How To Fix Sunken Outlet | 2 Easy Options 

Spacers Used In The Video: amzlink.to/az0l4TEle0d9H

Most everything you covered in this video was new to me. The spacers, the box extender, the larger face plates, and how to deal with a poorly done outlet was all new to me. Thank you. It looked much better and safer when you finished.

At 73 I have wired, fixed, moved all kinds of these outlets. I have encountered all the issues shown in this video but just struggled to fix them by repairing drywall, replacing the whole box and so on. You introduced me to a number of approaches I was not aware of such as the spacers, box inset and also cutters that can cleanly cut screws. Great information, thank you.

All instructional videos should be like this. To the point, only useful info, good angles and lighting, clear audio, and added bonus of indexed sections. You've gained a subscriber. Thanks!

Im a homeowner and appreciate your videos. Didnt know about spacers or inserts. Your videos allow average homeowners to learn what products are available that we wouldnt othewise know. So thank you.

Dude, I've been in construction for forty-plus years, and even though I have used all of these parts and tools, I didn't know SO MUCH of this. Terrific. I really enjoy your channel. Teaching an old dog like me new tricks.

I appreciate learning about the spacers, the inserts, aa well as the sizing of the screws. And I had not noticed the screw cutting capability of the wire stripper tool. High scores!

Wow, I'm an electronic technician and have been a do-it-your-self electrician for years and I picked up the spacers to raise the outlet, the sleeve to protect the hot side and the larger plates to cover too large holes in the drywall. And I've probably run across an outlet in wood like you showed and now I know how to do it by code. Thanks - amazing stuff you are showing us! Thanks. Keep it up.

Very informative. I am 62 years old, and have done dozens of outlets over the years, and 90% of what you covered was new to me. Thank you!

I learned how to deal with poorly cut drywall. I find from my own house that the previous owner cared about nothing, and constantly finding these tricky situations keep popping up. I'm not a super handyman so I watch videos like yourself because you don't go over perfect world scenarios where everything is easy to replace, but the tricky situations that come from bad care or neglect of a house. Thank you once again...you've helped me fix many issues.

Have watched a few of your vids so far and one thing stands to me is your readiness to say you were corrected on something or told you left something out. I appreciate your honesty and it gives me great confidence you are putting out quality and accurate tips and guidance. You do it in a very clear way. Keep up the great work!!

The use of the box insert was new information to me. I sincerely appreciate your very informative channel. Thanks also for shedding light on what you’ve learned over the years.

This was a huge help to me. My entire house was built with 10ft ceilings, with 4ft of drywall at the top and then 6ft of 1/2" pine tongue and groove paneling down to the floor. Every single outlet has multiple spacers (sometimes as many as 3) to bring them flush. I found out they used the cheapest outlets available when I kept seeing arc flashes when plugging cords in. When I opened up one outlet I saw scorch marks on the paneling. So I started looking at them all. Some outlets actually fell apart into pieces when the cover plate was removed. I went through the entire house replacing the existing outlets with commercial grade outlets hoping that will avoid that arcing occurring and catching the paneling on fire. Thanks for your links to the safety extender box, I ordered in bulk and will start a new project.

I’ve done a fair amount of home repair as a pure amateur and haven’t ever seen any of of the products you used. Thanks for the education.

Agreed. I am the building maintenance technician for a company and I was given the task of fixing some of the outlets. I had NO CLUE how until I came across this. This video is going to save our company tons of money by not having to hire it out to a subcontractor. It's like they were listening to our conversation in the meeting...and probably were. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR POSTING THIS!!

Great for us DIYers who aren’t Lic Electrician. The new box and insert you sewed were totally new to me and I have a project that I can use them both on. Thanks so much

After the drywall install in my new studio space, I was at a loss to know how to fix the sunken outlets until your video. So happy to learn this is not an unusual situation and there are products available to easily solve the problem. Now I’m going to tackle other similar outlet issues in the rest of my old 1918 Bungalow. 😊

