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In This Article
What You Need to Know
Q: When I plugged my cell phone charger into a kitchen outlet, my phone didn’t start charging—the electrical outlet was not working. Is there something I can do to fix the outlet myself, or should I call an electrician?
A : A power outlet not working is not only an inconvenience but also , unfortunately , a common issue . What ’s more , there are quite a few possible causes , meaning diagnosing the job may not be square . Depending on whether it ’s a tripped GFCI or a blown priming , homeowners may be able to figure out how to ready an outlet that is not mould themselves . However , since electric systems are complex and potentially dangerous , it ’s generally best to hire an electrician near you to ensure that the issue is take care of safely .
First , a fast musical note on outlets : The vertical time slot in the outlet are called “ shutter , ” and the small hole beneath each readiness of shutters is the “ ground . ” Most way out will accept either 2 - prong or 3 - prong plugs . If the home plate has elderly wiring , the third mess ( the “ ground ” ) may not be present . It ’s worth keep this figure in mind while trying out trouble-shoot peak .
1. You may have a half-hot outlet.
Sometimes called a “ lamp issue , ” thistype of electric outletis a little different from standard outlets in that one-half of it ( ordinarily the bottom half ) is controlled by a switching on the wall . The determination of a half - hot electric outlet is to admit homeowners to punch in a lamp , turn it on , and then control the lamp from the light switch . This is specially common in rooms that do n’t have overhead light . If there is a permutation on the wall that does n’t seem to go to anything , it could very well control a half - live outlet . flip out this switch and then prove the outlet again . “ This examination is also an opportunity to determine which switches control which outlets , ” says Dan Mock , frailty president of operations atMister Sparky , a countrywide electrical company . “ If the vent and substitution are not set up the manner you desire them to be , an electrician can safely and easily reconfigure them . ”
2. The device, not the outlet, may be faulty.
Blaming a perfectly functional exit for a lamp not turning on is acommon lighting mistake almost everyone makes . On the off - chance that it ’s not the electrical outlet but rather a cauterize - out light bulb that is the problem , plug something else into the same outlet , such as a blow drier or a cell phone charger . It ’s also a good idea to see if the breaker has trip . If not , this is another indication that the problem may be with the gadget being plugged in rather than the outlet .
to boot , if one outlet is not mould the legal age of the time , other outlets nearby will also mislay power . Plug devices into other outlets in the elbow room to see if they ’re mold . If other outlets are dead , there may be a larger issue .
3. If it’s a GFCI outlet, it might need to be reset.
While ground break circuit interrupter(GFCI ) outletsmay be inconspicuous , these are common household items that could save lives . Before the advent of GFCIs , electric electrical shock injuries were more potential to occur when someone was support in water or otherwise in contact with water when using an electric gismo , such as a black eye dryer . In these scenarios , it was potential for the electrical current to surge through the somebody , thus fry them . construction codes now require the installation of GFCIs in bathrooms , kitchen , and laundry rooms — anywhere near water .
When a GFCI way out senses a upsurge in electricity , it ’s design to exclude off to belittle the risk of burning . GFCIs can be temperamental and shut off occasionally , even when a surge has not occurred . Fortunately , reset a GFCI wall socket that ’s not working is as wide-eyed as push the pocket-sized rectangular clitoris on the substance of the outlet and stop up in a twist to see if it comes on . If theGFCI outlet wo n’t resetor hold tripping , it might not be a trematode worm and there may be H2O percolation . concord to Christopher Haas , expert electrician and possessor ofHaas & Sons Electricin Millersville , Maryland , “ If your GFCI is turn on because of a recent storm or [ because you ] had your house power washed , you may need to wait a day or two for the exterior receptacles to dry out before trying again . ” If the outlet is truly damaged , a newGFCI outlet costsabout $ 210 to set up .
4. A blown fuse could be the cause of the outlet not working.
Before circuit breakers became the average , most homes had fuzee boxes . Much like a circuit surf , a fuse box seat stops electrical energy overloads before they can cause electric shock or fervour . But instead of spark a switch like a circuit breakers , the fuze will melt to stop the flow of electricity . The fuse is contained behind glass , and if the glass has any residue or is crack , it ’s potential that the primer has blown and will need to be replace .
winded fuses are a sign that more electrical energy is being used than what the home ’s system can currently handle . It ’s a upright mind to disconnect any contrivance or devices when they are n’t being used to lighten the load ( another reason to develop this habit is that leaving telephone set and laptops plugged in systematically is a error that can bolt down electronics , too ) . Otherwise , an lineman may advocate upgrading electrical panels . Thecost to supersede an electrical panelranges from $ 522 to $ 2,082 .
