How to Repair Electrical Items

Have you decided to tackle electric repairs by yourself for the first time? Are you new to the world of DIY repairs and need some help getting started? We have the right video tutorials, top projects, and discussion boards to equip you with the knowledge, tips, and hacks you'll need to succeed. Good luck!

Easy Fix for Ugly Outlets! No Wiring Involved!

Making Safe Electrical Repairs

Turn the power off before starting: Switch off the electricity at your home’s breaker box. If you’re not sure which switches to flip for certain rooms, turn off the main breaker.
Get to know your electrical layout: Make sure you’re comfortable with your home’s electricity set up, and that you can identify different types of wire before making repairs.
Practise rewiring plugs: If you’ve identified a plug as the problem, ensure you rewire it with undamaged wires and the right size fuse. Practise on a spare plug first.
Dry your surrounding area: Ensure that electrical repairs are done in a dry environment. If there is damp on the appliance, wall, or floor, then don’t start working.
Avoid using metal ladders: If electrical repairs require you to use a ladder, avoid standard aluminum ladders. It is safer to use ones made of non-conductive materials.

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Top DIY Electrical Repair Projects

Looking for the top projects of DIY electric repair? Look no more!

Easy Fix for Ugly Outlets! No Wiring Involved!

Is this what your old wall outlets look like? I found a quick fix at Home Depot that won't break the bank and you don't have to hire an electrician.

Leslie Long

Easy Electrical Outlet Cover Tip

Do you have outlet covers that are the outdated almond color? I found an amazing product that I am super excited to share with you that will fix mismatched electrical outlets and electrical outlet covers.

Tiffany from Dream Design DIY

Heating Hack: How to Quickly and Easily Insulate Around Outlets

Hey there! We've got an incredibly cool insulation trick just for you to beat that never-ending winter chill!Insulating your outlet covers is like giving your house a snug, fuzzy blanket. It's super easy and won't break the bank, but the benefits are seriously awesome!By adding insulation to those electrical outlets, you're keeping the precious warmth right where it belongs — inside your home! Say goodbye to pesky heat escaping through those sneaky little gaps. So, why wait? Let's get this insulation party started! You'll be amazed at how such a simple project can make a world of difference in keeping you warm and cozy. Becky at Flipping the Flip shared this tutorial on how to insulate your outlet covers. It’s surprising how insulating these covers can make a huge impact on your heating bills!Get your socket sealers here and follow this simple tutorial.

Hometalk Recommends

How to "Upgrade" Your Electric Fireplace/Heater on the Cheap

When I redecorated my master bedroom, I wanted my (necessary) electric fireplace heater to look pretty as well as be functional. I did a makeover using a lot of things I had on hand, including a used kitchen cabinet. See the full post on how I did it here: http://oldewindmillfarm.blogspot.com/2012/04/how-my-fireplace-heater-grew-up.html

Rachel @ The Olde Farmhouse...

DIY Mason Jar Light

Give your boring bathroom light fixture a fun new update with this mason jar project! Try out this DIY for only about $10 and a couple hours of your time. If you're looking for more projects and home décor tips check out Elegance & Peonies!

Alysha @ Elegance & Peonies

How to Hide the Cable Box

There is an easy way for you to hide the ugly cable box. It's called an IR adapter, or IR receiver kit.

TheHoneycombHome

1940's Metal Army Cot Turned Light Fixture

Revamping my classroom and wanted a unique light fixture! I happened to have a 1940's Metal Army Cot so my honey and I decided to add 25 Edison Bulbs to repurpose this into a fabulous fixture!

Pieces of Time East

Light Fixture With Two Brown Wires

My husband and I tried to install a new chandelier this weekend and had to stop when we saw two brown wires instead of the color coded black/white wires (Black = live White = neutral). We had no idea which brown wire was live and which one was neutral. The 1 page instruction that came with the chandelier was basically useless and should have read " Installations Instructions - Sorry, you are on your own."After doing some research on this, I wanted to share some photos of the brown wires and identify the live and neutral wires and hopefully help other DIYers who encounter this.Once you know what to look for, identifying the correct live/neutral wire is easy.

