Asked on Sep 08, 2017
My kitchen outlet pushed back into the wall. How do I fix it?
by
Mg Morrison
+14
Here's a video that might help you - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2NrPzPBvqE - good luck
It needs to be anchored to a stud. You might have to add a piece or two of boards like 2 x4 pieces above and below and anchor them to studs then anchor the plug. Be careful not to nail a wire and observe all the safety measures when working around electrical plugs and wires.
In the photo the lath and plaster has broken off the top of the opening. The plastic box has ears that grip the back of the wall when the screws are tightened. You will need to turn the power off, pull the box out of the wall. Do not remove the outlet. Take a piece of flat wood wider than the opening side to side by one inch on each side. Slip it into the hole and line it up with the top on the hole. Screw it to the wall from the outside. Cover the screw heads with drywall patching compound or even white toothpaste will work. Unscrew the mounting screws on the box making sure the ears are down. Insert the box into the wall and tighten the box mounting screws. The ears will move up as you tighten and grip the back of the wall. Put on the cover, turn power back on.
Go to HD and cut a Remodel Cut-in box and switch out receptacle. The "ears" on the box will attach to drywall.
You will need to install Madison bars on each side of your receptacle box. The long parts of the bar will go on the outside of the box and set behind your sheet rock and the smaller tabs will be bent in to the inside Of the electrical box. You will probably need to remove the electrical receptacle out of the box 1st in order to get the smaller tabs inside the box
The box that your recepticle is in is the wrong kind. Turn the power to that area off,use a screw driver to remove the screws holding it in the box.Take the box with you to the hardware store and show it to them.Tell them you have a stud on one side and on the bottom.They will get you the right box to install and tell you how to do it.Good luck
Step 1: get well acquainted with the fuse box in your home and make sure the circuit breaker to that receptacle is off. I didn't! SHOCKING! Just saying....