Thanks for the new (to me) info about the spacers. I have “flipped 10 houses in my life, and always aligned electric boxes to the wall by cutting the old nails inside the box, and/or pulling out the nails sideways using a vise grip and hammer, then reposition the box to the stud with a screw. Then I would fill the surrounding of the box with drywall compound (mud). I also (rarely) used the oversized cover. This trick here is way more convenient because you don’t need to repaint. 😀 I also want to share one of the mysteries of my life. While visiting my old parents (in my twenties), I stayed overnight and I was sleeping in my old bedroom. Then right in the middle of the night, I just opened my eyes. (I didn’t hear or see anything to warn me to wake up and open my eyes!). Then I saw a flame on the wall about 4 feet away from me, that was about the size of a candle flame, licking the wall just above that outlet. I was stunned to see that happening, and to this day (I am now 69 years old), I still don’t know why I woke up to such a small and silent little flame, and most of all WHY did the outlet ignite? Of course, I threw a glassful of water on it and then turned off the breaker. In the morning, I cleaned the box which was full of sawdust and lots of dust, and bought a new outlet, skinned the wires and properly tightened the screws to prevent arcing. The walls were made of 1/8” Masonite, which was highly combustible, contrary to drywall. I can’t imagine that if this had happened without me there, my old parents would have perished in their house. Thanks for listening! 🔥

As a painter I like to replace outlets and switches when needed to give the room a newer feel. Especially when there is white trim and beige outlets. I knew all these tips but I usually use the rectangle extenders. I also level the outlet with a small 6” level cause crooked outlets look horrible imo

Same as Cat Blue, everything was new. The spacers, extender, I did know about the face plates but didn't know about wood panel information. So nice to know. Thank you, keep up the wonderful videos.

Being a non-electrician here, I appreciate this particular video's details as it will precisely fix a similar issue I have in my basement. It had been an eyesore of mine for quite some time. Grateful for what I consider a perfect explanation.

I learned that there are spacers to bring outlets forward and I also learned that there are inserts to increase safety if bringing an outlet out further. Basically, everything in this video was news to me. Thanks!

I love your videos. You are one of the few youtube creators who carefully plans out what you are going to say; so you don't hem and haw and improvise and repeat yourself over and over. There is no "filler and fluff" in your script. It is all straight and to the point, not to mention abundantly clear, and I really really appreciate that. You plan out each of your shots, and apparently you use good video equipment. Love it. And your content is perfect for DIYers. Videos done by pros, as good as they are, often leave out important details that the DIYer might not know. Videos done by most DIYers, on the other hand, often leave out important details that the creators simply do not know because they are DIYers. Your videos are in that "sweet spot" where you include many important details that the pro knows and the DIYer would be well advised to adhere to. In this video, I learned about the spacers, inserts, oversized wall plates, and the code violtion of too much exposed sheetrock was news to me. I love these added details. Finally, I WANT THAT SCREWDRIVER! Headed to your store now... :-)

Everything was new to me. I just had a bathroom remodel and your video will help make it look better that I want. My switch and outlets need this fix!

This is the first time I watched your video I found it very informative. Small plastic extenders to bring the outlet out a little further to make a flush or something I've never seen before. I like the way you explain things and give many options to a single problem

Great information for cleaning up incompetence of an "Has no honor" contractor! I found several outlets cover cracking and wondered why! Also purchasing larger covers to compensate imperfect hole that was made! Contractor probably hoped he wouldn't be caught! Thanks to your video, this 78 soon to be 79 years old lady in March 2022 is blessed to correct the inferior crastmanship! Good job!

I knew about the spacers to fix a problem like this but did not know there was an easy insert available to encapsulate the outlet inside the wall. Thank you for sharing information like this. I love learning new things especially when they help to keep me safe.

Great video. I knew most of it,but as a DIYer that doesn't do this type of stuff all the time,a refresher course like this is never a bad idea. Glad I stumbled across your video series.

Very helpful. I didn’t know about spacers or inserts. We are remodeling/updating my parents’ house, and there are several sunken outlets. I understand how to fix them now. Thank you!

This was super educational to me! I've changed out many an outlet over the years. Seems that they're constantly making a better mousetrap! Thanks so much for your time and dedication. To me, this is what RU-vid is all about. Much appreciation for your thoroughness and dedication my friend!

