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GFCI Outlet Replacement

What you need

  1. GFCI Outlet Replacement, GFCI Outlet: step 1, image 1 of 2 GFCI Outlet Replacement, GFCI Outlet: step 1, image 2 of 2
    • Find the breaker box and switch off the breaker that is labelled "GFCI receptacle"

    • If not sure, switch off all breakers.

  2. GFCI Outlet Replacement: step 2, image 1 of 1
    • Push the "Test" button once.

  3. GFCI Outlet Replacement: step 3, image 1 of 3 GFCI Outlet Replacement: step 3, image 2 of 3 GFCI Outlet Replacement: step 3, image 3 of 3
    • Using #2 flat-head screwdriver, remove the outlet cover by unscrewing the top and bottom screw.

  4. GFCI Outlet Replacement: step 4, image 1 of 2 GFCI Outlet Replacement: step 4, image 2 of 2
    • Using #2 flat-head screwdriver, unscrew the top and bottom screws holding the outlet onto the wall.

  5. GFCI Outlet Replacement: step 5, image 1 of 1
    • Pull the outlet out from the interior outlet box, exposing the wires that are inside the electrical box.

  6. GFCI Outlet Replacement: step 6, image 1 of 2 GFCI Outlet Replacement: step 6, image 2 of 2
    • Remove the 5mm Phillips #1 screw for the white wire (neutral wire) and free the wire from outlet.

    • The white wire (neutral wire) is typically located on the left side of the outlet.

  7. GFCI Outlet Replacement: step 7, image 1 of 2 GFCI Outlet Replacement: step 7, image 2 of 2
    • Remove the 5mm Philips #1 screw for the copper wire (ground wire) and free it from the outlet

    • The copper wire (ground wire) is typically located on the bottom of the outlet.

  8. GFCI Outlet Replacement: step 8, image 1 of 2 GFCI Outlet Replacement: step 8, image 2 of 2
    • Remove the 5mm Phillips #1 screw for the grey wire (hot wire) and free it from the outlet.

    • The grey wire (hot wire) is typically located on right side of the outlet.

  9. GFCI Outlet Replacement: step 9, image 1 of 2 GFCI Outlet Replacement: step 9, image 2 of 2
    • Push the "TEST" button on the new outlet.

  10. GFCI Outlet Replacement: step 10, image 1 of 3 GFCI Outlet Replacement: step 10, image 2 of 3 GFCI Outlet Replacement: step 10, image 3 of 3
    • Retrieve the copper wire (ground wire) and slip it into the copper hole which is attached with the green screw located bottom of the outlet.

    • Tighten the screw down with flat-head screwdriver.

    • Make sure to use the original equipped screws that come with the new GCIF outlet.

  11. GFCI Outlet Replacement: step 11, image 1 of 3 GFCI Outlet Replacement: step 11, image 2 of 3 GFCI Outlet Replacement: step 11, image 3 of 3
    • Locate a hole that is labeded white wire.

    • Slip in the white wire (neutral wire) into the hole located on left side of the outlet.

    • Tighten the screw down

    • The white wire (neutral wire) is typically located on left side of the outlet.

    • If there are two holes available, use the bottom hole.

  12. GFCI Outlet Replacement: step 12, image 1 of 2 GFCI Outlet Replacement: step 12, image 2 of 2
    • Locate a hole that is "HOT WIRE".

    • Slip in the grey wire (hot wire) into the hole located right side of the outlet.

    • Tighten the screw down.

    • If there are two holes available, use the bottom hole.

  13. GFCI Outlet Replacement: step 13, image 1 of 1
    • Push the outlet and wires back into the wall.

  14. GFCI Outlet Replacement: step 14, image 1 of 2 GFCI Outlet Replacement: step 14, image 2 of 2
    • Tighten the screws on the top and bottom tabs, positioning the outlet so that it is vertically straight.

    • Make sure to use the original equipped screws that come with the new GFCI outlet.

  15. GFCI Outlet Replacement: step 15, image 1 of 3 GFCI Outlet Replacement: step 15, image 2 of 3 GFCI Outlet Replacement: step 15, image 3 of 3
    • Install the outlet cover by tighten the top and bottom screws.

  16. GFCI Outlet Replacement: step 16, image 1 of 2 GFCI Outlet Replacement: step 16, image 2 of 2
    • Turn on all the breakers that you turned off in step 1.

  17. GFCI Outlet Replacement: step 17, image 1 of 1
    • Push in the "RESET" button until you hear "click" sound.

    • If no "click" sound, check and make sure that the correct breaker is switched to on position.

    • If still not getting "click" sound, start over from step 1 and make sure all three wires are inserted fully into the correct holes.

  18. GFCI Outlet Replacement: step 18, image 1 of 2 GFCI Outlet Replacement: step 18, image 2 of 2
    • Plug in the circuit tester into one of the plug.

    • Two yellow led lights will light up if the new outlet is installed correctly.

    • If two yellow LED lights does not light up, go back to step 1 and make sure the wires are fully inserted in the correct spots.

  19. GFCI Outlet Replacement: step 19, image 1 of 1
    • Congratulations, enjoy your functional GFCI outlet receptacle!

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

6 other people completed this guide.

2 Comments

If the GFCI outlet has two sets of white and black wires, keep track of them. One set will be coming from the breaker and plug into the LINE labeled screws, and the other set (labeled LOAD on the GFCI) goes to other “downstream” outlets that also benefit from the GFCI outlet's protection.

Skylar Ittner - Reply

Thank you! This was very helpful. I hired a certified electrician who I thought was going to do the work himself. Instead, he dropped off a crew of three non-English speakers to do the work. They screwed up the power to my kitchen doing substandard work in the garage. They left before I got back to the house, realized what they did, but the electrician’s response was, “It wasn’t me!” The kitchen lights were working properly BEFORE they did the work. I wish I had never hired this guy. He has only positive ratings on one of the “ratings” services, unfortunately.

RMA - Reply

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