How to Replace a GFCI
- 1). Turn off the circuit breaker at the breaker panel that supplies power to the GFCI outlet that you will be replacing.
- 2). Remove the plastic trim cover by twisting the screws out counterclockwise with a small flat blade screwdriver. Be careful not to damage the gasket.
- 3). Loosen and remove the screws holding the outlet into the electrical box by rotating them counterclockwise with a flat blade screwdriver.
- 4). Pull the outlet out of the box by hand. Label the LOAD, LINE and ground wires that connect to the back of the outlet before removing them. This will enable you to reinstall the wires onto the new GFCI outlet correctly.
- 5). Remove the wires by loosening the retaining screws counterclockwise with a small flat blade screwdriver and pulling the wires off the outlet.
- 6). Connect the ground wire to the new GFCI outlet by tightening the retaining screw with a small flat blade screwdriver in a clockwise direction.
- 7). Connect the LINE side wires to the new outlet by tightening the retaining screws with a small flat blade screwdriver in a clockwise direction.
- 8). Connect the LOAD side wires to the new outlet in the same fashion as the LINE side wires.
- 9). Carefully push the new GFCI outlet into the electrical box. Secure the outlet to the box by tightening the original screws in a clockwise direction with a flat blade screwdriver.
- 10
Install the gasket in between the outlet's plastic trim cover and the GFCI outlet with the two original screws. - 11
Turn the circuit breaker back on at the breaker box that powers the GFCI outlet. - 12
Retest the new GFCI outlet to ensure proper operation.