I’ve been doing electrical for almost 25 years now and mostly I do oil pipeline and storage but I remember starting out in resi and commercial and I love all the great reminders on the wall inserts and spacers. I still do diy stuff on my own home and love a job that is done perfectly. Great job and very interesting content

Thanks for the good demonstration. What was new to me was the insert box. I have seen them before but didn't know what purpose they serve. But that makes a lot of sense to me to shield it from any combustible materials. I also didn't know that those spacers are available. One time I made some little wooden pieces for spacers which was probably not a good idea. I work in a facility that builds storage buildings, workshops and cabins. Sometimes I do the wiring. I appreciate your helpful videos. Keep up the good work. 👍

I'm a DIYer and I just learned about the caterpillar spacers and oversized plates. I'm glad I watched this video because I learned learned specifics on using them and also something new, inserts. I like how easy and useful the inserts are. Going to buy some now. Thanks!

Everything you covered in this video was new to me. The spacers, the box extender, the larger face plates, and how to deal with a poorly done outlet was all new to me. Thank you. It looked much better and safer when you finished. I'm also going to pick up an outlet tester. Thank you

All new information in a short, compact format. Learned a ton! I do light electrical work around my house, even as far as reading the NEC 80 book to learn code for installing a 240V run for an electric car charger! But I hadn't considered code compliance for wall outlets. I definitely learned about WAGO connectors here and love them, and knowing #6-32 screws are the standard for plugs is super helpful too.

I knew about the spacers but only as a complete "wrap-around" extension of the box (as I have had to use them on a job where I expected to use thinner drywall than I ultimately ended up using). The idea that spacers could be basically "washers" was new, as was the concept of the insert box. Thank you, I have some new ways to fix things.

Thank you for all the detail and explanation. This is a new area for me to step into. I have several outlets at our cabin that need to be fixed. Why I should fix them - it's not just because they look sloppy- it's a safety reason. Now I understand when to use spacers or a box or both. And the larger-sized plates are great to know about! Many times people say "use spaces to fix this problem" but don't share why or which situation to use them in. Again thank you. It is much simpler than I thought it was going to be and I will be able to tackle it now!!

Just watched a few of your videos and although I've become very experienced in renovating my c1900 two-family home, the products you detailed changed the game for a few problem areas in house/walls that I haven't completely gutted / taken to the studs. The spacers and box extenders...literally things I was always thinking someone should make but for whatever reason didn't think to look up! Thank you for the detailed information and links to products! So helpful and time saving!!!!!

I have struggled with this dilemma so often when tiling backsplashes on kitchen remodels and I have never seen these products when shopping at the big box stores! Now I know, and will search again for them or go to Amazon and stock up! Thanks for a articulate and well shown example!

That insert was perfect, just fixed 2 outlets after updating backsplash in laundry room... thank you for the video.

Excellent timed video. I am redoing some outlets and had no idea the “fix” for sunken outlets was so simple.

Your videos are great! Both of those tricks are very helpful and I’m actually heading to the hardware store after I finish chiming in on this video. I’ve been a professional Auto Mechanic for 47 years and an avid DIYer fixit guy so I love getting all these professional tips.

Thank you for this video. I am upgrading a very old unit and you discussed problems I noticed in the unit related to sunken outlets, exposed drywall on side of outlet and very poor drywall cutouts needing larger plates. You saved me calling an electrician to fix depth issues and saved me money that I can use for other fixes in the unit.

Thanks for sharing this information and posting this video. I have an old home with the wood paneling and I didn't know about that safety complaince. Definitely something I'm going to check as when I bought this home, the inspector stated that everything was fine, but never hurts to double check.

Man I just watched this without any particular need to do this task, but I appreciate the video format so much. Minimal cuts when actually completing the task, fast forwarding through the mundane repetitive aspect(simple screw rotation), and no or little repetition of information made this extremely info dense and useful to copy and complete your task with confidence. A lot of other videos feel like they're trying to pad the length and then cut the video of the part I'd most like to watch them do.

This video was outstanding and gave me tips that I needed to know several years ago when we moved into our house. I was surprised to see that you used the 2 and 3 wire connector clips that I used in the house, I learned about them from a Home Depot guy working the electrical isle. I think they are great and save some time. I have some situations in my own home where I need to add outlet boxes as well as switches. Thanks for all the tips!

