Loosey Goosey Receptacles-  Wenatchee and Chelan Home Inspections

How things look in a home are very important, details, details…right!

Then we have form over function.  An Item I find quite often during a home inspection, and really is such a simple fix, is loose receptacles. You know what I mean they are loosey goosey on the wall. When I stick my tester into them they squirm like a worm.

So you say… what is the big deal? The deal is over time this can cause the connections to become loose. A loose connection then can heat up and fail.  So though it is not a huge deal it could actually have an undesirable outcome. I have had receptacle fail as I am testing them because they were so loose.  Also Romex/NM cable is not really meant to be flexed all the time. You often find cracked faceplates due to this.

So why does this happen? Most often the culprit is a gang box set too deep. Most plastic gang boxes actual have a depth gauge on the side for 1/2” sheetrock.  Then couple that with over cutting the sheetrock which adds to the fun.

Then Sparky comes in to dress out his receptacles he either has to set the receptacle deep and it will not be flush with the faceplate or he floats the receptacle to make it look nice. This is what happens most often.

This may also happens when someone adds something like backsplash tile and then changes the depth of the receptacle to the finish depth.

There really is a simple solution for both of these. One is outlet shims and the other is a gang box ring extender.

These are pretty simple fixes and can prevent this problem.
 

Ancora Imparo

NCW Home Inspections, LLC  is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Oroville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…  

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www.ncwhomeinspections.com          509-670-9572