Install a New Outdoor Outlet Cover for Electrical Safety
by
John @ AZ DIY Guy
(IC: blogger)
$20.00
10 Minutes
Easy
If you're like us, the electrical receptacle on the front of our house gets serious use around the holidays. When I put lights for Halloween, I realized that the outlet was open to the elements. It hadn't been an issue for years, since it was previously covered by an ugly overhang / tunnel / thing that I'd torn down. Now it's open to the rain. (Yes, it rains in Arizona, occasionally)
New homes require "In Use" covers, but our ol' 1979 tract home didn't. It just had these flip covers that leave the thing open to the elements.
New homes require "In Use" covers, but our ol' 1979 tract home didn't. It just had these flip covers that leave the thing open to the elements.
It's an easy job. The cover pops off with two, face mounted screws. Peel off the foam gasket behind it as well.
I used a heavy duty grade cover. This particular model comes with the foam gasket permanently adhered to the back. Pry out the appropriate knock-out, for a vertical or horizontal install so that an extension cord will enter through the bottom of the cover.
If you are putting the box over a device other than a rectangular GFCI receptacle like I did, most of these covers come with snap-in adapters.
The cover screws on using the same screw holes on the device yolk that the old flip cover used. The hinged cover snaps on easily. I chose one that featured a steel hinge pin for extra toughness and an additional "wasp-guard" gasket for the cord entry port.
That's it. Just plug in a cord...
... and close the cover.
This is a super easy project that can help bring your house up to modern code. Check out the blog post for more tips and details, including "AZ DIY Guy's Scary Electrical Warning" and the unique challenge I faced trying to fit this slightly larger cover next to that vertical batten (?) board.
Enjoyed the project?
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
Published November 27th, 2014 4:30 PM
Comments
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2 of 3 comments
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Trish Davenport on Nov 30, 2014Oh do I need one of these. Only thing wrong with ours is it is so close to the floor of the front porch you almost have to lay down to use it.. LOL
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Maryinrockport on Nov 30, 2014Yes good idea, I always have plug outside, I like the look.
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