When your outlets stop working, you need to respond by checking the breaker. A tripped breaker will deprive your circuit of power. And if you check the circuit breaker panel, you will notice that the breakers are somewhere between ‘ON’ and ‘OFF’. But what if your breaker hasn’t tripped? What if all the switches are in the ‘ON’ position, and yet, your outlets don’t have power?
Electrical Outlets Not Working But Breaker Not Tripped
1). Damaged Wires
If the breaker hasn’t tripped but the outlets in your home have refused to work, you have to turn your attention to the wiring. If the wiring in the outlet is old or damaged, it may impede the transmission of electricity.
Wires are the pathways that electricity uses to reach the appliances and devices that are plugged into an outlet. If those wires have been compromised by burns and tears, they will either stop carrying the current altogether or they won’t carry enough to run your appliances.
Damaged wires are not that difficult to spot. Look for burn marks, torn insulation, buzzing sounds, and the like.
2). Loose Connections
Loose connections will also impede the transmission of electricity. You can identify loose connections in an outlet by tugging on the wires at the connectors.
Loose connections can occur naturally as an outlet wears out or as a result of damage.
Don’t tamper with the outlet unless you know what you’re doing. To find loose connections, you have to disassemble the outlet. At the very least, you have to pull it a few inches from the box.
Just because the outlet isn’t working doesn’t mean it is safe to touch the live conductors. Leave this sort of thorough investigation in the hands of a professional.
3). Tripped GFCI
Many people own GFCIs but they don’t know how the devices work. A GFCI is triggered by a ground fault. When a current strays from its intended path, the GFCI responds by interrupting the circuit, cutting the power to the outlet. The goal is to prevent the outlet from shocking the user or destroying your equipment.
An outlet with a GFCI can still shock you. But that shock isn’t fatal because it doesn’t last long. Some consumers know that a GFCI will protect them from electrocution by shutting the power to the outlet off. However, they do not realize that the power will stay off until the user switches it back on.
You have to push the ‘RESET’ button back into the receptacle to restore power. If you have a GFCI and the outlet doesn’t have power, more than likely, the GFCI tripped.
GFCIs can trip for various reasons. Once you realize that the outlet doesn’t have power because the GFCI tripped, don’t be so quick to restore the power. Take a moment to find out why the GFCI tripped. Otherwise, it may trip again, depriving your outlet of power.
4). Dead Outlet
Outlets do not last forever. Outlets have an expiration date, just like every other electronic component. Using an outlet causes it to wear out. The more frequent the use, the faster it will wear out.
At some point, every outlet stops working. That wear and tear will keep accumulating until the outlet dies completely.
If you live in an older home and the outlets have never been replaced, they are probably approaching the end of their life. You can slow the process down but you cannot stop it.
5). Burnt Out Outlets
Outlets can burn out. If your outlet has ever felt warm or if you’ve ever seen small fires and sparks inside the receptacle, and then the outlet stopped working, it burnt out. If you open the outlet, you will observe a lot of black spots and burns.
This phenomenon has various causes, including loose wiring, overloading, surges, and short circuits.
6). Poor Wiring
If you installed the outlets yourself, more than likely, you did not wire them properly. Professional electricians can wire outlets poorly. But this is more likely to happen to a layperson that doesn’t understand electricity.
If you failed to secure the wires properly, or if you connected the wrong wires to the wrong terminals, you could prevent the outlet from working.
7). Half-Hot Outlets
A Half-hot outlet has a plug that the switch on the wall controls. In other words, if you want the plug to work, you must flip the light switch on. People that do not realize that they have a half-hot outlet won’t know that their outlet is controlled by the light switch as well as the switch on the receptacle.
Can An Outlet Go Bad and Not Trip the Breaker?
An outlet can go bad without tripping the breaker because of short circuits, overloads, and ground fault surges.
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How Do You Fix An Outlet That Is Not Working But Breaker Is Fine?
1). Reset The GFCI
If the outlet has a GFCI, reset the GFCI. If the outlet doesn’t have power because the GFCI tripped, push the ‘RESET’ button back in. If the outlet refuses to work, hire a professional. They will tell you whether or not you need to replace the GFCI.