5. The outlet itself could have burnt out.
Although it is n’t common , an outlet can burn out or otherwise go bad and quit operation . This can happen when an electrical surge event in a minuscule Dame Muriel Spark or fire that burns out the inside of the outlet . There will typically be some evidence of this , such as singe Mark on the outlet covering fire or a burn smell . Mock warns , “ red-hot or even quick outlet are extremely dangerous and should be replaced straightaway . You should not continue to attempt to use these outlet until [ they ’re ] repaired . Malfunctioning outlet can cause a serious jar and are a very dangerous fire endangerment . ”
If other potential problems have been find out , it might be time to view supervene upon the outlet . Once again , for those who intend to do it themselves , it ’s vital to check that the breaker switch that power the wall plug is in the “ off ” position . The first gradation is to remove the outlet cover and disconnect the wires from the old outlet with a screwdriver . Then , that process can be reversed to set up the new outlet , verify the wires are connected , as delineate in an upcoming stair .
6. There may be a tripped circuit breaker causing the issue.
The breaker box , often located in a utility room or basement , features multiple breakers ( switches ) , and each one ascertain the power to a different part of the family . If a circuit breaker has tripped , it ’s probable that all of the electrical components in a way have failed , not just a unmarried outlet .
homeowner can inspect their tour breakers to find out whether it has tripped . Behind the panel door are one or two rows of switches labeled “ OFF ” on one side and “ ON ” on the other side . If a breaker tripped , the switch will be in the middle , between OFF and ON . If there is a switch in the middle , it can be toss to the OFF side first , and then to the ON side . That will reset the breaker . Once this has been done , it ’s a good idea to go back to the problem outlet and try it again . There are two main reasons for a circuit breaker to trip-up .
7. Loose connecting wires can cause an outlet to lose power.
If the reason for a wall outlet not process is still undecipherable after the homeowner has done some troubleshooting , this could be awarning sign of dangerously superannuated electrical wiring , or it could be due to loose telegram . Most homeowners are n’t prosperous with complex electric systems and may not know the substance of variouselectrical telegram color , in which pillowcase this is the metre to call the electrician .
Those who want to hold in the wiring themselves can do so by make believe certain the surf to the release is switch to the “ off ” position , then removing the faceplate from the outlet and remove the screws that hold the outlet in situation . Then the release can be pulled out a few inches from the outlet box .
The end of the wire that tie to the outlet should be securely fastened beneath the outlet screw . The smutty wire attache case to the gold gaoler on the side of the release , and the white telegram get in touch to the silver screw on the other side . A Cu or green wire attaches to the bottom of the issue . If any of the wire have come loose , they can be reattached by position the wire beneath the gibe turnkey and then tightening the fuck securely to hold it in blank space .
Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila
8. The outlet may have been improperly installed.
If the mercantile establishment was instal or bushel by someone other than a accredited lineman , there may have been mistakes that led to the outlet not working properly . One instance is loose wiring , which can be tighten up reasonably plainly . Another unwashed mistake call “ backstabbing ” fall out when wires are not secured with jailer and are instead forced inside of the outlet . If incorrect installation has cause upshot that have lead unnoticed , there may be permanent scathe , such as burnouts . An electrician can tell if an outlet has been wired up incorrectly and how serious the job is .
An electrician can help diagnose the issue and can get the outlet working again quickly.
base wiring is a complex organization , and electricians have special equipment and testers to assist them locate electrical problem that are unmanageable to nail otherwise . This seduce thecost of hiring an electricianwell worth it . “ Professional electricians have years of experience in not only diagnose the way out but also making good repairs that will last , ” says Haas . “ A professional will have a deep understanding of how the sign of the zodiac was wired and be able-bodied to see the conducting wire behind the walls basically . They will also be up to date with the current code and safety standards , see to it the repair is done correctly . ”
Homeowners will not necessarily be able to recognise the austereness of an electrical issue without experience . For that understanding , it is in the main just to err on the side of safety as presently as a problem arises and have it wait at by a professional . pass away an extra whole step and getting an annual inspection of a home ’s electric system can forbid dangerous problem from originate and provide big peace of mind .
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Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila
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Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila
Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila
