dead power outlet

Ever have those moments when you leave your computer or tablet plugged into the wall, only to come back hours later and find that the battery is completely dead? Dead power outlets can be a huge inconvenience, but the good news is that you might not need an electrician to fix the problem.

In most cases you can save yourself the time by simply troubleshooting the problem on your own. Here are a few ways that you can analyze a dead power outlet issues in your home, before you go the route of calling a local electrician to fix the problem. We like to be sure you’re equipped enough to make an informed decision, so that when you make an appointment, you know that you’re doing the right thing.

Check Other Outlets

Before you get started resetting the circuit breaker or unscrewing the outlet cover, test the other outlets in your home to see if there are others that are dead or aren’t working. Switch the lights in the same room and adjacent rooms off and on to see if they work. To prevent an overload, do one switch at a time. Plug a small lamp into other outlets in the area and flip it on and off to check for power to those outlets. Use a small piece of painter’s tape to mark any other dead outlets, and unplug all devices from the dead outlets.

Check Your Breaker

Make sure that your hands are totally dry before moving forward, and that you are standing on a dry surface at all times. Handling electrical issue can be dangerous, and this will help you reduce risks and potential hazards.

The next thing that you will want to do is check your circuit breaker box for a breaker trip. Open your breaker box to observe which breaker switches are not lined up with the rest of the breaker handles. They will either be in the off or neutral position. Flip the tripped breakers to the off position first, then flip them on. If you have just overloaded your breaker, which is a fairly common occurrence, that should reset it so that your outlets now work.

Check your Fuse Box

If your panel uses fuses, you may have to run a quick errand. Check all of the fuses in your panel to see if the metal inside the fuse has melted. If the glass at the top of the fuse is dark, that means that the fuse will not work anymore.

In that case, you will want to remove that fuse and take it to a hardware store. That way you can make sure that you replace with the exact fuse that you need.

After you have switched your circuit breaker and replaced any blown fuses, plug a lamp. You can also use something into the dead outlet to see if it works. If it does, you are all set – that was easy, right?

Still having problems with a dead power outlet?

But, if you’re still experiencing the problem, you may want to call an electrician. That could be indicative of a problem with the wiring to your outlet. It is always best to leave that sort of thing to a professional. If you’re in the Seattle or Shoreline area, Wire Craft is happy to help fix your dead power outlet!