2). Replace The Damaged Wires
If the wires in the outlet are worn out or damaged, an electrician can replace them. You should do this if the jacketing has been ripped open and the wires below have become exposed.
If the wires are simply loose, an electrician can secure them as well. As was noted above, don’t tamper with the outlet unless you have the relevant skill and experience.
It will take the help of a professional to determine whether or not the outlet was properly wired.
3). Replace The Defective Outlets
You should replace defective outlets. That includes receptacles that have burnt out and outlets that are worn out. Some outlets will stop working for no clear reason. A factory error can prevent them from playing their role.
Regardless of the reason, if an outlet has stopped working and you have tried every other solution in vain, your only option is to replace it with a new one.
Many electricians will encourage you to replace an outlet the moment you start to smell burning plastic, especially if that outlet has GFCI technology. Don’t take chances with defective outlets. A bad outlet can burn your house down.
Multiple Outlets Are Not Working, Breaker Not Tripped – Why?
If multiple outlets in your home have stopped working and the breaker hasn’t tripped, you have two other options to consider:
1). Damaged Appliance
Before you jump to conclusions, Check your appliances. Some people think that all their outlets have stopped working because they have plugged the same appliance into each outlet and the appliance in question has refused to work.
They never stop to consider the possibility that the appliance might be the problem.
Test your outlets again by connecting them to other devices. If those other devices are working, that first appliance is dead. The outlets are fine.
2). Tripped GFCI
GFCI can cause multiple outlets to lose power. If you have decided to use a single GFCI to protect every outlet downstream, a trip in the GFCI will deprive all the outlets downstream of power.
This configuration is cheap but frustrating because you have no way of identifying the outlet that caused the GFCI to trip, not without investigating every single outlet.
Can One Outlet Affect Others?
This can happen if one GFCI receptacle has been connected to multiple ordinary outlets. If the GFCI trips, all the outlets will lose power, even the normal ones. You can also encounter the same problem in situations where multiple electrical outlets have been connected in a series.
How To Fix Multiple Outlets Not Working?
- You need an electrician to pigtail the individual outlets in a home whose outlets were daisy-chained.
- You can also ask them to install GFCIs on each outlet.
- You can restore power by simply pressing the reset button.
Though, many people are not particularly bothered by GFCIs that cause all the outlets downstream to stop working because the problem has an easy solution.
Daisy-chained outlets are another matter. You need an electrician to rewire them.
FAQs
Why would multiple outlets stop working and breaker not tripped? ›
You might be overloading that particular circuit with too many appliances or devices working at the same time. Or, there could be a problem with your wiring or circuit breaker itself. If your outlet is not working, but the breaker is not tripped either, there might be an issue with your circuit breaker.
What would cause multiple outlets to stop working? ›If your outlet has short circuited or been overloaded, then your circuit breaker may have shut off its power. Check other nearby outlets to see if they are working. If they also are dead, then go to your circuit breaker. When a circuit breaker has tripped, the lever will usually flip to the middle or off position.
Why are my sockets not working but nothing has tripped? ›If a socket isn't working but a breaker hasn't tripped then that would generally mean that the circuit is broken in a way that hasn't generated a fault condition. First try a different appliance plug in a lamp, kettle, toaster... to be sure it's not just a blown fuse or faulty hairdryer.
What would cause no power to an outlet? ›No power to outlets, flickering lights, or an intermittent loss of power are usually attributed to a loose wire connection if the circuit breakers are working properly. A loose wire connection can cause the wire to overheat, eventually causing the connection to fail.
What to do when all outlets stop working? ›If an outlet isn't working, check your circuit breaker panel. The breaker that is tripped will appear to be between the 'on' and 'off' position. Flip the switch to off, then back to on. This will reset the circuit and potentially fix your broken outlet.
Why are half my outlets not working? ›A bad connection, outdated wiring, or a tripped circuit breaker can cause a malfunctioning outlet. But there are instances where only half of an electrical outlet works and the other one doesn't. It can happen for multiple reasons, and it is wise to call an electrician to look into the issue.
