Non-working electrical outlets are a common problem homeowners run across, yet getting to the root of the problem can be troublesome. At Fusion Electric, we’ve found that many times the reason behind the problem is small and easily fixable. Before you call a trusted electrician, see if one of these three issues are the culprit.

A Power Surge Blew a Fuse to Your Circuit Breaker

Power surges are actually quite common, and much of the time can be harmless. But they can cause a little frenzy among your home’s electronics. A lot of times these power surges can disrupt the flow of electricity, causing your home’s circuit breaker to trip, shutting off power supply to some, or all of your home’s electrical outlets. You can check to see if this is the reason why your outlet isn’t working by checking other nearby outlets. If they too aren’t working, go check out your circuit breaker and flip the switch.

It’s a GFCI Outlet That’s Tripped

GFCIs, or ground fault circuit interrupters, are usually installed outside, near a water source, or where shock hazards are great. They are a safeguard against deadly electrical shocks. These act as a minicircuit breaker of sorts, shutting off power to the outlet when it senses an electrical imbalance. Try pressing the “reset” button on the outlet to restore power. If the “reset” button trips again every time that you press it, there may be a dangerous current leak somewhere on the circuit. In this case, it’s best to call an electrician for help.

Related Read: Troubleshooting Tips When Your Lights Won’t Turn On

You Have a Bad Connection

If none of the above have worked, try turning off your circuit breaker and removing the outlet from the box and looking for loose connections. Look for things like loose terminal screws, loose stab-in connections, and loose wires at wire connectors. You may find one or more of these when you remove your outlet and look in the electrical box. You may find a charred outlet or melted wire insulation that are a result of heat generated by the loose connection. Unfortunately these signs aren’t always there when a connection is loose, so we recommend double-checking the connections by gently bending each wire to see if it moves under the screw. If you find a loose connection, we recommend replacing the outlet with a new one to play it safe.

If you’re unsure of your electrical fluency, call the electricians you can trust in your home at Fusion Electric at 913-563-7975.