Try these electrical tests before calling an electrician
Usually when an outlet goes dead, the fix is something simple and you can save the cost of a service call by doing the work yourself. We’ll show you what’s involved in troubleshooting a dead outlet. This article covers how to start your search for the problem by checking in the most likely places. If that doesn’t work, we’ll show you where to look for loose connections that may be to blame, and how to fix them. What I really appreciate is the expertise of guys from electrician Brisbane Southside who did a great job in fixing my fuse.
Troubleshooting the outlet
When an outlet goes dead, it’s easy to jump to conclusions and assume the worst. But more often than not, the problem is something simple, and you can save the cost of a service call just by taking a few steps to trace the cause. Don’t worry if you’re not comfortable doing electrical work. Better than half the time, you’ll solve the problem without even lifting a tool. We’ll show you how to start your search for the problem by checking in the most likely places. If that doesn’t work, we’ll show you where to look for loose connections that may be to blame, and how to fix them.
Of course, there will always be problems that are best left to an electrician. But if you take these steps first, there’s a good chance you’ll find the solution.
Check for Simple Solutions First
Shortly after moving into our house, we had an electrical problem. The exterior outlets and bathroom lights didn’t work. I knew enough to check for tripped circuit breakers and GFCI outlets. But I couldn’t find the problem. I was just about to start pulling apart the wiring when I double-checked the main panel and noticed the GFCI circuit breaker up in the corner.
Sure enough, the GFCI breaker was protecting the bathroom and exterior outlets and needed to be reset. I was lucky this time—I’ve been known to remove outlets and start to test circuits and then discover the simpler solution. The moral of the story is, don’t jump to conclusions. The fix for a dead outlet is usually simpler than you think.
First, see if other outlets are dead
Before you head for the circuit breakers, take a few minutes to check if other outlets, lights or appliances are affected. Switch lights on and off and test nearby outlets for power (use a voltage tester or plug in a lamp to test the outlets).
Unplug lamps and appliances from dead outlets to eliminate the possibility that a short or overload from one of them is causing the problem. Note the location of dead outlets or mark them with a piece of masking tape so you’ll be able to find them again after you’ve turned off the power.
Check the circuit breakers
After you unplug all the devices from the dead outlets, the next step is to check for a tripped circuit breaker or blown fuse. You’ll find the circuit breakers or fuses in the main electrical panel, which is usually located near where the electrical wires enter the house. Garages, basements and laundry rooms are common locations.
Locate the panel and open the metal door to reveal the fuses or circuit breakers. The photos below show a typical main panel and the process for resetting a tripped circuit breaker. Remember to turn off your computer before you switch the circuit breakers on and off.
Circuit breaker
Locate the circuit breaker box (or fuse box) and open the door to search for tripped circuit breakers.
Find the tripped breaker
Locate tripped breakers by looking for breaker handles that aren’t lined up with the rest. Last, push the breaker handles toward the “on” position. Tripped breakers will “give” a little rather than feel solid.
Resetting the breaker
The first step in resetting a tripped breaker is to switch it off. Don’t just flick the handle; press the handle firmly to the “off” position. You should hear a click.
Push the breaker to reset it
Finally, reset the breaker by pushing the handle firmly to “on.” It should line up with all the rest. If it “pops” back to the tripped position, there’s a problem in the wiring or in something that’s plugged into the circuit.
Tripped circuit breakers aren’t always apparent. If you don’t see a tripped breaker, firmly press every breaker to the “off” position. Then switch them back on. If the tripped breaker won’t reset without tripping again, there could be a potentially dangerous short circuit or ground fault condition. Switch the circuit breaker off until you’ve located the problem.
Detail of a blown fuse
Replace burned-out fuses. Look inside the fuse for charred glass or a broken filament—evidence of a blown fuse. Unscrew the suspect fuse and replace it with one of the same type and amperage.
In most cases, a tripped circuit breaker is caused by a temporary overload on the circuit or a short circuit in some device plugged into the circuit. But in rare cases, a loose wire in an electrical box could be causing the problem. Follow the photos in Step 4 (below), to look for and repair loose connections.
