Doctor_Frasier_Crane t1_it3a65q wrote on October 20, 2022 at 4:52 PM

Take a look at how they're wired... I bet they're back-stabbed. Re-do them properly using the side screw terminals. Some outlets you can extract the wire, but if not, just cut it off and replace it.

I did that to my whole house after noticing some of the often-used outlets were getting warm and smelled.

napstur OP t1_it3aqks wrote on October 20, 2022 at 4:56 PM

Thanks for your advice, my friend is an electrician and although I feel I can do this myself, I'm smart enough to know when it's best to leave it to an expert to get it done properly. I'll call in a favour and grab a box of beer for them. Thanks for your help.

Doctor_Frasier_Crane t1_it3bd0r wrote on October 20, 2022 at 5:00 PM

Get him to teach you and you can both do it in less time. Spend the saved time drinking the beer!

Honestly, if you can work a screwdriver and a pair of pliers, you can rewire an outlet.

kcrab91 t1_it3g295 wrote on October 20, 2022 at 5:30 PM

You can buy an outlet tester at your local depot store. It’s a device that you simply plug in and it will tell you if the outlet is connected properly. They’re like $10-20.

Electrician friends are cool too, but don’t abuse that. Ask questions or pay for their services at their rates. They don’t want Saturday projects that pay a 6 pack just like you wouldn’t. It’s like the guy with a truck. He only gets a call when someone needs to use the truck.

Ishidan01 t1_it3hc1a wrote on October 20, 2022 at 5:38 PM

Lol. I just had to replace an outlet in a condo that was built in the 70s, where the outlet started near burning as described. It was a center of the stream one so it had both line and load wires.

Whoever installed it had a mixed philosophy. Both whites and the load black were stabbied, the line black was hooked.

Guess which one failed!