Things You'll Need

Instructions

1

Turn off the circuit breaker to the outlet you are changing. In most cases, the circuit breaker will either turn off all the outlets and switches on a wall or the entire room.
2

Remove the screw securing the outlet cover plate to the outlet with a flat-head screwdriver. Pull the plate away from the wall.
3

Set the scale on your multimeter to read volts. Place one probe on the black wire terminal screw of the outlet and the other probe on the red wire screw. There should be no voltage reading on your multimeter. This ensures there is no power to the outlet as you are working on it.
4

Remove the two screws securing the outlet to the junction box with a flathead screwdriver. Pull the outlet away from the junction box until you can access the side terminal screws. Loosen the screws with the screwdriver just enough to unhook the electrical wires from the outlet. Pull the outlet completely away from the wall.
5

Look at the ends of the house wires to ensure there are no cracks in the wire. If necessary, cut the ends of the wire with a pair of wire cutters and strip ¼-inch of insulation from the end with the wire strippers. Form the ends of the wire into a small hook with a pair of needle-nose pliers. This ensures a good connection when securing the new outlet.
6

Hook the ends of the white wire(s) around the necks of the silver terminal screw(s). Tighten the screws to secure the wire. Attach the black or red wires to the necks of the copper screws and tighten the screws with the screwdriver. The bare wire or green wire goes around the green screw on the outlet.
7

Place the outlet against the junction box, carefully stuffing the wires inside the box. Secure the outlet to to the junction box with the retaining screws. Attach the outlet cover plate to the outlet and secure with the mounting screw. Turn on the circuit breaker to the outlet.