[kaalapurushha]

I have been replacing outlets in my new house (The old owner painted over all of them. In fact, some covers had no screws - they were being held on by paint!), and I ran into something strange.

Most of the outlets had two black and two white wires. I am nearly sure this is part of a parallel wiring arangement in each room. However, one outlet in one room had three black and three white wires.

I haven't touched this one yet. Does this mean that this outlet has a main feed in to the room and then splits off in parallel on each side?

 

[Jim Port]

It could be what you suspect or just another branch in the circuit.

Join the 3 together with another short length of wire and wire nut the connection. Attach the other end of the pigtail to the receptacle.

 

[joed]

It depends on how they are connected.
It could be one feed in and two feeds out.
It could also be one feed in, one feed out and a switched feed to switch half of the receptacle.