If you find that your outlets are suddenly not working anymore, you want to get them fixed as soon as possible. There are some instances that you don’t need the help of an electrician to get the job done. Burley Electrical Services is here to share some troubleshooting tips to help you figure out what may be causing dead electrical outlets without a service call.
Check for Simple Solutions First When Outlet is Not Working
You might start to head straight for the circuit breaker when you find an outlet that isn’t working. First, you might want to see if there are any other outlets that aren’t working in the room. You should check the switches in the room and see if they control the power to the outlets. These are the simplest and also often the last things people try when figuring out why electrical outlets aren’t working.
Check Circuit Breakers
Before you head to your circuit board, you need to unplug everything from your dead electrical outlets so you eliminate the possibility that a short or overload is what is causing the absence of power. Once you have done that, you may notice that a switch is in the center rather to the on position in your circuit breaker. Sometimes, it isn’t obvious which switch is the problem. Switches 1-4 are usually accountable for the main power to your home. If it isn’t obvious which switch is the problem, you can switch all of them to the off position and then back on again. Before you do this, be sure that your computer and other sensitive electronics are turned off so they aren’t damaged by losing power abruptly. Usually a temporary overload is the cause for a tripped breaker and this fix is a simple one.
Test & Reset GFCIs
If you have noticed some of your outlets have a “test” or “reset” button on them, they are GFCI outlets which stands for ground fault circuit interrupter. If any of these outlets sense a current leak or an overload of any kind, they will trip and cause all of the outlets connected to them to lose power until they are reset. Bathrooms, kitchens, garages and basements are common places that you may find GFCI outlets.
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If you have tried all of these troubleshooting ideas and you continue to have issues with dead electrical outlets, you could have a bad or loose connection somewhere. Finding and fixing whatever connection problem you may have is complicated. If you don’t have the proper training, messing with the electrical connections in your home can be a dangerous endeavor. It is wisest leave this up to the professional electricians at Burley Electrical Services to fix the problem. We have the experience and training needed to find and correct the connection problem causing your dead electrical outlets quickly without causing any damage to your electrical system in the process. Because of the danger associated with your home’s electrical system, call us before trying to fix any problems on your own.
