8 Reasons Your Outlet Isn’t Working
On the surface, the electrical outlets in your home may seem fairly straightforward. What lies under the surface, however, can be complicated. Many Raleigh homeowners don’t give much thought to the electrical outlets in their homes, but it’s an entirely different story when they stop working. Suddenly, there are plenty of questions and not enough answers. If your electrical outlet isn’t working, you might be scratching your head and wondering what to do next. Luckily our licensed electricians have the answers you’re looking for!
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First of all, it’s important that you know that most homeowners have no idea how to go about diagnosing outlet issues when problems occur. Although outlet problems are fairly common, most people don’t know how to handle the situation. To get around the frustration caused by problems with your electrical outlet, it can be helpful to know some of the most common reasons for an outlet to stop functioning.
Today, our knowledgeable electricians will be sharing 8 of the most common reasons for an electrical outlet to stop working. Fortunately, most cases of broken outlets can be solved without having to call a professional! You just have to know what you’re looking for. The outlet repair pros here at Right Electrical Services are here to help you kiss your outlet issues goodbye.
Top 8 Reasons Why Your Outlet Isn’t Working
There are so many reasons that could be behind why your outlet isn’t working. To identify the problem, there are a few things you need to check. We’ll cover the steps that you should take to diagnose the issue with your electrical outlet in each of the following sections.
Following these steps, you have a better chance of determining the cause of the issue without having to call in an electrician. Here’s what you need to know.
1. The Fuse is Blown
If your electricity is operated via a fuse box, it’s highly likely that your outlet isn’t working because of a problem with a blown fuse. To determine whether or not this is the problem, you should start by checking the fuse box itself.
You’ll want to be on the lookout for some of the most common signs of a blown fuse including discolored glass and melted metal. Once you’ve found the broken fuse, unscrew it before replacing it with a new fuse. Be sure that the fuse you’re using to replace the broken fuse is identical to ensure there aren’t any further disruptions.
2. Your Circuit Breaker Tripped
A tripping circuit breaker is one of the most frustrating issues a homeowner can experience. It’s also one of the most common reasons for an electrical outlet to stop working.
Circuit breakers are responsible for controlling the electricity in your home as it flows into each room. When too much of an electrical current is being distributed at once, the breaker will “trip”, shutting off power in order to keep the circuits from overheating because this can cause serious damage (such as an electrical fire).
If one of your electrical outlets isn’t working, it’s a good idea to check your circuit breaker panel. The tripped breaker will most likely be in-between the “on” and “off” positions, so be sure to switch it to “off” in order to reset the breaker. After the circuit is reset, this may very well fix your outlet issue all without requiring an electrician to come and check it out.
We can’t tell you how many times we’ve been called out to a customer’s home only to find that their outlet issue was only a matter of resetting the breaker. Don’t waste your own time by letting this happen to you- always check your circuit breaker first!
3. The Outlet Has Burnt Out
Believe it or not, it’s fairly common for an electrical outlet to simply burn out. Because a strong electrical current flows through an outlet, this can sometimes cause a small fire to occur within the outlet’s wiring and it will stop working.
To determine whether or not this is the reason that your outlet isn’t working, look for signs of blackening around the outlet. This is the biggest indicator that a small fire has occurred and, aside from being the source of your problem, this is also very dangerous. In this case, the entire outlet will need to be replaced by a professional.
4. The GFCI Outlet Has Tripped
A Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlet is designed to shut itself off whenever it detects a short. They are most often used in areas where water is typically present, such as in bathrooms and kitchens in order to protect you from electrical shock.
You can identify whether or not you have a GFCI outlet in your home by looking for their “test” and “reset” buttons which are located between the two plugs. If you’ve already checked your circuit breaker and your GFCI outlet still isn’t working, it is likely that the outlet itself has tripped after detecting a short. You can simply push the “reset” button to reset the outlet and it should start working again.
5. The Outlet Has Wires With a Loose Connection
Whenever you start getting involved with electrical wiring, it’s a good idea to call a professional electrician. In many cases, loose wiring is the cause of an outlet that has stopped working. As a warning, you should never check the wiring within an electrical outlet before first switching your circuit breaker off. After you’ve done that, you’re safe to remove the outlet’s front plate as well as the screws that keep it attached to the wall.
Once you pull the outlet a few inches away from the wall, take some time to inspect the wiring. If you notice any loose wires, this is not only likely the cause of your outlet problems but also a huge fire hazard. You should be able to reposition the wires more closely together before tightening the screws that hold them in place. If this fixes your problem, there’s no need to call an electrician. However, if you still experience problems or are wary of dealing with electrical wiring on your own, it never hurts to call a licensed electrician for help!
6. You Have a Half-Hot Outlet On Your Hands
If you have a half-hot outlet in your home, fixing the problem with your outlet could be as easy as flipping a switch. A half-hot outlet is a duplex outlet with one half that remains permanently “on” while the other half can be turned off. These types of electrical outlets have one plug that is controlled via a wall switch. For this reason, the solution may be as simple as flipping the light switches in the room in order to activate the outlet for use.
7. The Slots Are Worn Out
Over time, the metal contact points in your outlet can begin to wear out. When this happens, the grip that they are designed to have in order to secure the netural, hot, and grounding prongs can wear off and create greater electrical resistance and heat. From there, problems with the wiring can result and the breaker will likely trip. In some cases, you may also hear a crackling within the receptacle due to sparking.
To combat this issue, start by turning off the power before replacing the receptacle with a new one. In some cases, replacing the receptacle may require bringing the new one up to code, especially when GFCI and arc-fault requirements are part of the equation.
8. The Outlet Itself is Faulty
Just like many electrical devices, outlets can be faulty. Sure, it’s uncommon for an electrical outlet to be defective but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen. If you’ve already tried all of the other methods of diagnosing your outlet problem that we’ve included on this list and you’re still experiencing an issue, it’s likely that the outlet itself is faulty. Now is the time to replace the defective outlet.
If you will be replacing your electrical outlet on your own, always make sure to turn off the breaker first. You can then remove the outlet cover before carefully disconnecting the wires by using a screwdriver. You can then connect your new outlet by following these same steps in the reverse order.
Not everyone is comfortable with dealing with the electrical wiring components involved in replacing an outlet so if you feel as though this is outside your realm of expertise, don’t hesitate to call an electrician.
A professional electrician is knowledgeable of outlet repair and replacement and can handle the problem for you with ease. Electricity is very dangerous and if you’re anything but completely comfortable with replacing the outlet yourself, you should entrust a professional.
If Your Outlet Isn’t Working, Contact Our Licensed Raleigh Electricians for Expert Outlet Repair Near You!
If you have an outlet that isn’t working (or multiple outlets) knowing these common causes for outlet issues is essential. Still, if you’re unprepared to diagnose or repair these problems on your own, your best bet is to call a licensed electrician near you with the skills needed for the job.
Here at Right Electrical Services, LLC, we specialize in outlet repair and replacement and are here to take care of this frustrating problem. Give us a call at (919) 359-1017 or request an appointment online. We’ll get back to you immediately to schedule an appointment. We hope that this information on the most common causes of outlet issues has been helpful to you!
Renee Rose
Renee is a freelance copywriter and blogger known for her expertise surrounding topics like marketing, freelancing, mental health, and more. She has written for hundreds of small business websites and is the Marketing Director here at Right Electrical Services, LLC. Renee believes that when a business prioritizes entertaining, engaging, and informational content for their readers, they can expect a loyal following that trusts their company.
