Why Did My Outlet Stop Working?

You rely on your home's electrical outlets to power countless devices and appliances, from phone chargers to toaster ovens. However, you probably don't pay much attention to your outlets until they stop working.

If you plug in a device and nothing happens, you likely have a dead electrical outlet. This can be a major source of frustration and inconvenience for everyone in your household. Before you call an electrician, though, it helps to understand why this happens.

There are numerous possible reasons why your outlet stopped working, from loose wiring to a tripped circuit breaker. Learning about these issues can help you identify the root cause. Here are some of the most common causes we'll explore in this article:

• Tripped circuit breaker
• Blown fuse
• Loose or disconnected wiring
• Old or faulty outlet
• Ground fault interrupter (GFCI) tripped

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If your electrical outlet isn’t working properly, a tripped circuit breaker is sometimes the cause. Circuit breakers trip when there's too much electricity flowing through them, and they can't handle the electrical load.

Tripping allows the power supply to be shut off, cutting the flow of electricity to prevent serious damage. There are many possible causes of a tripped circuit breaker. However, some of the most common ones include a short circuit, a ground fault surge, or an overloaded circuit.

A fuse is a glass tube containing a thin wire designed to handle a specific amount of current. The fuse will blow if the current that flows through the tube exceeds its capacity. Unlike a circuit breaker, which can simply be reset when it trips, a blown fuse must be fully replaced.

If you live in an older home, you likely have a fuse box containing these fuses. Because the fuse box controls your home's electrical circuits, your outlets will stop working if one of the fuses burns out. Two of the most common causes of a blown fuse are electrical overloads and short circuits.

If you checked your circuit breaker and fuse box, and they both seem to be working well, you might have a wiring problem on your outlet's end. To check if there's something wrong with your outlet's wiring, try shutting off the corresponding circuit from your breaker box.

Another option is to unscrew the outlet’s plate cover and visually inspect for loose or miswired connections (note: do NOT touch live wires unless you’ve shut off power at the breaker box). Disconnected, loose, or damaged wires can prevent your outlet from communicating properly with the electrical system. If you see anything suspicious, it’s best to call a licensed electrician who’s trained to handle these kinds of issues.

An outdated or faulty outlet can prevent it from doing its job properly. As a rule of thumb, most electrical outlets last about 15 to 25 years on average. If any of your outlets are approaching this age or have already passed it, you should have them replaced as soon as possible.

Alternatively, an outlet can fail just a few years after being installed. This may happen if you frequently overload the device or if it was installed incorrectly. Regardless of the cause, it's important to not overlook any issues that might be affecting your electrical outlets.

Ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets are designed to automatically shut off the power supply in the event of a ground fault. These devices play a crucial role in keeping everyone in your household safe.

If your GFCI outlet has tripped, it's likely the result of trying to stop a ground fault in its tracks. This means your GFCI is simply doing its job. However, if the outlet has been tripping more frequently than usual, there's likely an underlying issue that needs to be addressed. Be sure to contact an electrician promptly.

No matter what electrical services you need, the pros at Jon Wayne Service Company are always available to help. With 200 trucks on the road and some of the fastest response times around, we're proud to be the most reliable HVAC company in the San Antonio area. Call us at (210) 293-6700, or click the link below to schedule service online today.