Fixing Loose Sockets / Switches

Do you have sockets like this at home?

Or switches like this?

If you do, then like us, you can't turn on these switches or plug something in them without the fear of being electrocuted - they become a nightmare. The most common method of dealing with this that I've seen is the ballpen method - it is where you use a ballpen to switch on the lights :) It is pretty effective but fixing this problem won't take you 10 minutes...

FIRST thing you have to do is to turn off the main power switch (see my earlier post to do this) - better be safe than sorry :)  

 Next is to pry out the cover of the switch with a flat screwdriver - just be careful - we don't want to break the cover right?

 

This is what you will see under the cover - looks scary with all the wires, dust and plates - don't worry its not that complicated inside and since you've turned off the power - you can work with ease! 

Remove the two screws holding the base plate in place so that you can carefully pull it out.

Observe that this didn't escape the wrath of the floods :( - good time to clean them..

The socket is attached to the plate through these clips - all you have to do is to clip it back in again...

 

Tighten it gently using your screwdriver and your almost done!

Return the screws , clip on the plates and problem solved!

Yes! You can definitely fix your loose sockets and switches! :)