When a home loses total power it is usually due to a storm, accident, or the power company is performing repair or maintenance to the system. However, it becomes odd when power is lost to only a small section of a home or to a single room. When this occurs, there could be a number of different causes that can result in the loss of power. Nonetheless, there are some steps you can take to troubleshoot the problem. Burley Electrical Services will walk you through the steps in determining the causes of the solitary power loss to a room or area.
Tripped Breaker
When power is lost to a single area it is most likely a tripped breaker. A breaker trips when there is a circuit overload, a defective appliance or device, or even a damaged cord can cause a short circuit. First, unplug all of the electrical devices in the area that has lost power. Next, locate the circuit breaker panel or the fuse box as many would call it. The circuit breaker panel will be located on the back side of a home, in the garage, basement, or sometimes a closet. Often you will see one switch on the opposite side than the other switches, if you see one flipped against all others, flip it back to restore power. If you’re not sure which breaker takes care of the room that lost power, you can flip them all one at a time. Sometimes the breaker may not have fully tripped to the other side so you may need to check each breaker in turn. Once all of the power has been restored, return to the area and plug in one appliance or device at a time. In some cases, the faulty appliance or device will short the power out again. In this way you will know which one is the cause of the overload.
Reset the GFCI Outlet Button
If the power isn’t working after you’ve checked the circuit breaker panel, then there is one more thing to try. Check for a GFCI receptacle. They are typically found in bathrooms and kitchens. However, this is not always the case. This type of receptacle has two buttons in the center, one marked test and the other marked reset. These buttons are designed as a safety device in the event the socket gets overloaded. Try pressing the reset button and see if that restores the power to the area or room. The GFCI receptacle may not be located in the room and even one that still has power. You can reset any GFCI receptacle that is in the area. It won’t hurt the rest of your home to try and reset each of the sockets.
Electrical Wiring Services & More in Pompano Beach, Oakland Park, Plantation, Deerfield Beach, Boca Raton, Davie, Fort Lauderdale & South Florida
If power is still lost to an area or room, contact an electrician. The loss of power could be due to damages in your home’s wiring system and will need repair. There are a number of damages that can occur in a home electrical system. If you need help repairing or restoring your home’s electrical system, contact Burley Electrical Services today.
