It’s never a nice experience to have an electrical outlet suddenly cease working. But don’t jump to the worst-case scenario just yet. Some causes of a dead outlet are simple to fix, while others necessitate the assistance of an electrician.
Here are a few reasons why your outlet isn’t working:
The Circuit Breaker Has Tripped
When unauthorized electrical currents are detected, circuit breakers trip. Your circuit breaker may have shut off the electricity to your outlet if it was short-circuited or overloaded. Check to check if any other local outlets are operational. If they’re both dead, check your circuit breaker.
A circuit breaker’s lever will normally flip to the middle or off position after it has tripped. Unplug and remove any appliances connected to the dead outlets before resetting the circuit breaker. The circuit breaker could have tripped due to too much plugged-in equipment. Furthermore, faulty appliances can easily short out, tripping your circuit breaker. Before resetting the circuit breaker, unplug and inspect your appliances.
There’s A Problem With Your Outlet’s Connection
It’s possible that your outlet had a poor connection, causing it to stop working. A box is used to install outlets, and this box may have concerns such as a loose connection or damaged screws. If the power supply box for an outlet is insufficient, the outlet will stop working.
The signs of a poor connection are nearly comparable to those of bad wiring. The difficulty in diagnosing the problem without the assistance of an electrical specialist is also consistent.
New Wiring Is Required For Your Outlet
The primary form of transportation for electricity is through wiring. Electricity cannot travel correctly if the wiring is faulty or old. Faulty wiring might cause an outlet to stop operating. Aside from the outlet not working, there are a few other symptoms of poor wiring: Flickering lights, constant buzzing sound from the outlet, scorch marks and smell from the outlet, your electrical system is old, or the outlet feels hot to the touch.
Your Outlet Is a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter)
The purpose of GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) outlets is to lessen the severity of electrical shock. The GFCI outlet will rapidly shut off power if the electrical current takes an unforeseen path. If your outlet is GFCI, this means that it may have switched itself off owing to a short circuit.
How can you know if the outlet you’re using is a GFCI? GFCI outlets are required by the National Electric Code (NEC) in restrooms, kitchens, outdoor areas, and laundry rooms. The test and reset buttons situated between the two plugs quickly identify a GFCI outlet. If your dead outlet is a GFCI, the answer could be as simple as pressing the reset button.
Remove all appliances from the outlet before pressing the reset button. Check your appliance for any visible cracks or damaged cords that could have caused a short circuit. Also, inspect your GFCI outlet thoroughly for any dampness or damage.