How To Fix An Upside Down Electrical Outlet Without Causing Damage

When you move into a new house, you might notice some odd things, like seeing that some electrical outlets are installed upside down. The most common reason for an upside down outlet is because a wall switch controls it. This gives you a visual clue about how to control this outlet. Even though it's not a code requirement to flip the outlet's orientation, electricians regularly use this technique. This can be a beneficial feature because you could plug in a lamp or another appliance and control it with a wall switch instead of manually turning it off.

In your new home, perhaps you have upside down outlets that don't have an associated wall switch or maybe you don't like the way they look. If desired, you can you switch the orientation around without violating code. The National Electric Code (NEC) sets guidelines for a variety of steps when installing outlets, but the orientation of the plugs is not part of the guidelines. The NEC is used as electrical code across the world.

You can try flipping the outlet around as a DIY project, as long as you have some basic tools and comfort working with wiring. The required steps are similar to replacing a broken outlet. If you'd hire an electrician for safety reasons to replace an electrical outlet, you may want to hire the professional for changing the upside down plugs.

Before flipping an upside down outlet, you want to be sure you have a voltage tester on hand as well as Philips head and flat head screwdrivers. You might need a wire stripper, cutter, and fresh wire nuts. Although you can reuse wire nuts with electrical connections, older ones might have damage that isn't easily visible.

Find the circuit that controls the outlet on your home's panel. You should have a map stuck to the door of the panel that indicates what each circuit controls. However, even with well-labeled circuits, it might be difficult to determine which circuit controls a specific outlet. You can turn off a breaker and then test the outlet with the voltage tester. If it still has power, continue turning off different circuits until you find the right one.

After cutting off power, unscrew the faceplate. Then unscrew the outlet from the junction box and slowly pull it outward. Try gently turning the outlet 180 degrees. If you have enough slack in the wiring, you can do this. Otherwise, unscrew the terminal screws on the sides and remove the wires so you can turn the outlet 180 degrees. Then reconnect the wires to the same terminal screws they were on before, which are now on the opposite side. (Depending on the condition of the wire, you might have to use the cutter or stripper.) Reattach the outlet screws at the top and bottom and replace the faceplate. Turn on the circuit and test the voltage to be sure it has power again. 

If the wires connected to the upside down outlet are extremely short, the connections may loosen when you pull out the outlet. It can also be very difficult to gently turn the outlet to achieve the desired orientation. Don't twist it hard and risk damaging or loosening the wiring, which could lead to a fire hazard. That's why it's sometimes best to just remove the wires, turn the outlet 180 degrees, and reattach them.

However, the biggest danger with this process is mixing up the wires when you reattach them. If you attach the positive wire to the terminal where the neutral wire should go and vice versa, you can short circuit the outlet. It has a hot side and a neutral side, and you must place the wires in the right place to avoid short circuiting. If your previously upside down outlet is attached to a wall switch and you reverse the wires, the outlet would have power all the time, even when the switch is off.

A short circuit can be quite dangerous because it could lead to fires, overheating in the wiring, and damage to any appliances connected to the outlets. You could receive an electric shock if you touch an appliance that's connected to an outlet that's wired incorrectly. If you want to test for incorrect connections, you'd need an outlet tester. It uses indicator lights to tell you whether everything is connected properly.