Repairing Outlets

About 25% of all electrical outlet problems can be corrected by following these safe and simple steps.

Step A – Check for a tripped circuit breaker.

1. If a tripped breaker is found, try resetting it.
2. If the breaker resets check to see if your electricity has been restored. If your electricity is restored you are done and you probably accidentally overloaded the circuit.
3. If the breaker has been reset and you still do not have electricity continue to step B.
4. If the breaker will not reset continue to step C.

Step B – Check for a tripped GFCI outlet.

1. If a tripped GFCI outlet is found, try resetting it. Be sure to do step “A” first because a GFCI outlet will not reset if its circuit breaker is tripped or off.
2. If the GFCI outlet resets, check to see if your power has been restored. If it is restored you are done.
3. If the GFCI outlet will not reset continue to step C.

Step C – Verify which outlets have no power and unplug everything from those outlets.

• You are doing this to separate possible home electrical wiring problems from a possible problem with something that is plugged in.
• Once completed continue to step D.

Step D – Try resetting the tripped circuit breaker that would not reset in step A.

1. If the breaker resets and your electricity is restored the problem is with something that was plugged into one of the outlets, not your electrical wiring. You will need to figure out what was plugged in that made the breaker trip and repair or replace that device.
2. If your breaker resets but your electricity is still not restored continue to step E.
3. If the breaker still will not reset do not attempt to reset more than once, you can do additional damage and increase the size and cost of the repair. You will need to contact office at this point.

Step E – Try resetting the GFCI outlet that would not reset earlier in step B.

1. If the GFCI outlet resets and your electricity is restored the problem is with something that was plugged into the circuit. You will need to figure out which plugged in device made the GFCI outlet trip and either repair or replace it.
2. If your GFCI outlet has been reset but you still do not have your electricity restored or you cannot get your GFCI outlet to reset you will need to contact our office for further assistance.