Is there an easy way to add more outlets to my apartment?

Question

I need more electrical plugs. I can't tear up the walls because I rent. I've always rented and I'm not particularly handy.

There is an overhead light but no plug in my "closet room" (a small room with a built-in dresser and two closets), where I would like to iron and/or vacuum, and I only have one plug in the bathroom next to the closet, and it is part of the light fixture over the mirror. That is only one plug between two rooms! Very inconvenient.

Can I convert the light switches to a combination of switch and outlet, somehow? BTW, the fuse box is in the closet room, in the back of a closet.

Actually my bathroom outlet is not a GFCI or whatever outlet, it is a regular plug that's probably been there since the place was built. Does that matter much?

Answer 1

Is it easy no, can you do it yes. I rent and I have installed two new switches in my apartment. I picked up the equipment and material I needed at Home Depot. I found my self turning on my reading light, then turning on another light and going back to turn off the reading light, and I was doing this twice a day. So I installed two switches for one light

I have another suggestion though Leviton (Home Depot carries this brand) makes a combination switch and outlet: http://www.levitonproducts.com/catalog/model_8299.htm?sid=73B0135E276EA7785B1EB7E2A67C676D&pid=1208
You may find it cheaper at Home Depot, since they buy wholesale, but this will give you and idea of its price. If they don’t have it in stock then ask if you can special order it. If that is a no go then buy it from the website.

Leviton sells it in White, Almond, and Ivory colors. Turn off the circuit in the closet room and bring in a light on an extension cord (so you can see). Unscrew the current switch cover and put it aside (save it to replace when you leave). Unscrew the switch and pull it out of the wall. There should be enough slack to work with. The switch/outlet device will have the same type of connectors. You connect the hot wires (usually black and white) to the side of the switch/outlet, and then you connect the ground wire, usually to the brass screw on the top or bottom of the switch.

This should help for the closet room.

For the bathroom I would buy a standard surge protector and plug it into your bathroom outlet. You can mount the surge protector on the wall and use all the plugs on it. Your bathroom outlet should be a GFI (Ground Fault Interrupter) Switch, which cuts out in case of contact with water, so I would not monkey with it. But, if you plug a surge protector into it then you are safe.

Answer 2

Without tearing into walls you are stuck with the powestrip/adding outlets to light fixtures route. You can buy some dealy-o's that screw into a light socket that converts it into a plug. Buy a lightbulb "y" adapter, screw the plug into one arm of the y and a bulb into the other; just remember the switch to this light will have to be on for the plug to work. Good luck

Answer 3

At any Walmart you can buy a plug adapter that will give you 5 or 6 extra outlets to plug into. I've forgotten what they call it ! Sorry. It's about a foot long. Just look in the electrical department of Walmart, K-Mart, Target...Cost might be about $5-$10 depending on quality.

Answer 4

Several ways as some of these people have stated. But please look at the fact that the wiring can only handle so much of a load. so you can add all the power strips and plugs you want, But you will be tripping breakers all day if your running to much. Most Apartments have 2 to 3 breakers for wall outlets, Each one is 15amp. I'm sure you can do the math

Answer 5

Hardware stores cary a screw in plug(usualy 2) that screws into the light fixture that you then screw a bulb into.However most lights are only on a 15 amp(14ga) breaker so don't ovrload it.

Answer 6

Try power strips. You can buy them cheap at Wal-Mart.