electrical outlets with no surrounding drywall
#1
09-11-02, 02:38 PM
electrical outlets with no surrounding drywall
Hi all, I am a new homeowner. Some of the outlets in the house are not properly fixed to the walls. In other words, I have an outlet that sticks out being held up by its own wires. Behind them, is not a nice flat square opening, but a hole to where it would bolt to the drywall. What is the right way of fixing this so that I do not have a fire hazard?
#2
09-11-02, 04:36 PM
BE SURE POWER IS OFF BEFORE PROCEEDING!!!!
Is the thickness of the wall enough for the depth of a box? 1 1/2-2 1/2 inches from face of drywall?If so,you will need to go buy some old work boxes to make the repair.First shut off the power to the outlets then remove them from the boxes(do 1 at a time).Next make a drawing of how the wires are attached to the device and any splices that may be made in the box.(It helps to number the wires or label them with a piece of tape)Then remove the wires from the device as well as from the box.Mark the drywall and cut it out to the size of new box,being careful not to cut the wires in the wall.Insert the wires into the box and install the box in the wall,tighten the ears that hold the box in place.Reinstall the devices just as you removed them.
BE SURE THE POWER IS TURNED OFF!!! IF YOU DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH ANY OF THIS WORK,CALL A PROFESSIONAL!!!
Is the thickness of the wall enough for the depth of a box? 1 1/2-2 1/2 inches from face of drywall?If so,you will need to go buy some old work boxes to make the repair.First shut off the power to the outlets then remove them from the boxes(do 1 at a time).Next make a drawing of how the wires are attached to the device and any splices that may be made in the box.(It helps to number the wires or label them with a piece of tape)Then remove the wires from the device as well as from the box.Mark the drywall and cut it out to the size of new box,being careful not to cut the wires in the wall.Insert the wires into the box and install the box in the wall,tighten the ears that hold the box in place.Reinstall the devices just as you removed them.
BE SURE THE POWER IS TURNED OFF!!! IF YOU DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH ANY OF THIS WORK,CALL A PROFESSIONAL!!!
#3
09-11-02, 04:54 PM
ok, that makes sense... The hole around the outlet cover in the dry wall is bigger than the outlet cover, so I will have to replace the drywall? Does an electrician mess with drywall patching? If I put in a hole new box, I will still have a hole around the outlet cover. Thanks again. Jeremy
#4
09-11-02, 06:02 PM
I'm sorry I thought you meant a small hole for the wires,not a 4x4 inch hole.The old work boxes will be too small!Are the boxes next to a stud where they can be attached to it and the sheetrock patched?You might be able to use 2 gang old work boxes and make all the outlets double duplex.They will measure approx.3 x4.
#6
09-12-02, 08:36 AM
These are great ideas, thanks a million, gonna stick my head in it today, (not literally) and see which of those 2 ideas I will choose, thanks again.
