Is Your Electrical Outlet Not Working?

One of the most annoying things in life is when you find that an electrical outlet has suddenly stopped working. There can be different reasons which cause an outlet to quit working, so it can be quite overwhelming to find the exact reason that caused this malfunctioning. And no matter how hard it may seem; it is reasonably straightforward to fix a non-functioning outlet.

In this article, we will go through different reasons that cause a failure of the outlet, and see how we can troubleshoot it. So, let’s go through today’s topic from Mr. Switch electrical guide.

Reasons That Cause Electrical Outlet Failure

A story of every house, you are busy doing something, and suddenly the light goes off. What happened? The electrical outlet went dead. This must-have happened to you at some point in your life, and it is quite frustrating too. But what causes an electrical outlet to stop working? There are many different reasons for it, let’s take a look at some of them.

Circuit Breaker gets Tripped

One of the most common reasons for an outlet to stop working is the tripping of the circuit breaker. It happens when the circuit breaker is tripped and stuck in the middle without going back to the original position.

Ground fault circuit Interrupter gets tripped

You probably have a GFCI outlet near places that are exposed to water like bathroom and kitchen. These outlets are used to protect you from getting an electrical shock, and when they detect an overheat, the outlet shut themselves.

Burnt Outlet

Another common and dangerous reason for a non-functional electrical outlet, is it being burnt out? In this case, you can find black burn marks around the outlet. And when an outlet is being burnt, the chances of getting a fire increases massively. So, you have to be very careful about it. If you see a burning outlet, turn off the main power supply immediately.

Malfunctioning outlet

A malfunctioning or faulty outlet is another reason for electrical outlet failure. This is more common in older homes where the outlets have aged and are prone to damage by dust particles or loose parts.

Trouble Shooting a Non-functional Electrical Outlet

Now that you know the reason why an electrical outlet goes dark let’s take a look at how you can fix it. However, for your safety, it is essential that you do not repair any electrical outlet all by yourself as it extremely dangerous, and any negligence can cause electric shock or fire. So, it is always wise to call an expert. For this, hire yourself a Mr. Switch electrician, who will come for your assistance right at your doorstep.

Check your Appliance 

It could be a possibility that there is some problem with your appliance. You might have the impression that your outlet went dead, and you could be right, but it is wiser to check your device first. For this check, if your appliance has any power button. Once you find the power button make sure it is switched on.

You also need to check the plug and the wire of your appliance, are they in good shape, or they look broken? if latter the case, get them repaired. If that is not the case, try plugging the appliance in any other outlet, if it works, that’s great, if it does not, then your appliance needs repairing.

Take A Look at The Breaker

Now, if your appliance is working fine, now is the time to check your breaker, which you can find probably in the garage or basement of your home. Take a close look at it; if there is any breaker tripped, or any fuse burnt, flip the switch back to its normal position or replace the fuse. If more than one switch is tripped, try flipping them back to their original post.

Inspect Your GFCI outlet

As you already know, GFCI outlets are installed in an area that is prone to humid weather or water. So, you will find these outlets mostly in the kitchen, bathrooms, or the laundry area. Explicitly designed to protect you from receiving any shock, these outlets trip whenever the power consumption is abnormal, or there is contact with water.

Now go and see if the GFCI outlet is tripped or not. If it is, reset it and then you are good to go. But if you cannot reset it, you should contact professional help. You can always hire a Mr. Switch electrician who are the best electrician in Parramatta.

Check Your Electrical Outlet

If everything else is beautiful, and still you are not able to troubleshoot your non-functional electrical outlet, then it is time to see the outlet itself. See if there are any burning marks, or spark sound coming out of the outlet. If that’s the case, you need to call an expert.

But if you cannot find any of these signs, pick up a voltage tester and see if the current is passing through it or not. In case you have a faulty outlet, you can go and purchase a new one without hurting your wallet much. Call a professional to replace the outlet.