I learned how to use those spacers. I have a couple of sunken outlets in my house and already bought the same exact spacers. You spared me the need to look up how to use them. I have replaced a bunch of outlets, lights and switches in my house, but these two old outlets have remained an eyesore. I would have eventually figured it out, buy you certainly helped speed it up. Thanks!

Thanks for all your videos. The insert and the reason for the insert is something I'd not thought about before. And I had used spacers before. When you strip #10 wire, the insulation tube works well for spacing.

Great Channel, I changed out some old outlets in my basement recently. Builder had the boxes set in the wall to far back and the old outlets screwed in with long drywall screws. After watching this video i ordered the box extenders. PERFECT solution for the issue. They came with long screws and installed quickly. Thanks for the tip, glad I subscribed to your channel.. Great Work...

This was super useful. I've got a springy, sunken outlet in a wall with thin wood paneling over drywall, and some stripped screwholes. This video is making the situation more digestible: I've got the basic skills to replace the parts, but knowing more about the safety issues and which additional pieces I should consider using is fantastic.

It was _all_ new to me. Up until now I always thought correcting these kinds of problems would always require re-mounting the box somehow. Sloppily mounted boxes and drywall cuts have been facts of life in a few houses I've lived in, especially (but not exclusively) where previous generations of homeowners did extensive work themselves. Thanks much!

Thanks for another great video. Doing a kitchen backsplash with 4 outlets and running into these issues. The extender was new to me.

Extremely helpful. Loved learning about all terminology and how to use those tools you mentioned. Really thorough and would love to learn more about handiwork for the home from you! Thank you!

I knew about the spacers but didn’t know about the inserts. Every time I watch one of your videos: I learn. Thank you for your series. As a homeowner it has made me very comfortable with projects that I otherwise would NOT have tackled.

Good video but could be great! One very important safety step you forgot! Before using your tester to show power is "OFF", you should show that the tester actually works by plugging it into a source of power, thus it shows your audience that the power lights on tester comes "ON".

I am just a DIY'er... but have been faced with situations like this in the past, several times. I did not know about the insert and the spacers that you used. These would have come in real handy for in the past... thank you for this!

I'm doing repairs at home and your step by step instructions are perfect. I especially like that you explain things in detail, thank you.

I didn't know about the box extender and the spacers. About 10 years ago, I drywalled a room in my very old house that was originally paneled so the outlet boxes were at least a quarter of an inch too shallow but were nailed in -so really not easy to take out and reposition. I used spacers but I used plumbing washers (what you would use in a faucet) and it worked very well. It's nice to know there is a better product now available. Thanks for the info.

I like your STYLE of presentation the most....but your content was also top notch!

Awesome info. I have a 1869 home, re-wired in the 1970's (from knob and tube), Complete mess. All two wire, no grounds, sunken, crooked metal boxes, etc. This info is a life saver. Thanks.

Thank you so much ! I'm a widow who just had some new sheet rock out up and some of my outlets are recessed. So I knew nothing on how to fix this and now I think I can do it on my own. Much appreciation.

I had 23 units in building that were built in the very early 1900's - I always put electrical tap around the receptical before I replaced them into the box. Never had a short or issue with a fixed receptical - had the units for over 20 years. I enjoy your easy to follow, through video!

Great video. You are always giving a clear explanation !

I've used the box extenders before (20+ years ago), but until now, never heard of the spacers. I have an outlet that has the same issue but will be using the spacers instead as it's not too badly sunk in from putting in a new backsplash. The video itself was very well done. Short, sweet and to the point. Good angles, lighting and thank you very much for not having special effects or a music backdrop as those can be quite distracting. Well done and this video is very helpful.

Thank you for showing a simple repair. We have several of these in our kitchen and bathroom because someone installed tile backsplashes. Now I can easily fix them. I will use the insert it just seems safer. Thank you.

I’ve used the spacers before and thought they were awkward. I had the same problem recently after installing some shiplap, which caused my outlet to do this. I decided to browse around Home Depot for a better solution, in which I discovered the 3/8” PEX toilet supply lines. For under $2 I was able to cut them to the exact thickness of my shiplap and get it flush again. It supported the outlet well and it was super easy to use. It took a little more time to cut them, but I was happier with the result.

