Ready to hire?
Post your job in minutes, browse real reviews and choose who to speak to.Post a jobNeed some tips or advice?
Ask a questionElectrical
Socket flaceplates won't screw back on
Anonymous user 23/02/2024 - 3.22 PM
What could be causing new plug socket flaceplates to refuse to screw back on flush to the wall? We've just had three new sockets installed, and now having decorated and ready to screw them back on, the screws are going in part of the way, then just going round and round. I think the thread might have gone on the backboxes, but I can't even remove the screws to see if that's the issue. Help!
Are you a tradesperson and able to answer this question?
4 Answers
DEACON ELECTRICAL SERVICES
Rating: 5 out of 5
Screw too long and catching the back of the box, mashed threads, might be better to have the back boxes out and renew them, or, tap them out with a 3.5 mm tap when you have got the old screws out. If you are going to renew the back boxes might be best to cut the existing screws to get the socket free.
Answered11 March 2019
2
RGP electrical ltd
Rating: 5 out of 5
This could mean that the screws or lug is either cross threaded or the cables behind are in a box that is too shallow for the socket being used.
Answered11 March 2019
1
E&J Electrical
Rating: 5 out of 5
could be one of 2 things.
either the back box is not deep enough for the cables, or the screws in the back box have cross threaded therefore you cant screw the faceplate back flush to the wall.
Answered11 March 2019
1
Anonymous user
There could be a couple issues:
1. The screw is too long however marginally, hitting the back of the backbox and not allowing the socket to sit flush
2. In the removal of the sockets to decorate, the screws have become cross threaded and have stripped the thread on the back box lug.
The safest solution would be to have an electrician come and re thread the backbox and fix back.
Answered13 March 2019
1