An outlet in your home that suddenly stops working is a major inconvenience. It may also be indicative of fundamental problems that risk electrical hazards and big repair costs. Let’s explore what you should do in the event one or more of your outlets go dead.
Reset the GFCI Outlet
The first question to ask is whether the outlet is a GFCI outlet. Many modern homes have outlets with integrated GFCI and/or AFCI protection to safeguard against shocks and fires. These outlets trip when they detect a ground fault.
Resetting them is typically as simple as pressing a button on the outlet. It’s safe to reset an outlet that’s experienced an isolated trip. If the outlet trips again, don’t keep resetting it. Call an electrician instead. Reccurring trips indicate a more serious electrical issue. You should also contact an electrician if the outlet is difficult to reset, loose, or otherwise damaged.
Check for a Power Outage
Your local grid can fail occasionally and result in no power to your home at all. Check the lights and other devices throughout your home. If they’re not working either, there’s likely an outage. If you have a phone handy with a cellular connection, you can confirm the outage. Most local electric companies provide outage information via their websites.
Check for a Tripped Circuit Breaker
The outlet may have caused a surge that tripped its circuit breaker. It is most common with standard outlets but can occur with GFCI/AFCI outlets as well. Check the home’s electrical panel and look for any tripped breakers. There will usually be multiple outlets and other devices on a single circuit. That means a tripped breaker may result in multiple nonfunctioning outlets and other devices.
It’s safe to reset the breaker once. If it trips again, stop and call an electrician. You may have a worn breaker that needs replacement. It could also indicate a defective outlet, a loose connection, or a worn wire.
Test Other Devices and Outlets
Rule out that the problem isn’t the device itself. If you’re trying to charge a phone, for instance, test the charger in another outlet and even another room. Doing so may reveal that the problem isn’t the outlet but rather the device in question. If the problem is the outlet, test other devices. That will rule out that the problem isn’t specific to that particular outlet-device connection. If it is, an electrician can help you determine the underlying cause.
Upgrade Dead Outlets
At this point, you should stop trying to use any dead outlets in your Cleveland home. You should also stop using any outlets or switches that are warm to the touch or have scorch marks. Don’t use them again until an electrician has inspected them, and you should schedule a repair as soon as possible.
Outlets can last as long as 25 years. Many experts recommend replacing outlets proactively after 15 years. That approach helps avoid mishaps and lets you take advantage of modern technologies. It’s also important to note that high-usage outlets can fail in 10 or even 5 years. Outlets that fail sooner than that probably have a manufacturing defect.
Outlet repair generally refers to replacing the wiring between the outlet and the electrical panel. Wiring does degrade over the years and will eventually fail. If the problem is the receptacle itself, it’s generally not practical to repair it. Outlets are relatively inexpensive components and simple to swap. An electrician will also replace the faceplate and mounting hardware as needed in order to ensure a stable installation.
If applicable, consider upgrading your outlets to GFCI and/or AFCI outlets per local building codes. Smart outlets can provide advanced functionality and also save you money long term by preventing standby power drain. You can also opt for outlets with additional connectivity, such as USB connections for charging, Ethernet ports, and so forth.
Professional Outlet Repair in Cleveland
Clover Electric is located in Chagrin Falls, OH. We’ve been serving the Greater Cleveland area since 1985. We employ licensed electricians who can add outlets to your home and inspect, repair, and replace your existing outlets. Call today or contact us online to learn more about the products and services we offer.