I’ve been a homeowner diyer since 1974. For me it was all easy. Take out the old, put in the new. However, with all the tips you include, it make the end product more professional looking and the safety tips are huge! Keep up the good work!!

The insert fix was new to me. I am an electrical engineer and had never seen it explained before. Thanks!

I learned a lot. I am replacing all of the receptacles and light switches in this old house. This was a fantastic help. Many times, they won't set right, and I used slivers of wood I took from Shimes. I will be redoing them correctly. Wall inserts also is something I had no knowledge of. The use of a larger wall plate also is very helpful. Thank you very much.

Great info. I never considered buying longer machine screws to replace receptacle screws that were too short. I also didn't know about the spacers. I've always used a sliver of wooden lath as a spacer, because that's what I've been most likely to have handy. Of course with your explanation about the box extenders, I now realize that my old method is just asking for a code inspector to slam me (or worse). Thanks for doing this video!

I re-did my kitchen walls in "tumbled travertine" stone, but didn't account for the 1/4 inch that it added (5/8" with the backer board) - so I've been looking around for how to bring the sockets out. This video explained it perfectly. Thanks for putting this together with thoughtful remarks about safety and code compliance. This really helps.

Thank you so much for this video! I love all your content. Per your request, what I learned were the existence of the extender tabs AND the old work box that can be screwed to the stud - so helpful

Great information. I have an old house and I do a fair amount of residential electric. Both of the items you highlighted here are new to me. I will definitely add them to my ever growing tool kit

This was a great video for me. I used to loosen the top and bottom screws enough on the outlet and then pull the outlet towards the faceplate using the center screw to make it flush. You had to be careful when plugging things into the outlet so you wouldn't snap the faceplate. Worked good for outlets that didn't get a lot of use. Done with that.

I have never seen the spacers before, but I would prefer the insert as it appears to be a more professional solution and it is easy to install as well. Thank you for the video.

This video was very good and also relevant because I just finished working on a painting project for a customer of mine and there were a few receptacles that were recessed into the wall too far. I did make a few spacers out of copper tubing and they worked well and I also installed some metal cover plates to add some strength to the overall installation.

Wow I agree with so many of the positive comments. Great video. Besides being well out together, good tips, great links the closed captioning was good and the sound was good. I have a hearing impairment and too often the sound is terrible and people talk to fast and too mumbled -your voice and pitch was PERFECT!

Good stuff. So much easier than trying to figure this out while standing in the aisles of Home Depot. I'm a carpenter by trade but probably half my jobs involved some wire or outlet changes, hence this is really helpful.

Very interesting and everything you covered was new to me . I ran into a situation where I removed the old 50s tiling in my bathroom which was covered halfway up the wall. When I replaced the area with drywall, there was a 1/4 inch difference between the new drywall and the plaster wall which resulted in me putting wood between the screws and light switch to get it out enough. After watching your video, I realize that I need to get the right materials to do it correctly and to code. Thanks for the great information. Never knew about the screw cutting capability. I would have gotten out the hacksaw!

I'm not an electrician but I have done a little around the house. Fantastic information. I never knew those spacers were a things. Thought about making some from cut found bottle caps once then de ided to just leave it ugly. Thank you so much. Subscribed.

Great tips! Never knew those items existed for fixing sunken outlets. Have one in my kitchen that needs fixing because the previous owner put a tile backsplash on and did not adjust the sunken outlet.

I never knew about inserts. In the past I've had to actually disconnect the wiring and replace the enclosure to the correct depth before rewiring the outlet. A handy tip ...

I've made my own spacers before from stuff I had around. Nice to see that they actually sell them. The insert looked like a good idea. One thing I had hoped you'd have a tip for, is when the box and drywall aren't lining up evenly. IE the outlet sticks out more on the right or left. Spacer on one side would work, but figured there might be a more elegant option.

WOW - Great video. I had never seen the "insert" you used. I have been using the "mud dam" style frame to extend out the box. You really are at the mercy of the person that installed the original box, and I have come across some terrible workmanship over the years. THANKS AGAIN !

