutral or hot prong is loose enough then you can have a fire hazard - even if the ground prong makes a firm connection.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Hey Jason, thanks for the feedback and agree the increased heat doesn't do any favors for the life of the receptacle.

[@waynegram8907]

How can you measure the "leakage current" ?

[@rickhunt3183]

Thats exactly right..loose wires cause fires. I recommend looking at every outlet with a load on thermal infrared, the beakers too. It only cost about 2 dollars to replace a 20 year old receptacle.

[@waynegram8907]

@@rickhunt3183 what do you mean by a load on thermal infrared?

[@JasonEDragon]

@@waynegram8907 He means that you need to plug in something that will draw a high current - such as a hair dryer. If there is unacceptable resistance at the outlet then you will see the outlet heat up on the infrared camera. On the other hand, if you only plug in something that draws a small current, like a LED light, then there won't be much resistive heating to detect

[@alexauf]

Good information. May want to do a video on reversed polarity in outlets. Another good reason to buy those testers.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Good idea, I might start taking small video clips as I run across the different outlet issues and then put those together into a larger video showing the range of issues. Thanks for the feedback.

[@fomoco300k]

@@EverydayHomeRepairs, or put the shorts clips into a playlist, so someone could watch the portions they need and easily skip the other parts. Just a thought

[@billsmith951]

The spacers, the of addition and knowing the right screw to use is very helpful. Also, I need for Torx screwdrivers which are new to me. Good to know.

[@TruckTaxiMoveIt]

Thanks I learned a couple of things, I didn't know that there were different ampage outlets and I didn't know about the gold side versus the non-gold side of the outlet

[@Artistram3d1]

Great video, I learned so much from it. Thank you, new sub!

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Awesome, thank you!

[@kentw.england2305]

Non-contact testers detect live wires on switched outlets that plug-in testers do not. Love the outlet autopsy.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Thanks Kent 👍

[@rickgalbraith2752]

The only time where non-contact testers show hot where a contact testeer won't is where the switch is on the neutral side, so not cutting off hot from the outlet.

[@byron7165]

@@rickgalbraith2752 but that would be a code violation in every jurisdiction.

[@PhantomWorksStudios]

@@byron7165 it is but I've seen it multiple times...

[@spvillano]

@@PhantomWorksStudios same here. A prizewinner was one, whose rocket scientist who ran those runs, switched neutral and supplied hot from both buses of the service! Thought it was off, checked, cussed all the way back to the fuse box. That one was a Frankenstein job, knob and tube, modern wiring amateurishly ran, five alarm fire waiting to happen.

[@chaplainmattsanders4884]

Good education, particularly cutting open the outlet to see the guts. I never knew the cause. 👍🏾

[@denisa_the_jedi]

Cool and detailed explanation. Good thing I live in Europe and I don't have this problem, because we have different outlets, but great info to know just in case.

[@brendaleverick3655]

Thank you! I have this problem right now. 👏👏

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Happy to help!

[@larrymckenzie6910]

You can wire it like that but but if you put one wire under one screw and the other wire under the other screw if something happens to the plug the copper piece between the two screws act’s a fuse link and it can protect the circuit down the line and also makes it easier to find where the trouble is.

[@bradbrown5659]

Great video man . I have to do that in my house . she's older but solid. I have several plugs that aren't grounded . 1956. so I was told I can ground to the box. thanks for the video . subscribing .

[@lakesuperiorgirl17]

This is so helpful and thanks for not having annoying music