How to Change a Telephone Jack

Replacing a phone jack isn't an especially hard job. Plus, it is very inexpensive. If you wish to change a phone jack, start with these basic steps.

1. Make sure that the phone has no power. Why? You don't want to risk the chance of getting shocked by electricity. To stop your phone from working, go outside and look for your phone box (interface box). This may be on your house or it could be your electric pole. Carefully, unlock the box. Unplug the test jack inside. If you have an older model phone box, you may not have a test jack. If this is the case, unscrew the terminal wires and remove them. Pay attention to where each wire belongs.

2. Go back inside and check to see if you have a dial tone. If you don't, congratulate yourself. If you do, go over step one again.

3. Unplug your phone from the phone jack you which to replace. Using a screwdriver, carefully remove the phone cover and jack from your wall. Pay attention to how the wires are placed. Are they color coded?

4. Carefully remove the old wires from the old jack. Examine the wires. If they look faded or weak, snip off the edges.

5. Carefully begin placing the wires onto your new phone jack. Wrap each color coded wire to its corresponding terminal. You may want to use a pair of pliers to help wrap the wire around the terminal. It should be wrapped in a U-shape and in a clockwise direction.

6. Tighten the terminal screws. Place the new phone jack back into the wall. Screw the cover back onto the wall. Plug in your phone.

7. Go back outside and plug your test jack back in or reattach your outside terminal and wires.

8. See if your phone has a dial tone.