How to Replace a Plug Socket

Plug sockets are something you use every day, from charging your phone to running electrical devices. Over time, they can become loose, cracked, damaged or outdated. The good news is that you can easily swap them out without an electrician. Keep reading this step-by-step guide on how to replace a plug socket. We mention how to change an old socket and how to add a new electric socket to your wall. 

When You Should Change Your Plug Socket 

A damaged plug socket is a hidden risk inside your house. Misuse of them can create fire risks, electrical shocks, or major damage to your devices. Replacing them in time is necessary to protect the safety of your family. Look for different signs that your socket needs changing. Here are some of them: 

• Burn marks or discolouration around the socket. 
• Loose socket or plugs falling out easily. 
• Cracked faceplate or exposed internal wiring. 
• Unusual sound, including buzzing, crackling, or humming sounds. 
• Sparks when plugging your devices in. 
• Unstable power supply to electrical devices. 
• Outdated sockets. 

How Much Does It Cost to Change a Plug Socket? 

Replacing a socket with the help of a professional can cost around £40 to £150. This includes the price of the socket itself and the labour cost. The price of plug sockets themselves isn’t high, with roughly £1.50 to £15 for a basic socket. The metal version, or with USB-C/USB-C ports, can cost slightly more, up to £40.   

Choosing to do it at home is clearly more cost-saving than taking time off work and spending efforts to find an electrician. Chances are, the tools that you need are already in your house. Otherwise, Speedy Hire offers cheap DIY tool hire and flexibility to help you replace your socket at a minimum cost. 

Is It Legal to Change a Plug Socket Yourself? 

Yes, changing a socket or replacing a light switch is classified as non-profitable work, which is legal to do without asking for professional help. However, any changes made to the electricity inside your home should follow the Building Regulations required by the UK government.  

If you're planning to create a new circuit or make major changes in high-risk areas, it’s compulsory to consult with authorities and hire a qualified electrician. Check the local authority guidance to make sure you comply with the requirements and ensure safety for yourself and your family. 

Safety First 

Electrical work isn't suitable for beginners. Only conduct the work if you're competent and confident in DIY projects. You need to take extra precautions when working with electrical devices and units. Wearing the right PPE, including safety goggles and gloves, can prevent you from unwanted risks throughout the job.

First and foremost, turn off the main power supply or break the circuit of the units you'll be working on. To do this, find the fuse box inside your home, which contains all the fuses controlling the electric flow into different parts of your home. Once you find the right fuse, flick it off to cut the circuit. If you aren't sure, it’s best to turn off the big red fuse, which will cut off the electric supply to the whole house. Don’t forget to leave a notice in case someone turns it on accidentally while you're working. 

You should NOT attempt to change the plug socket when there are unusual issues with it, for example, damaging wiring, burning smells, buzzing sounds or black marks around the sockets. In these cases, ask for professional help. 

Understanding Plug Socket Wiring 

Don’t worry if you don’t have a deep knowledge of electricity. It's easy to understand how socket wiring works. Standard UK sockets use 3 wires, connected to 3 marked terminals. Your job is simply joining the wire to the correct terminals to make them work. 

Name	New Colour	Old Colour	Function	Terminal
Live	Brown	Red	Carries current	L
Neutral	Blue	Black	Returns current	N
Earth	Green and Yellow	Green	Safety path	E

Guides to Replace a Plug Socket 

In this section, Speedy will guide you through how to replace or set up a wall socket to your home. Before starting any electrical work, follow the safety steps mentioned above.  

How to Replace an Existing Plug Socket 

If your socket is outdated or looks damaged, it’s important to upgrade it with a new one to avoid any hidden risks. Here are the tools you need to replace an electrical socket.  

• Flathead or Screwdrivers 
• New Plug Socket 
• Voltage Tester 

Step 1: Remove the Old Socket 

From the outside, you can see the faceplate, which is attached to the wall with screws. Use your screwdriver to remove the screw and carefully pull the socket to reveal the inner part. The socket is linked to the supply cable through 3 terminals as mentioned above. Never pull them out immediately in this step, as it’ll cause damage to the wires. 

