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Don Vandervort, Head Homeboy, has written more than 30 DIY home improvement books, been a segment host on HGTV, served as MSN.com's home improvement expert and written countless magazine articles.
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Repairing & Replacing Electrical Cords & Plugs |
 Damaged plugs or cords can be extremely dangerous. They can spark or smoke, causing fires. If you see a cord or plug sparking, unplug the appliance immediately, and just to be safe, cut power to the outlet. Let the plug cool for a bit, and then check the plug, cord, and outlet to see if they are damaged. If the appliance is, take it to a shop to be serviced or buy a new one; if the outlet is damaged, have it replaced or repaired.
Disconnect and replace a plug right away if it is cracked or discolored, if it feels warm when the appliance is on, or if it has badly bent contacts.
If a plug's connections are loose, it will arc when you push it into or pull it out of an outlet. Simply disconnect it and tighten the connections. If you need to replace the original plug, check to see if it is polarized (if it is, one blade will be slightly wider than the other one), and make sure the replacement matches it. Always replace rather than try to repair cords and plugs.
To replace cords and plugs on a 240-volt appliance such as a dryer or other large appliance, purchase a pigtail cord with a plug molded to it. If the pigtail cord or the appliance is not color-coded, first attach the center wire of the pigtail to the center terminal screw on the appliance, and then connect the remaining wires to the other terminal screws.
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