I have used the spacers before, and I have used the oversized covers. I like their look. I have never used the box extender was new to me, but wow I can see the value there. Thank you for that!

I'm a journeyman electrician and yeah, pretty much on point. When I run across this stuff at work and don't have spacers, I typically have scrap items like washers I can use instead. BUT I know for a DIYer, you're not going to have all the extra parts and materials that I have collected off of various jobsites and projects, and spacers are nicer to use. Also, yeah, you need those plastic sleeves with wood ALWAYS, and our company generally put them on tiled walls too. They can be a pain to install if both wires are on the outlet, but the bending method usually works there too IF you have enough wire to play with. Older houses (for some reason) barely give you enough to work with, so you usually end up uninstalling everything to get it to work. Sometimes you have to add jumpers. Anyway, at this point I'm rambling.

There is one additional option that you didn't mention. Instead of the small rubber spacers, they also sell outlet box extenders. Basically they are a rectangular open "faceplate" that fits between the box and where the actual outlet screws onto the box. I am pretty sure the come in 1/4", 1/2" and 3/4". I have used these b4 and they work very nicely. Again you probably will need to but longer mounting screws

As a owner of a old home. it's a great value to be shown easy fix devises to update both looks and safety. i never knew there was an "insert". thanks

What was new to me was pretty much everything. First, that a recessed outlet is a code violation (and not just annoying lazy amateurish work) and the existence of those spacers. Going out to get some today at Home Depot. Also the bit about exposed edges of flammable material code violation thing. Thanks for the useful info.

The box extender was new to me. Not sure when those came on the market but my dad who was an electrician turned electrical engineer would use multiple wraps of electrical tape wrapped around the terminals to insulate them from touching anything such as the paneling. Of course, that was many years ago.

The stacking spacers were new to me and also the code allowed exposure if the box is not mounted flush to the surface. I have purchased an older home which needed a lot of remodeling and being brought up to code so I had a contractor do most of the remodeling (my marriage is still intact). I now have the occasional repair or expansion projects that need to be completed and I generally feel comfortable doing that work. Good job on the explanation and videography, it is much cleaner and understandable that a lot of what is produced.

We have a problem with our power outlets and you just gave the solution. I had not seen the spacers. Thank you soooo much!🤗

This was all new to me. I watched it because I might put in some paneling one day and never got a straight answer before on how to get the socket to line up correctly afterward. Looks like I'd need both the spacers and the plastic box. So this was quite informative.

Nicely done. Common problem. One thing I'd suggest is that when you have that outlet in your hands, take a good look at the wire terminations, checking especially for nicks in the wires where they were stripped. And I might even replace any outlet that is old and especially if it has push-in terminals (not secured by screws). I replaced all the duplex outlets in my house when I discovered that the original owner, who also built the house, had used #12 wire with push-in terminals, before this became a code violation. I didn't want *any* of that in my house. I wasn't familiar with the supersize outlet covers--they look a bit cartoonish, but form follows function!

I did not know spacers like these were available. I have used 2 or 3 #8 nuts as spacers to extend an outlet slightly. The plastic spacers would be easier and more effective.

I've done a zillion outlet fixes and replacements over the years and your video is excellent for somebody with little or no experience. I am always amazed at the lack of attention to large details when cutting drywall for the outlet boxes, as you pointed out. Well done!

Thanks. The spacers, the box, and the oversize face plates were all new to me. The bolt cutting wiring pliers were new also!

Very informative. Thanks! Just a general remark: The neutral and the "hot" wire have the same chance of catching fire. Undesired heating results from "current" and not "voltage", so it doesn't matter if you have a bad connection on the neutral or the hot wire.

I have these in a new laundry room I added inside the garage. I must have had THE WORST contractor ever! I didn’t know this was against code! My dad was a meticulous builder, and he would have had a fit about this stuff! I appreciate you showing things against code and also what I can do to fix the situation myself! I’m a 68 year-old woman and always do things myself when I can, but I’m only 4’ 9”, 100 lbs., and in chronic pain. Ugh! I need a handy guy to marry, but no one is good enough for me! Lol❣️

This was awesome. Just had my home renovated and those sunken sockets drive me nuts. This was very helpful. I'm grabbing spacers this weekend. Thx