If you troubleshoot and discover that the cause is more complicated than you can handle yourself, trying to fix a complex electrical problem by yourself may lead to more problems and cost you more money in the long run. Dead electrical outlets can be caused by various complications, such as tripped circuit breakers, faulty receptacles, or blown fuses.
After you go through the proper troubleshooting steps and you discover that the problem needs the attention of the experts, it is necessary for you to call a trusted electrical contractor who will
respond to your call quickly so you can avoid having more problems.
Here are some tips on troubleshooting dead electrical outlets:
On a circuit breaker, there are many things that can happen that can lead to a dead electrical outlet. Some of the things you need to check on include checking whether the circuit has tripped or if there is a fuse that has blown. You may have an older circuit panel or fuse box. If you find that there is a blown fuse, it will be very easy for you to fix the problem. All you will have to do is simply replace the fuse.
It is easy to figure out whether or not the fuse is blown by inspecting it. Most blown fuses will resist passage of current through them, so you can be sure about the integrity of a fuse by measuring the continuity using a voltmeter. If you have a more modern circuit panel, you will have circuit breakers instead of fuses. If the circuit breaker has tripped, just reset it. Turning it on should solve the problem.
When a device is plugged into an electrical outlet it should fit and stay in place. If you plug something into the outlet and it fails to fit, then the cause of the dead electrical circuit can be the outlet.
If a plugged in appliance or device does not stay in place, then the receptacle may have worn out. The best way to fix this problem is to buy a new outlet and repair it. There are different types of electrical outlets available on the market, so it is necessary for you to look for reliable outlets in order to avoid repeat problems.
If you suspect several electrical outlets in your home are faulty or dead, then you will need to inspect them for signs of fault. For example, a bad outlet can become discolored or scorched because of the failure.
Sometimes you can suspect the outlets are faulty because they will become too hot when functioning. In this case, you need to know exactly which socket is having problems. To find out, plug a lamp into each of the outlets and note those that are functioning properly and those that will fail to light the lamp. If several outlets show signs of wearing out, then replacing all of them at once may be appropriate so you can avoid them all failing one after the other and causing you more hassle in the long run.
It can be difficult to know exactly whether it’s the outlet that is broken rather than the device you are using to test the outlet. The best thing to do is to use a few different devices to check your outlets to avoid false results.