How do I find an electrical short in my house? ›The first step in finding a short circuit is to look for physical signs. This may include visible burns or melted metal on wires, burning smells, or flickering lights. Once you've identified a potential short, use your multimeter to confirm the voltage by placing it on its resistance or continuity setting.
Can a bad outlet cause other outlets not to work? ›Many older homes have all of the electrical outlets in a room or an area of the home all connected on a single circuit breaker. With old homes like this, a bad outlet may cause all of the other outlets in that room to stop working because it will trip the breaker.
What causes an outlet to not reset? ›There are a few potential reasons your outlet will not reset. The outlet may have dust or moisture inside, you have a bad electrical connection, or there is an improper connection. If there is no power supply to the outlet, your GFCI will not reset.
How do you fix an outlet that won't reset? ›How Do You Fix a GFCI That Won't Reset? If the reset button won't work, toggle the test and reset buttons. The best way to do this is to unplug all the appliances on that circuit. Then press the reset button; it should click and all appliances and devices should work once you plug them back in.
How do you trace a wire that has no power? ›
To find wires without any power one of the handiest tools is an electronic stud finder. Most stud finders are equipped to handle finding wooden studs in the wall, but some can also be used to find wires as well. To find out if a wire is live, you'll also need a voltage detector.
Should I be worried about outlets that don't work? ›Immediately stop using the outlet, even if it regains electrical connection. It's important to have your outlet inspected by a professional electrician. While the burnout is likely an isolated incident, it may be a warning sign of a larger issue.
Can a dead outlet cause a fire? ›A dead outlet isn't just a nuisance. It's also a fire risk, which is why fixing it is a job for a professional electrician. That's especially true for older homes that haven't been rewired in years.
Why is there no power to my sockets but my lights work? ›If your lights are working but your power points are not working, this is generally due to the safety switch being tripped by a faulty appliance. What is the safety switch? Safety switches provide personal protection against electric shock by monitoring the flow of the electricity through a circuit.
Why is half of my house without power without flipped breakers? ›You either have a loose connection on the utility side, or you have a bad main breaker. I always tell my customers to check the free option first. Call your local utility company and tell them to check the connections at the utility pole and meter can. They will do this for free.
Why does half of an electrical outlet work and the other half doesn t? ›A half-hot (or switched) outlet is a duplex outlet that only has one plug permanently “on” while the other half is turned on and off by an ordinary wall switch. This kind of outlet is commonly found in modern construction and in rooms that do not have an overhead light.
What to do when half the lights and outlets stop working in your house? ›Look for a breaker that is either off, or partially off, then push it all the way off, then back on. Ah, so, in most cases, if some, but not all, of your houses/apartments power is out, you have most likely tripped a breaker. Perhaps too much stuff was plugged into an outlet, or a surge caused an overload.
Can a circuit breaker fail without tripping? ›A circuit breaker can fail without tripping and is an indication it needs to be replaced. It can also mean there are wiring issues with the circuit itself, such as exposed/loose wiring, overheating, and unregulated voltage.
How do I know if my house has electrical problems? ›- Too many extension cords. ...
- Dimming or flickering lights. ...
- Funny odors. ...
- Sparking. ...
- Hot outlets or switch plates. ...
- Frequently blown fuses or tripped breakers. ...
- Buzzing. ...
- The wrong outlets in the kitchen or bathroom.
- If you suspect a short circuit, there are a few symptoms to look out for. The most common symptom is dimming or flickering lights. ...
- Another common symptom is a blown fuse. ...
- Lastly, you may hear a buzzing sound coming from the electrical system.
How do you trace a bad outlet? ›
Start with all the breakers off and plug a lamp — turned on — into an outlet. Flip breakers on and off one at a time until the lamp lights up. Next, plug the lamp into the other nearby outlets to determine which ones are on the same circuit. Flip nearby light switches on and off to see which circuit the lights are on.
How do you test if an outlet is going bad? ›Set a multimeter to measure voltage. Insert a probe into each slot and read the line voltage measurement. A properly working outlet gives a reading of 110 to 120 volts. If there is no reading, check the wiring and the outlet.
How do you tell if there's something wrong with your outlets? ›- Discolored or Melted Plastic. ...
- Smoke, Sparks, & Burning Odors. ...
