Fix an Outlet That Stopped Working
An outlet suddenly has no power. Before calling an electrician, check these three things; one of them is the cause most of the time.
Stop and call an electrician if…
- You smell burning, see scorch marks, or the outlet or plug feels hot.
- You hear buzzing or crackling from the outlet or panel.
- A breaker trips again immediately every time you reset it.
Otherwise, a dead outlet is usually just a tripped safety switch you can reset in a minute.
FIXTry these in order
No tools needed.
Plug a lamp or phone charger you know works into the outlet. Some outlets are controlled by a wall switch, often in living rooms and bedrooms; flip nearby switches too.
Outlets in bathrooms, kitchens, garages, basements and outdoors are protected by a GFCI: the outlet with Test and Reset buttons. When it trips, it can cut power to other outlets further along the same circuit, even in another room.
- Look for a GFCI outlet nearby, including in other bathrooms, the garage or outside.
- Unplug things from it, then press Reset firmly until it clicks.
- Find your breaker panel (often in a garage, basement, utility room or hallway closet).
- Look for a switch that's in the middle position, or not lined up with the others.
- Push it firmly all the way to OFF, then back to ON.
Some panels have breakers with their own Test buttons (AFCI or GFCI breakers); those reset the same way.
- Too much on one circuit: heaters, kettles, hair dryers and microwaves on the same circuit can overload it. Spread them out.
- A faulty appliance: if it trips whenever one device is plugged in, that device is the problem.
- Moisture: outdoor and bathroom GFCIs trip after rain or steam. Let things dry.
The outlet or wiring may be faulty. Turn off its breaker and call a licensed electrician. Don't open up outlets yourself unless you're qualified.
FAQCommon questions
What's the difference between a GFCI and a breaker?
A breaker protects the wiring from overloads. A GFCI protects people from shocks by cutting power in a fraction of a second if electricity leaks, for example through water.
Why did a bathroom outlet stop working when I used the hair dryer?
Either the GFCI tripped or the circuit was overloaded. Reset the GFCI, which may be in another bathroom, or the breaker.
The GFCI won't reset. What does that mean?
There may be no power reaching it (check the breaker), or it may have detected a fault or worn out. GFCIs need replacing every so often; call an electrician.
Is it safe to keep resetting a breaker?
Once or twice, yes. If it keeps tripping, something is wrong; stop and get it checked.