Your electrical outlet is not working! This problem might have existed forever or be a recent development. Regardless, several things can cause electrical outlets to fail. These include issues with circuit breakers, outlets that have worn out, GCFIs, or more serious wiring issues. When you face dangerous situations with your home’s electricity, getting help from a professional is always safer.
The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) reports that 51,000 home electrical fires happen yearly. Many of these accidents start with problems in electrical outlets. If you try to fix electrical issues without the proper skills or tools, you risk getting shocked or starting a fire. That’s why getting professionals to help can stop these accidents from happening.
Inspecting The Circuit Breaker
The quickest way to fix a dead electrical outlet is to check your house’s circuit breaker. When breakers trip, they can cause one or more outlets to stop working. To solve this, you need to find your home’s electrical panel. Look for switches that appear to be in the “off” position or don’t line up with the others. If you spot one, switch it on. Then, go back to the problematic outlet and test it by plugging something in. This will help you determine if you’ve restored power to the outlet.
Examine Your GFCI Outlets
GFCIs, which stand for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter outlets, come with miniature circuit breakers built in to keep you safe from electric shocks. Check these first because they might be behind your electrical problems if they’re not working right. Look for outlets with ‘test’ and ‘reset’ buttons on them. Some electrical outlets might need to be swapped out if resetting doesn’t do the trick.
Other Potential & Serious Issues
When you tackle more complex issues, it helps to make a visual assessment. Look for discoloration or scorch marks near the electrical outlet. These might show that it’s getting too hot. If you touch an outlet and it feels warm or see sparks coming from it, you need to deal with this immediately. These signs point to big electrical problems. Start by unplugging anything connected to the smoking or hot outlet. Then, switch off the power at your circuit breaker before you call an expert.
When outlets stop working, it’s often because the electrical connections have come loose. Vibrations or everyday use over time can cause these problems. But fixing this issue requires careful steps and is a job for a trained electrician.
Have A Professional Diagnose The Issue
An experienced JQ Electrician can quickly identify the root cause of an outlet not working! Trained in all electrical systems, our technicians can detect if the problem is overloading, a blown fuse, or defective wiring.
Tinkering around with faulty outlets may cause further damage instead of resolution. This process may only amplify the problem, causing you to spend more time and money on it later. When your electricity goes out, give JQ a shout for your safety!
