Are you having trouble keeping your cords plugged in the outlets? You are not alone. We meet many frustrated customers because their plugs keep falling out of the outlets. It can also happen with power strips. Besides the frustration, this is a dangerous situation since loose outlets can cause shorts in the wiring and also damage your appliance.
Some people find their way around and continue using those outlets. It is dangerous, and you should look to resolve this issue from its root.
What Causes My Outlets to Do This?
The main reason for your plugs falling out of your outlets is that the outlets have worn out. Outlets consist of copper, metal, and plastic parts that deteriorate after a certain period. The connectors inside the outlet can lose grip and can not hold the prongs tightly enough anymore.
Outlets that are used often are more likely to lose grip due to repetitive use. For example, the outlet in your bedroom that you plug in your phone or laptop will get loose quicker because of repeated plugging and unplugging.
Besides that, the outlets can loosen if you repeatedly use a particular outlet with a cord stretching to its extent due to limited range. For example, you want to plug in a drill, but the outlet is barely in its reach. Due to not having another closer outlet, you will stretch out the cord to plug it in. This adds strain to the connectors, loosening their grip.
One more thing that can wear out your outlets is faulty wiring. This causes small fires when you plug in a wire and overheat the outlets. Since the outlet connectors are metal, it gets overheated quickly and damages their structure.
Is It Safe to Continue Using Loose Outlets?
It is not safe to continue using loose outlets. Some people try to hand the cord in different positions, just enough to make the outlet work. Others try to bend the plug’s prongs, which grips when plugged in. On the other hand, we have also seen people using various things to support and hold the plug, such as duct tape, match sticks, and more.
While these unorthodox solutions might work, they pose an enormous safety hazard. It is evident that the plug isn’t gripped correctly by the connectors but only holding the place, so the current passes through. However, loose connections have a high chance of overheating. This leads to harming the plug and the appliance and home fires.
If you have plugs falling out of your outlets, you should consider calling an electrician to repair the outlets or replace them for a long-term solution.
Here Are the Outlet Type You Should Consider
Replacing the outlets is a moderate-level project. If you are a knowledgeable homeowner, you can replace the outlets yourself and save a couple of bucks. However, we do not recommend it because even the smallest mistakes in electrical work can result in severe damage.
Outlets usually loosen after they have passed their best years. This means that the wiring might also be affected and needs a redo, scaling up the severity of the problem that an electrician should only handle.
Besides that, there are several outlet types for various purposes. This is an excellent opportunity to replace your outlets with the dedicated ones for the best performance. Here are the several outlet types you should consider:
Smart Outlet
You can control a smart outlet remotely through the smartphone app. It is a must-have for people who habitually forget to switch off their outlets. You can turn on and off an appliance while away from home, which provides an unreal comfort level. For example, you can turn on your electric stove to heat it before you reach home.
GFCI Outlets
A GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupter) outlet trips the plug to cut off the power supply when voltage fluctuates. It protects the appliance connected to it and the people around it from a short circuit caused by a sudden voltage shift. You can protect the whole circuit by installing the GFCI outlet as the first one on the circuit.
USB Outlets
A USB outlet has a dedicated USB port so you can charge your phone. Can’t find your phone adopter? No worries! Simply plug in the USB cord in the USB port in the outlets. The good thing is that USB outlets also have the standard sockets to plug in prong cords.
Other outlet types include:
- AFCI Outlets
- 20A Outlets
- Switch Outlets’
Ending Note
If your plugs keep falling out of the outlets, you must fix the issue instead of continuing to use the outlet in unorthodox ways. If you want the best solutions for your loose outlets, please reach out to us at goldenelectricalservicellc@gmail.com
