Electrical outlets?

Meredith
by Meredith

So my house was finished off by friends followed by a not so stable inspector. Don't ask..... So is it difficult to turn upside electrical outlets right side up?


  9 answers
  • William William on May 16, 2022

    It really doesn't matter the orientation of an outlet. There is no right side up or upside down. There is no code that says an outlet needs to be installed one way or the other. If they do bother you it's easy to turn them around. Turn power off at the breaker box. Double check there is no power at the outlet. Remove the outlet cover then unscrew the two screws holding the outlet to the box. Gently pull the outlet out of the box. Then just rotate the outlet making sure no wires separate from their connection. If the wires are to short to rotate the outlet then the wires will need to be disconnected from the outlet to rotate it and reconnected. Reinstall the outlet to the box and replace the cover.


    https://www.thespruce.com/why-outlets-are-upside-down-1821535

  • Mogie Mogie on May 16, 2022

    There is no official right or wrong way to orient a receptacle—the National Electrical Code doesn’t specify—but you can decide by using logic and common sense. Clothes washers, refrigerators, and window air conditioners typically have cords with immediate-turn plugs. For appliances with this type of plug, orient the receptacle so that the plug inserts without having to loop over itself. Otherwise, the downward pull of the cord tends to tug the plug from the receptacle.

    https://www.finehomebuilding.com/project-guides/wiring/upside-down-electrical-outlet

  • You can, just make sure the power is off and none of the wires break when you turn it.

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on May 16, 2022

    There is no "right" orientation, simply what you prefer. If it's bugging you, remove the cover and unscrew then flip, screw in, and replace the cover. This is IF you have sufficient wire length to do that. If not, you have to remove wiring before flipping. Make sure electrical breakers are turned off before attempting. I have some in my bathroom that are 2 different ways and I just live with it because I have bigger projects and I've accepted it. I have clinical OCD so I feel like if I can, anyone can.

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on May 16, 2022

    It really is not an issue which way the prongs go into the outlet. Some good directions by other Hometalkers if you would like to re-orient the outlet.

  • Janice Janice on May 16, 2022

    Keep in mind that in some regions of the U.S., it's customary for some builders to install the "switched" outlets used for lamps, etc. across the room from the room entrance to be installed opposite to the rest of the outlets. As a Realtor in Colorado and later in Arizona, this was the procedure used by many new home builders.

  • 17335038 17335038 on May 17, 2022

    For anyone who is not familiar with the immediate turn plugs that Mogie mentioned, here is a photo.


  • Seth Seth on May 17, 2022

    I would be more concerned that they were wired correctly. Friends doing electrical work is a little scary. I would buy a polarity tester and test each outlet. I might pull a couple just to see how well the wire connections are made.

  • Like folks have said, there's no up or down to an outlet but if you want to flip them around, it's easy. If it makes you nervous though, absolutely have a licensed professional do it. Make sure the outlets are off at the breaker box, double check, trust me, unscrew the plate, unscrew the outlet and carefully flip it over ensuring no wires come loose. You'd then screw it all back together. Electricity is dangerous so again, if any of this makes you uncomfortable, have a pro handle it.