How do repair electric socket

Gip29139351
by Gip29139351
It has completely popped out of the wall. I'm not sure how to fix it.
  8 answers
  • Nancy Turner Nancy Turner on Feb 06, 2018

    It may have come loose from the box if there is one behind it. Try pulling it our a bit and see if there is a box behind it. That center screw holds it to the box. You may just need to put the screw back into the hole. If there is no box, like there should be, you may need to use silicone or something to put the cover back against the wall. There should be a box back there, if there isn't, your only choice would be to cut out the wall to put one in if it doesn't fit into the hole and attach it to a stud, no stud, ask at your local home improvement store about you options. My hubby usually does this stuff, but he is busy and I can't ask him right now.

    good luck!

  • Ken Ken on Feb 06, 2018

    I've seen way too many of these. The wallpaper will be sacrificed in this repair so I hope that you have more. This YouTube video shows one way to do a repair. Make sure that you turn the power off while you're working close to the outlet. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1VjxUNLB6g

  • M. M.. M. M.. on Feb 06, 2018

    IF the center screw won't hold, you may need a slightly longer screw. Take your to the hardware store to find the right size. If you glue the white cover to the wall, hold it with removable tape and maybe something pressing against it like a chair leg and a rolled towel to make sure it's tight against the wall..

  • Gonzalez-Moreno Samuel Gonzalez-Moreno Samuel on Feb 06, 2018

    first do you have the cover attached? If you have it take the screw in the center out and look for the two screa, one up the other down, to see if they came out or are loose, but before trying to put them back, make sure, you lower the fuse or breaker in the panel. Test the outlet to see any juice is on. If not just attaché the socket with an screwdriver. Now if the box onside is loose get some one to look at it and changed.

  • Susan Massey Susan Massey on Feb 06, 2018

    First TURN OFF THE BREAKER, then remove the cover piece. See if the thing can just be pushed back in, or figure out what caused it to come out.

  • Diane Forte Barfield Diane Forte Barfield on Feb 07, 2018

    Ok...first of all, the top plug looks burned. Maybe something got too hot and the cord had to be jerked out? If I were you, I would replace the whole thing and check the wiring too. It is a simple task, I do it all the time...but if unsure, get an electrician. It would be worth the money to know you are safe.

  • William William on Feb 07, 2018

    Some misinformation here. The center screw just holds the cover plate to the outlet. The outlet has two screws to mount it to the electrical box. Turn the breaker off. Check to make sure power is off the the outlet. You can plug a radio into the outlet, turn it on, turn the breaker off. Radio turns off - power is off. Remove the cover plate. There should be two screws, one up and one down, that hold the outlet to the electrical box. They probably just loosened from the box. Screw them back into the box. Sometimes the screws are just a little short and didn't grip right so you will need longer screws. Those are specific screws so you will need to go to hardware store or Homecenter to get longer screws. Take one of the screws with you. Hopefully there is an electrical box in the wall. A photo of the inside would have helped. Otherwise that is another repair. Any questions please ask.

  • Linda Linda on Feb 10, 2018

    I had nothing to attach the box to in my walls because they were plaster and there was no stud nearby to attach it to. I used switch box supports that I purchased at my local hardware store. Very inexpensive and simple to do. Turn off the power first. You have to angle them to insert the long bars behind the wall and pull it forward until it is snug against the wall. Be careful you don't drop it inside the wall. I bought extras just in case. Next bend the short bars around the sides of the box so it is tight against the wall. I hope this makes sense. It is the only thing I could find to fix my problem and it worked perfectly! Thanks to my electrician Dad.