- Covering Of the Outlet Feels Hot. ...
- Plug Falls Out Of the Outlet. ...
- Outlet Has Openings For Just Two-Prong Plugs.
If the GFCI won't reset or the button doesn't pop out when you press the “test” button, there may be no power to the GFCI or you may have a bad GFCI. Pro tip: If the “reset” button trips again every time you press it, there may be a dangerous current leak somewhere on the circuit.
What are three warning signs of an overloaded electrical circuit? ›- Dimming lights.
- Buzzing outlets or switches.
- Warm outlets or switch covers.
- Burning smells from or marks on outlet covers/switches. (This can also be a sign of other serious wiring issues!)
- Power tools, appliances, or electronics aren't as powerful as they once were.
One of the easiest ways to know if a wire is live is to use a voltage checker or a current checker. These are simple devices that you can touch to any wire, and it will tell you if there is electricity running through it.
How can you tell which wire is hot without a tester? ›- Get a voltage detector screwdriver. ...
- Turn on the screwdriver by pressing the power button.
- Touch the probe of the screwdriver to the wire.
- If the detector lights up, then there is electricity running through the screwdriver.
As shown above, take your power probe transmitter and run it along the wire/harness you want to test. In a successful test, there will be a constant tone while you run the transmitter down the wire. If there are any disturbances or changes in volume, this indicates that there is a short or break in the wire.
Can one outlet cause other outlets not to work? ›Many older homes have all of the electrical outlets in a room or an area of the home all connected on a single circuit breaker. With old homes like this, a bad outlet may cause all of the other outlets in that room to stop working because it will trip the breaker.
Why are my electric sockets not working but my lights are? ›If your lights are working but your power points are not working, this is generally due to the safety switch being tripped by a faulty appliance. What is the safety switch? Safety switches provide personal protection against electric shock by monitoring the flow of the electricity through a circuit.
What causes power to go out on one side of house? ›
A tripped circuit breaker is the most common cause of a power outage in one part of the house. Before you go to the circuit panel and flip the switch, however, it's important that you know how to safely do this. You need to turn the tripped switch all the way off before turning it back on.
What does it mean when you can't flip a breaker back on? ›If the circuit breaker won't reset and trips immediately, the problem might be a short circuit. A short circuit occurs when a hot wire carrying a current touches a neutral wire. In this case, the flipped breaker is a safety mechanism and is evidence of your circuit breaker working properly.
Why would the power go out in only part of the house? ›If the power is out in only one room, you probably have a tripped breaker. Like we said above, you can fix this by looking for a breaker switch in your circuit breaker box that is off or partially off. Turn it completely off, then switch it back to the on position. It should reset the part of the house without power.
How can you tell if an electrical outlet is bad? ›- Discolored or Melted Plastic. ...
- Smoke, Sparks, & Burning Odors. ...
- Covering Of the Outlet Feels Hot. ...
- Plug Falls Out Of the Outlet. ...
- Outlet Has Openings For Just Two-Prong Plugs.
Most likely you have a poor splice of other connection somewhere. Do the outlets use back-stabs for the wires? If so, one of them may not be making a good connection. I'd suggest redoing all of the outlets using the side screws instead.
How do you diagnose a dead outlet? ›- Step 1: Make sure the problem isn't with the appliance. ...
- Step 2: Check for a switch to the outlet. ...
- Step 3: Look for a tripped GFCI breaker. ...
- Step 4: Check the breaker panel. ...
- Step 5: Tighten the outlet electrical connections. ...
- Step 7: Call an electrician.
Fires start in electrical panels from overloaded circuits or age of the panel. The panel and circuits become overloaded when the distribution of electricity is inadequate. Occasionally, lighting equipment acts as a source of heat that is too close to easily combustible materials.
Should I call an electrician to replace an outlet? ›For most modern homes, you should be able to use the existing circuits when you install a new outlet, often by splicing the wire into the new plug installation. To be sure (and safe), you should always contact an electrician first.
How do you reset a socket fuse? ›Push that switch all the way to the -off position. Then push it all the way to the -on position. That should reset the circuit and restore power to it. If it trips again, you may have a problem with an outlet, a problem with an appliance or a wiring issue.