How to Replace a Telephone Wall Plate

How to Replace a Telephone Wall Plate

A step-by-step guide on how to safely and easily replace a damaged or worn-out telephone wall plate by yourself in just about ten minutes.

Telephones, due to their convenience, are placed in all parts of the household where they are needed, such as the living room, bedroom, and kitchen. Wall plates are typically used to mount telephones on the kitchen wall to avoid the hassle of answering the phone in other parts of the house. These wall plates are usually sturdy, but they can become damaged or worn out over time. In such instances, you may need to replace your telephone wall plate with a new one. While you can find various professionals to call in the yellow pages to replace the wall plate for you, if you prefer not to, you can easily do it yourself. Replacing a telephone wall plate is a fairly straightforward task. Here is how:

• Disconnect the phone wiring. Before you can install a new wall plate, you need to remove the old one and almost everything associated with it. Disconnect the phone wiring before unscrewing anything. Unplug the telephone wire from the phone jack. Most telephones are connected via a modular plastic plug. All you need to do is press on the small plastic clip and pull the wire off the jack. Remember to apply pressure on the plug and not on the wire. Pulling on the wire can break it, leaving you in need of repairs. Additionally, holding the jack steady while applying pressure prevents damage to the phone wires.
• Remove the old wall plate. After you have disconnected the phone wiring, set it aside away from your work area. You can use wire clips to keep it organized. Get a screwdriver that fits the screws on your plate and unscrew all of them. Place the screws in a container so they can be reused later. If the screws are old and corroded, discard them and purchase new ones. Gently take the old phone plate off the wall and discard or recycle it.
• Attach the new telephone wall plate. Now that you have removed the old wall plate, you can install the new one. It is best to purchase the same model so you will not have a difficult time during installation. Dust the wall before placing the new plate to prevent any issues caused by dirt, such as screw corrosion. Align the new plate on the wall and thread the screws through it.
• Connect the telephone wire. Check that you have attached the wall plate properly before reconnecting the wiring. Then, plug the wire into the phone jack. If you are using a modular plug, you will hear a clicking sound indicating that it is plugged in correctly. Check your work again to ensure everything has been done correctly.

Completing these steps takes only about ten minutes or a little longer. If you encounter any problems while replacing your telephone wall plate, do not hesitate to ask for help from someone experienced with the task.