Why Isn’t My Outlet Working?

February 1, 2022

An outlet that has suddenly stopped working is not only annoying, but it can also be concerning. When electrical systems malfunction in any way in your home, it can be dangerous. You will want to figure out why you have a dead electrical outlet as quickly as possible. Here are a few suggestions as to why your outlet isn’t working.

Circuit Breaker Has Been Tripped

This is the most common reason why an outlet suddenly stops working. The circuit breaker is the system that controls the flow of electricity to each room. A breaker can trip when there is too much current moving through the circuits. When this happens, the breaker will trip, or cut itself off. This will stop the flow of electricity from overheating. This is a safety mechanism in your home to prevent fires.

You can quickly fix this problem by locating your circuit breaker panel box. The tripped breaker will be the one that seems to be switched off. To fix the problem, switch the breaker all the way to off and then back to on. In most cases, this will solve the issue.

Blown Fuse

If your home has a fuse box, you will want to look for a fuse that looks like melted metal pieces or discolored glass. You can replace the fuse to solve the problem.

GFCI Outlet Problems

GFCI Outlet or Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter Outlets will shut off automatically if there is a short. This is an important safety feature of your home. These are used for outlets that are located near water, such as the kitchen sink or bathrooms. This type of outlet will have a reset and test button located on the outlet itself. These outlets will sometimes trip if water gets into the outlet. You can reset the outlet by pushing the reset button.

Burned Outlet

If a small fire occurs within your wiring, it might cause an outlet to stop working. This can be caused by strong electrical currents or faulty electrical wiring. If you notice a smell of burned plastic or blackening of the outlet, this has likely happened. In this situation, the entire outlet should be replaced. If you do not feel comfortable doing this type of work yourself, you should hire a professional.

Electricity can be dangerous. Homeowners can handle some electrical fixes themselves, but if you are unsure or uncomfortable with a job, call the professionals at JB Electrical serving Carlsbad, NM, and the surrounding areas. We are happy to help.

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