Loose electrical outlets are a common nuisance in households and business establishments which occur with age. More often than not, this is what happens when contact points of the outlet wear out, making the materials less durable and prone to damage. Unfortunately, a loose electrical outlet can be intensified with sparks because of faulty wiring, which can significantly increase the risks of fire and other serious electrical incidents. Depending on the severity of the situation, you can choose to make DYI repairs or to seek a licensed electrician inspection nearby to check and fix the problem.

Nonetheless, as the property owner, it pays to know what to watch out for when checking your electrical outlets in order to stay on top of the situation and to prevent potential dangers for your Arvada, Colorado household.

Electrical Outlets Inspection 101

The rule of thumb is, if an outlet is heavily used, then it is more prone to getting loose. However, that does not mean that you should care less about the rarely used ones because even the outlets installed behind your fixtures or cabinet might be loose and hazardous too. When inspecting, these signs are what you should watch out for:

• Burns or scorch marks
• Frayed wires
• Loose outlets, wires, and faceplates

If your outlet is not showing any scorch marks or frayed wires and the repair will not be exposing you to direct danger, i.e. the loose outlet is where your hot tub’s power is sourced, then you can proceed with your DIY repair. Experts will not recommend it though. If you want to ensure the quality of work and your safety most importantly, it is always best to seek help from a certified electrician nearby who is armed with the knowledge, skills, and experience to get the job done right.

Tightening a Loose Outlet

As per the experts, tightening a loose outlet is so easy but it can expose anyone to serious hazards and can even be fatal. As a safety measure, licensed electricians from a professional electrical service company usually begin the task by turning off the property’s power breaker. Then, the tightening job will start.

• The faceplate gets removed with the right kind of screwdriver
• The screws that link the outlet to the wall box, i.e. those from the middle, top, and bottom parts, will be tightened up.
• The loose wires will have to be screwed back onto their respective terminals until they become well seated.

Once all is tightened, your licensed electrician in Arvada will screw the faceplate back on.

Clearly, a loose outlet is not an ordinary electrical issue that you can easily decide to fix. It is extremely perilous especially if you do not have the right tools and skills necessary for it. Your safety is our topmost priority. Give us a call at ElectriCall and we will be glad to dispatch our seasoned licensed electricians right away to fix your problem with quality and reliability. You should not be dealing with such dangers in the first place. We can conduct a general electrical inspection for your peace of mind. All it needs is your go signal.

We’ve got your electrical concerns covered. Call us today!