Step 2: Disconnect the Cables 

Before conducting further, you can double-check that there is no electricity in the unit with a voltage tester. 

In this step, what you have to do is detach the supply cables from the old electric socket. Use your screwdriver or flathead to unscrew and loosen the links until you can pull them out.  

Step 3: Connect the New Socket 

The back of every socket has 3 terminals, made for 3 types of cable, which are clearly marked with the initials: L, N, and E. Simply put the wires into place and secure them with a screwdriver.  

To make sure that they are properly installed, try pulling them out gently, and if they don’t move, they are good to go. On the other hand, you shouldn't overtighten the wiring because it may lead to damaged cables. 

Step 4: Attach the New Plug Socket 

Reserve what you did to remove the old socket and attach the new socket to the wall. Before pushing the socket into place, make sure the cables are spaced out to avoid damaging the wires. 

Your brand-new power socket is now ready to go. Turn on the current and test out the functionality.  

How to Install a New Plug Socket on a Solid Wall 

In the case you don’t have a power socket where you want it to be, you can even mount a new one at home through a solid wall. This includes brick or concrete walls. Drilling will be needed and be expected to have a dusty workplace. Here are the tools you need to get started. 

• Cable Detector
• Spirit Level 
• Screws, Wall Plugs, and screwdrivers 
• Masonry Drill 
• Chisel and Club Hammer 
• PPE  
• New plug socket for installation 

Hire Hammer Drills

Step 1: Mark the Position of the Plug Socket and Check for Hidden Pipes and Cables 

Use a pencil or any marker to mark the location and draw the outline of the electric socket. This is where you'll drill and place the metal back box for the new socket. You can use a spirit level to confirm that the block is horizontal and placed correctly. Read more about how to use a spirit level. Be mindful that the cables must be run in safe zones, usually vertically or horizontally from the socket.  

Before drilling into the wall, you should always check the cable and pipe route inside the wall to avoid damaging the existing system. For accuracy, use a cable avoidance tool to run it across the area you plan to add the new socket. 

Step 2: Drill Into the Marked Position for the Mounting Box 

With your SDS drill bit, mark it with the depth of your mounting box, whether it's 25mm or 35mm. Use this powerful drill made for masonry to make a series of holes around the marked mounting box. Then, chop off the plaster and masonry using a chisel and a club hammer. Alternatively, you can use a chisel on your SDS drill. It should reach the bottom of the drilled holes. At the same time, take out all the debris and check if the box fits the mounting hole. 

Step 3: Attach the socket box 

Once the socket box fits the area you just made, you can start attaching the socket box to its position. On every socket box, there are knock-outs that are made for the cables to run through the box. They can be removed wherever you need the cables to go through. After inserting the cables inside the box, you can secure it in place with wall plugs and screws. At this step, you can also fill and smooth the chased area with filler. 

Step 4: Connect the Cable to the New Socket 

Now that the socket box is secured in place, you can start making the connections as mentioned above. Make sure to link the 3 wires of live, neutral, and earth to the right terminals of the socket without loose connections. 

After that, attach the faceplate to the socket box and finish off the job by testing the function of the plug socket. 

How to Install a New Plug Socket on a Stud Wall 

Stud walls are usually easier to work with than concrete and brick walls. You'll need different tools when working with a stud wall to install a new plug socket. When choosing a plug point for your stud wall, make sure you choose a drylining (plasterboard) back box. 

• Stud finder or Wall Finder
• Spirit Level 
• Screws and screwdrivers 
• Plasterboard Saw or multi-tool
• PPE  
• New plug socket for installation 

Step 1: Mark the Position of the Plug Socket and Check for Hidden Pipes and Cables 

Use a pencil to mark the location of the socket box and draw the outline of the plug socket. You can check it again with a spirit level to confirm that the block is horizontal and placed correctly. Again, make sure that the cables are run vertically or horizontally from the socket. 

With a stud wall, use a stud finder or wall finder to check if there is any part of the wall’s framework behind the marked location. 

