Outlet Not Working: Safe Checks Before You Call an Electrician

When an outlet goes dead, the cause is often a tripped GFCI or breaker you can reset safely. This guide covers the common reasons, simple checks to run first, what not to do around electricity, and the warning signs that mean you should stop and call an electrician. LocalRepairLine is a referral service, not a contractor, and this is general information, not a substitute for an in-person inspection.

Common reasons an outlet stops working

• A tripped GFCI outlet. One GFCI outlet in a bathroom, kitchen, garage, basement or outdoors can cut power to several outlets that aren't near it.
• A tripped breaker. It may look slightly off center rather than clearly off.
• A switch-controlled outlet. In some rooms an outlet is wired to a wall switch.
• A loose or worn connection. The outlet or the wire behind it can loosen over time.
• A failed outlet. Outlets wear out, especially older ones or those with heavy use.

Safe checks to run first

1. Test with another device. Plug in a lamp you know works, to make sure the outlet and not the device is the problem.
2. Find and reset any GFCI outlets. Look for outlets with TEST and RESET buttons in the bathrooms, kitchen, garage, basement and outside. Press RESET firmly.
3. Check the breaker panel. Look for a switch that's off or in the middle. Push it fully off, then fully on.
4. Check wall switches. Flip nearby switches to see if one controls the outlet.
5. Look for other dead outlets. If several in the same room or on the same wall are dead, the cause is more likely a breaker or GFCI than the outlet itself.
6. Unplug everything on that circuit before you reset a breaker, then plug items back in one at a time to find any that cause it to trip.

What not to do

• Do not keep resetting a breaker that trips again right away.
• Do not run an extension cord through a wall, under a rug or in a way that hides heat damage.
• Do not tape over a damaged outlet and keep using it.
• Do not remove an outlet cover with the power on.
• Do not replace a tripping breaker with a larger one.

When to call an electrician

• You smell burning, see scorch marks, or the outlet or cover plate is warm to the touch.
• You hear buzzing or see sparks. If there's any burning odor, follow our guide on an electrical burning smell in the house first.
• The breaker trips again after a reset.
• The GFCI won't reset.
• Several outlets are dead and you can't find the cause, or lights flicker in the same part of the house.
• The home is older and may have outdated or aluminum wiring.

What to tell the electrician

• Which outlets or rooms are dead, and when it started.
• Whether any breaker or GFCI is tripping.
• Any smell, heat, buzzing or sparks.
• What you already checked and the approximate age of the home or wiring.

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