Check the GFCIs
GFCI (short for “ground fault circuit interrupter”) outlets, those unusual outlets with the test and reset buttons, are required in areas of the house where shock hazards are greatest. They protect against deadly electrical shocks by sensing leaks in the electrical current and immediately tripping to shut off the power. But it’s easy to overlook a tripped GFCI as the source of a dead outlet problem. That’s because in areas where GFCI-protected outlets are required, electricians often save money by connecting additional standard outlets to one GFCI outlet.
Identification label
Protected “downstream” receptacle should be labeled if they have GFCI protection. A current leak at any one of the outlets will trip the GFCI and cause all of the outlets connected to it to go dead. These GFCI-protected outlets are supposed to be labeled, but the label often falls off.
Push reset button
Look for GFCIs in bathrooms, kitchens, basements, garages and on the home’s exterior. Test and reset every GFCI you find. If the GFCI won’t reset or the button doesn’t pop out when you press the “test” button, there may be no power to the GFCI or you may have a bad GFCI. On the other hand, if the “reset” button trips again every time you press it, there may be a dangerous current leak somewhere on the circuit.
In either case, solving the problem requires additional electrical testing that we won’t cover here. Refer to other electrical repair manuals or call an electrician for help. If a GFCI won’t reset and didn’t power up your dead outlet, then the last resort is to look for loose connections.
Still no power? Look for a bad connection
If checking the breakers and the GFCI won’t reset and you haven’t restored power to the outlet, the next step, without getting into circuit testing, is to remove the outlet from the box and look for loose connections.
We’ll show you three common types of loose connections: loose terminal screws, loose stab-in connections, and loose wires at wire connectors. You may find one or more of these when you remove your outlet and look in the electrical box.
Turn off the main breaker
First make sure all computers are turned off and everyone in the house knows you’ll be turning off the power. Then switch off the main circuit breaker. Keep a flashlight handy because all the lights will go out.
Check for loose wires
Inspect the screw terminals for broken or loose wires. Carefully bend the wire at each screw terminal to see if it’s loose (it will turn under the screw or the screw will move). Also look for broken, burned or corroded wires or screws.
Install a new outlet
If you do discover a loose connection at an outlet, whether it’s at the screw terminal or a stab-in connection, we recommend replacing the outlet with a new one. That’s because loose connections almost always create excess heat that could damage the outlet and lead to future problems.
Install a new outlet by bending a loop in the ends of the hot, neutral and ground wires. Connect the hot (black) wire to the brass screw, the neutral white wire to the silver screw and the ground wire to the green ground screw. Loop the wires clockwise around the screws and tighten.
If the outlet you’re replacing is wired like the one shown in the photo above, with pairs of hot and neutral wires (wires under all four screws), connect the pairs of like-colored wires along with a third 6-in. length of wire, called a pigtail, under one wire connector. Then connect the loose end of each pigtail to the appropriate outlet screw. This method reduces the chance that a loose connection under a screw will cause a problem with other outlets on the circuit.
Check wire connectors for loose wires
A wire that’s come loose from a wire connector is another problem that can cause a dead outlet. Follow the steps below to find and fix this type of loose connection.
Tug wires at connectors
Grab the wire connector. Tug on each wire in the bundle to see if any are loose. If you discover a loose wire, remove the wire connector. Cut and strip all the wires in the bundle to expose 1/2 in. to 3/4 in. of fresh copper wire (check the instructions on the wire connector container for the exact stripping length).
If you don’t find any loose connections in this box and are still anxious to pursue the problem, expand your search to other outlets in the vicinity (start with the ones you marked earlier with masking tape). Make sure to turn off the main circuit breaker when you’re checking for loose connections.
Reinstall the connector
Gather the wires, making sure their ends are lined up, and twist on a new wire connector. Twist clockwise. Match the connector to the number of wires by reading the label on the wire connector packaging.
Switch the main circuit breaker back on. Now test the outlets again to see if you’ve solved the problem. If you still have dead outlets, it’s time to call an electrician.
Required Tools for this Project
Have the necessary tools for this DIY project if you GFCI outlet won’t reset lined up before you start—you’ll save time and frustration.
- 4-in-1 screwdriver
- Flashlight
- Needle-nose pliers
- Safety glasses
- Voltage tester
Inquire here for any emergency of your electricity problems.