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Plug comes out of wall

3K views 2 replies 3 participants last post by  jdoherty 
#1 ·
Hi

I have a plug recepacle that comes out of the wall when you pull a plug out. It seems like the drywall around it has loosened up and there isn't much to secure the box to. Are there any products or tricks to secure an outlet box to drywall when the opening is too big?
thanks
 
#2 · (Edited)
Hi, it depends on what you mean by too big and also what kind of box was in there in the first place. Boxes secure in different ways, "new work" boxes are designed for open walls and attach directly to the studs, they screw in and sometimes grab around the face of the studs with little claws. These should not come loose. "old work" boxes are designed to install without interior wall access. There are different methods used. One uses little sleeves that wrap around the box to secure against drywall. Others are plastic boxes that have little plastic tabs at the end of screws that as you turn the screws draw closer toward the wall and stand straight up eventually grabing the wall from behind like a clamp. If it is one of these, it may need to be tightened. IF it is one of the others, it may need to be replaced with one of these. You say you already have an electrician coming for the circuit tripping? You may want to ask about this as well.





 
#3 ·
box ears

Go to Lowe's or Home depot. buy a pair of box ears. Go home. Trip the breaker. Take off the cover plate. take the receptical out of the box, no need to remove the wires. push one box ear into the wall outside the box. adjust the box to the depth that you need and bend the two tabs completly over the edge of the box,. do the samre thing with the other ear, replace the receptical and cover plate, Throw the swirtch, problem solved.
 
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