What do you do when an electrical outlet stops working? Some people just ignore and find another outlet nearby; until, they realize more than one outlet is not functioning properly. There are several reasons why an outlet stops working and each requires your immediate attention. Let's explore 3 reasons why an outlet may not be working:
If this is a standard outlet, the first thing you should do is check your circuit breaker box for a tripped circuit. This is also known as the electrical service panel and usually located in the basement, garage, or utility closet. This is a simple check as one of the switches will be off-set from the others. All this takes is a quick flip of the switch and your back in service.
If none of the circuit breaker box switches are off-set, then the reason could be that this outlet is attached to a GFCI outlet. GFCI? This stands for Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter. The GFCI outlet is a very cool gizmo. It acts as a mini circuit breaker. If there is an overload to the circuit (or outlet) it will immediately shut off power, thus protecting the electrical circuit, people, and anything plugged into these outlets.
GFCI outlets are commonly installed in wet areas, such as kitchens, bathrooms, outside, and in the garage. What you may not know is that other standard outlets down line may be connected to and protected by a GFCI outlet located in another part of the house. So now you'll need to search the rooms in your home for a GFCI outlet to see if it is tripped. A green light (see below pic) at the bottom of the GFCI indicates the outlet is working normally and a red light indicates a tripped circuit. If the outlet is tripped, simply first push the "Test" button, then push the "Reset" button. If this was the issue and you hit "Reset", everything should be working again. If there is no green/red light and the outlet will not reset, then this may indicate the GFCI outlet is not receiving power or it too might now be defective and need replacing.
And lastly, if none of the above works, then the malfunctioning outlet may have a loose or broken wire or is just broken and needs replacing. If this is the case, you will need to know what you're doing if you intend to replace this yourself.
Or I can help. If you are looking for someone to repair an outlet or install a new outlet, call or text Simply Home Maintenance today at (240) 324-8081 to discuss your options.
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