Visual Inspection
For appliances, lamps, or electrical devices that stop working, you can check the outlet and the electrical cord for signs of damage. Power outlet malfunction happens occasionally. Look for visible signs of damage, such as discoloration. You can also look for breaks, fraying, and other damage on plugs and cords. If either the outlet or the cord is faulty, it would be best to replace them.
Try a Different Outlet
Try plugging your lamp or device into a different outlet if your outlet and power cord do not seem to have a problem. What you are doing here is determining whether the outlet or the electrical item is the source of the problem. You can be sure that the outlet is the problem if your device works after plugging it into a different outlet.
Reset the GFCI
One of the most common reasons an outlet will stop working is because it is connected to a GFCI outlet that has tripped a circuit. Your outlet will most likely have a reset button. If you cannot find it, the reset button will be on another outlet within that circuit. The reset button for the entire circuit is located on a GFCI outlet that is usually in your bathroom or kitchen. Sometimes it can also be in a more obscure location like the garage or laundry room. Once you find it, resetting a GFCI outlet is an easy fix for a dead outlet.
Check the Breaker Panel
Sometimes, the problem will not be the outlets themselves but the circuit breaker. By examining your home’s breaker panel, you can usually figure out which breaker has gone bad. Most breaker panels have clearly labeled circuits that tell you which part of the house they are connected to. Turning the breaker off and then back on can fix the problem. If that doesn’t work, the breaker itself may be bad or have a loose connection. If that is the case, then the breaker will have to be replaced.
Call Your Landlord
Regardless of the severity of the electrical issue you experience, it is best to call your landlord to let them know what the problem is and what steps you have done to try and solve it. Most of the time it can just be a “just-to-let-you-know” call to report that you had an issue that you fixed after following the steps above. But if you notice frequent recurrences, it might be a sign of a bigger electrical problem. If after some troubleshooting you still have non-working outlets, your landlord will have to call a professional electrician to do a thorough check. Either way, good communication with your Prince Frederick property manager is the best way to get electrical issues permanently resolved.
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