Outlets are not all the same.
You are going to have traditional outlets and then GFCI outlets.
GFCI outlets are the ones that have a protective element to them. This ensures nothing gets stuck inside and a safety mechanism is triggered when there is an electrical fault.
Keeping this in mind, you are going to walk up to one and wonder why the outlet is blocked by plastic.
An outlet that’s blocked by plastic is known as a GFCI outlet. These have plastic inserts as a protective element to prevent electrical faults. To get past them, angle the plug downward, move it up and down, and press in. This will allow the plug to go past the inserts.
It’s important to note, a GFCI outlet tends to be toughest when first installed.
It will loosen as time goes on and you are going to have a much easier time managing an outlet that’s blocked by plastic inserts.
This guide will take a peek at how you can get past an outlet blocked by plastic and how to make things as easy as possible for yourself moving forward.
Table of Contents
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How To Use An Outlet Blocked By Plastic
1. Insert Plug At An Angle
The first thing you are going to do is hold the plug at an angle.
You never want to plug into a GFCI outlet at a straight angle. This won’t work and it’s going to be a difficult task to get past the plastic guards.
Due to this, you want to hold it at a 45-degree angle facing down.
With this angle, you will have more control getting past the plastic and that is half the battle.
It is best to take your time with this and hold the plug at that specific angle. It will allow you to work on pushing the plug into the outlet.
2. Move The Plug Up And Down While Pressing In
Now, you are going to take the plug and begin moving it up and down.
This means you want to move it rapidly up and down while maintaining a steady cadence. This means you want to set a rhythm to how you are moving the plug.
After a while, you are going to start to feel the plastic guards loosen inside.
This is due to you working on the cadence and making sure the plug is moving as required.
Be patient while doing this and it will begin to go in.
3. Increase Force Until Plug Goes In
The last bit of this process is going to encompass increasing the force by pressing in.
As you move the plug up and down, you will feel it go in. This is when you have to give it an extra nudge by pressing inward.
Just a little bit of force is going to get the job done.
With newer outlets, you might have to press harder. Continue to work on the outlet while doing this and you are going to see the results you’re hoping for.
This is key when increasing the force.
Don’t be aggressive, just make sure you apply a bit of force without ruining the rhythm of moving your plug up and down.
4. Make Sure The Outlet Is Working
This is one mistake people make.
You have to ensure the outlet is working. This means power has to be going to the outlet or it is not going to be easy to plug into.
To ensure that is the case, you will notice a green light in front of most GFCI outlets. This is a sign the outlet has power and is functional.
If there is no power, the GFCI outlet is going to be alerting you of a potential electrical fault. With a situation such as this, it does not make sense to keep pressing in.
You will want to correct the issue first and then move forward with the process listed here.
Final Thoughts
These are the steps that will ensure you can use an outlet blocked by plastic at home.
To use an outlet blocked by plastic, start by holding the plug at an angle. Now, move the plug up and down at a set rhythm. When you feel the plug go in a bit, press harder. This will ensure the plug goes all the way in.
Be patient during this process and build-up to the rhythm. This is how you are going to get past the plastic guard in the GFCI outlet.
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