How to remove wires from push-in back holes

[pentool]

Hello,

I need to replace a few outlets, but all of them uses the back push-in holes as opposed to attaching the wires to the side screws. Is there a way to pull the wires out from the back holes or just cut them off? Regardless what I tried I just can't pull the wires out from the darn holes.

TX
--LES

[alankulwicki7]

Some back-wire receptacles have little holes near the wire insertion point that allows easy removal of the wire. If this is the case, just insert a very small, flat screw driver in the hole and pull the wire out.

Other times the back-wire receptacle actually use the side screw to hold the wire in place. If this is the cae, just loosen the side screw and pull the wire out.

You might end up having to cut the wire and start over. If there is enough extra wire, this is easy to do but sometimes it might leave you short on wire.

I'm not an expert but in the remodeling work that I have done, I've seen it all 3 ways.....

Doug

[pentool]

OK, thanks for the tip! Yeah it does have another hole on the back next to the ones where the wires go in. And I inserted a small screwdriver before thinking that will somehow release the wire, but it didn't happen. Maybe I didn't push down hard enough or something. I will try it again. TX!