Your electrical outlets should work when you plug things into them. If they don’t, then something is amiss. Read on to determine what could be the problem.
A Tripped Breaker or Blown Fuse
Either of these could happen for a number of reasons. You might have plugged too many appliances into one circuit, for example. There might have been a surge in one of the lines. In the case of a fuse, it might simply have been that the fuse was old. Check the electrical panel to see if anything needs resetting or replacement.
A Thrown Wall Switch
Sometimes, an outlet will need to have a wall switch in a certain position to function. If you don’t get a result when you plug something into that outlet, then try switching any switches near the outlet into the other position. There’s also a thing called a half-hot plug. That’s where one of the two receptacles of a wall outlet provides constant current while the other is on a switch. To check if you have this kind of plug, connect something to first one receptacle and then the other, performing the switch test each time.
Loose Wires
This is more common than you think, especially in high-traffic areas where there are lots of footsteps all the time. If you do the “switch test,” try different electrical items in both receptacles of the outlet, and check the electrical panel with nothing being amiss, then a loose wire is likely the reason. It’s best to have a professional electrician look at the outlet and rewire it. If you try it yourself, then it could cause a short circuit or, worse, a fire because you could connect the wires incorrectly. And, it could also void your insurance coverage in such a situation.
Outlet Burnout
This is a serious situation. It means that you have narrowly avoided a fire outside the outlet. You’ll likely smell something near a burned-out outlet. It could be smoke, ozone, or other odor that isn’t natural for your home. Outlets burn out when they’ve been overloaded. Most outlets in the 21st century won’t burn out from regular usage. But, in older homes, where the electrical load was seldom more than 60 amps for the whole house, many modern appliances would overload that kind of outlet. In any event, don’t plug large machinery or appliances into regular outlets. Use high-amp and/or high-voltage outlets instead.
In any event, if one of your outlets burns out, then it’s time to call an electrician for emergency service because such an overload could have damaged other wiring in your home and created additional fire danger. It most definitely is better safe than sorry in this instance.
The Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter
Have you ever seen an outlet with a little rectangular button built in that says, “Press,” on it? That’s a GFCI outlet. That little button is sort of a miniature circuit breaker that’s part of the outlet itself. These are very common for outlets that are outdoors. They’re also common indoors in the kitchen and bathroom. The reason for this is that these are all areas where electricity and water could accidentally come into contact. The GFCI is there to prevent electric shock, which could be lethal. You should also remember that even though many appliances come with built-in GFCI protection, it’s still important to have the right kind of outlets when there is any possibility of water and electricity mixing.
Faulty Outlet
At the end of the day, the outlet may just be kaput. If you do all the tests, and there is no smell of ozone or telltale scorch marks, no GFCI to be tripped, and the breakers and/or fuses are all in good shape, then you might just need a new outlet. Remember to have an electrician install it for you so that it’s done safely and up to code.
Mister Sparky
When you need a professional to help you with your outlets, think of us first. We’ve got the necessary experience, so give us a call to set up an appointment today.