Have you ever gone to plug in a device or appliance only to find what appears to be a dead electrical outlet? This can be frustrating. Moreover, it can be potentially dangerous. Luckily, there are few steps you can take to troubleshoot a dead electrical outlet on your own before calling an electrician for some backup.
Here’s how to troubleshoot a “dead” electrical outlet at home.
Step 1: Ensure that the problem isn’t with your device or appliance.
Before we play the blame game and knock an outlet for inactivity, make sure that your electrical device is still working by plugging it into another working outlet. If the problem persists, it’s likely a fault with your device.
Step 2: Look around for a switch controlling the outlet.
Often, particularly after settling into a new home, a dead electrical outlet may be mistaken for an outlet that may be controlled by a switch that is turned off. Look around for a switch that may control the outlet. If you happen to find one and you don’t want it to power said outlet, we can easily rewire it for you.
Step 3: Check if the outlet for a tripped GFCI breaker.
If your outlet still isn’t working, and you were unable to locate a switch that controls it, check for a button your GFCI outlet labeled “reset.” When a GFCI outlet has tripped, the reset button should protrude a little further than the second button, which should be labeled “test.”
Press the reset button and test the outlet again. If the problem persists, continue to step 4.
Step 4: Take a look at your breaker panel.
If the circuit your outlet is connected to has been tripped, the answer may lie in your circuit breaker panel. Locate the circuit in your panel and see if the switch is resting between the on and off position. If it is, switch it back to on. If not…
Step 5: Call an electrician.
If all else fails, it may be time to call an electrician. A dead electrical outlet isn’t something you should ignore. It could point to more serious problems in your home’s electrical system. Give Eric Krise Electric a call at 856.769.3932 or contact us here so we can replace your outlet and perform a safety inspection to ensure your home’s electrical system is working as it should be.