Step 2: Cut the Stud Wall 

The next step is to cut the stud wall out according to the marked shape you just made in step 1. Carefully insert the plasterboard saw (or multi-tool) and cut along the outline. Take away that plasterboard to reveal the place where you then put the drylining box in step 3. 

Step 3: Attach the Box 

You can now place the box into place and fit the cable through the opening at the back of the box. After that, tighten the securing lugs behind the plasterboard to secure the back box. 

Step 4: Make the Wiring to the New Socket 

Now that the socket box is secured in place, you can start making the connections as mentioned above. Join the 3 wires of live, neutral, and earth to the right terminals of the socket without loose or overtightened connections. 

After that, attach the faceplate to the socket box and finish off the job by testing the function of the plug. 

How to Create a Spur for Your Plug Socket 

A spur is an extra socket that is added to the existing socket. You can only create one spur from a socket on the ring main. This process will require wiring from one socket to another, plus drilling and fixing the mounting box of the new socket. 

• Stud finder / Cable Detector 
• Spirit Level 
• Screws and screwdrivers 
• Plasterboard Saw (if you have a stud wall) 
• Masonry Drill (if you have a solid wall) 
• Chisel and Club Hammer (if you have a solid wall) 
• PPE  
• New plug socket for installation 

Step 1: Choose the spur location 

Plan your spur clearly by picking a nearby socket and the location for your spur socket. You'll need to connect them through a cable, so map out the easiest route. At this location, repeat the process mentioned above, where you make a hole in the wall to store the back box.  

Step 2: Connect the 2 Sockets 

Map out where the cable between the 2 sockets will go and drill your wall accordingly. Feed the cable through a conduit and through the 2 sockets. Your linking wire should also have 3 cores: Live, Neutral, and Earth.  

Make the connections by fastening the spur cores to the L, N, E terminals in the existing socket and the other end to the new socket’s terminals. This is done just like when you put in a new socket by using the screwdriver. Now the existing socket will have 2 cores attached to each terminal.  

Step 3: Fit the Faceplate 

In the last step, fit the faceplates for both sockets and turn the power back on to test their functionality. 

How to Change from a Single to a Double Plug Socket 

A double plug socket often comes with a bigger wall box. This means that you can either make a bigger hole in the wall or use a surface-mounted double socket. 

• Stud finder / Cable Detector 
• Spirit Level 
• Screws and screwdrivers 
• Plasterboard Saw (if you have a stud wall) 
• Masonry Drill (if you have a solid wall) 
• Chisel and Club Hammer (if you have a solid wall) 
• PPE  
• Surface-mounted or flush-mounted double socket 

Step 1: Remove the single socket  

If you want your socket to be flush-mounted, you'll need to take out the old single socket box and make extra drilling/fixing to the area to fit the new socket. Follow the same steps as fitting a new socket on a solid wall or a stud wall. After that, fit the new double back box onto your wall.  

If you're using a surface-mounted double socket, you can simply attach the new socket to the outside by using wall plugs and screws. 

Step 2: Connect the Cables 

Pull through the existing cores and make the wiring to the double socket to the 3 terminals: L, N, and E. Use your flathead or screwdriver to tighten them in place without loose connections.

Step 3: Fit the Faceplate 

After that, fit the faceplate and turn the power back on to test your new socket. 

Common Mistakes You Need to Avoid 

There are several mistakes that you need to avoid when doing the work to protect your safety and ensure efficiency. 

• Forgetting to break the circuit and turn off the live power can lead to electric shocks, fire, and hidden risks. 
• Mixing connections and wiring can be a reason why the new power socket doesn’t work. 
• Loose or overtightened attachments can also cause damage to the wires. 

Hire DIY Tools to Replace a Plug Socket 

Replacing a plug socket is simple work you can handle at home with the right tools, detailed steps, and caution for safety. You don't need to own every tool mentioned above when you can hire them all from Speedy. We have suitable drills, chisels, cable detectors, and everything else you need to get the job done!

Hire DIY Tools from Speedy

Our high-quality tools are available from more than 100 depots across the UK with fast 4-hour delivery. Head to our website and place your order today!