Nadine

Easy Fix for Ugly Outlets! No Wiring Involved!

Is this what your old wall outlets look like? I found a quick fix at Home Depot that won't break the bank and you don't have to hire an electrician.

Leslie Long

How to Hide the Cable Box

There is an easy way for you to hide the ugly cable box. It's called an IR adapter, or IR receiver kit.

TheHoneycombHome

1940's Metal Army Cot Turned Light Fixture

Revamping my classroom and wanted a unique light fixture! I happened to have a 1940's Metal Army Cot so my honey and I decided to add 25 Edison Bulbs to repurpose this into a fabulous fixture!

Pieces of Time East

Light Fixture With Two Brown Wires

Nadine

Electrical Repair Videos

Check out our DIY video tutorials on how to repair your home's electricity.

Update Your Light Switch Plates With This Simple Paint Pour Project

Looking for a fun way to personalize your home? This paint pour project is the perfect solution if you’re feeling crafty but don’t want to commit to a long, arduous project. These custom light switch plates are sure to brighten your home. In this tutorial I’ll show you two different color schemes, one that is bright and loud, and another that is more subdued but no less stunning. An added bonus to this project is that you can get two projects in one, by making a paint pour canvas at the same time. Intrigued? Check out my step-by-step guide below to make your own!

Marcy Ferro

Popular Repairing Electrical Discussions

Check out our DIY electric repair discussion board. Let us know what you think.

Why is there a noise coming from my electrical outlet?

/> Bracha Moskoff

I have noticed a noise coming from one of my electrical outlets. It sounds like it is buzzing. What could be the reason for this?

Why is there a noise coming from my electrical outlet?

View discussion

Why does my electrical outlet feel warm?

/> Sarah

The one electrical outlet in my house feels warm. I was wondering if it is because I am doing something wrong or if there could be a serious electrical issue. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Why does my electrical outlet feel warm?

View discussion

Can you put outlets in baseboards?

/> Zach Waxer

I would like to eliminate cord clutter for a more refined look in my home and I heard that outlets in the baseboards are a good idea for this. Is it legal to have baseboard outlets and is it a major job? I would like to hear from people who have done this in the past and see if you think it is worthwhile.

View discussion

My light switch makes a crackling sound, what does this mean?

/> Danielle Segev

I've recently noticed my one light switch makes a crackling sound when turned on. Why would this happen? Is it something I can fix myself?

My light switch makes a crackling sound, what does this mean?

View discussion

New Electrical Repair Projects

We've collected our new DIY electric repair projects. Have a look around.

How to Fix a Wobbly Ceiling Fan

By Erin LindholmWhen they’re operating properly, ceiling fans are a wonderful fixture in any room. They keep living spaces from feeling stuffy by circulating fresh air. And because it has so many moving parts, it’s not uncommon for a ceiling fan to develop a wobble over time. Luckily, this is typically more of a noise nuisance than it is a serious danger.So long as you’re comfortable climbing up a ladder to troubleshoot the root cause, it’s relatively easy to fix your ceiling fan from wobbling. All you need is a little know-how, a few tools, and a helping hand. This guide covers everything you need to know about how to fix a wobbly ceiling fan, including steps for identifying what’s causing the wobble and how to fix it with common household tools.

Erin Lindholm

Converting a Hardwired Light to a Plug In

I had a spot in my home where there was no junction box for lights. I also fell in love with lighting that was hardwired and not plug in. I decided convert the lights to plug in so I could install them in the location of my choice. Follow along and I will show you how simple the conversion is.

Amber (elk island rustics)

How to Replace Recessed Lighting With a Chandelier

Recessed lighting, can lights, canned lights, boring lights, call them what you will, but if you have a builder-grade house built any time in the past couple of decades you probably have them in your kitchen, dining room and definitely your bathroom and shower areas. But you don't have to keep your house looking like every other house in the neighborhood! You can just replace recessed lighting with a chandelier to give your place a little extra sparkle and whole lot more personality.