One outlet quit, or several went dark at once. Before you assume the worst, know this: the most common cause of dead outlets in any house is a tripped GFCI somewhere upstream, protecting every outlet downstream of it.
Work through the safe checks below. If power does not come back, it is a diagnostic visit — and the fix is usually straightforward.
Check These First
Safe steps, in order:
- GFCI reset buttons — check every GFCI outlet in the house: bathrooms, kitchen, garage, laundry, and outdoors. Press RESET on each. One tripped GFCI commonly kills outlets in other rooms.
- Breaker — look for a tripped breaker in the panel. Reset once.
- The device itself — try something you know works, like a phone charger, to rule out the appliance.
- Switched outlets — in living rooms and bedrooms, one outlet is often controlled by a wall switch. Flip nearby switches.
When It Is the Outlet
Outlets wear out. The internal contacts loosen with years of plugs going in and out, and a loose connection arcs — which is both why the outlet quit and why it needs replacing rather than jiggling.
Warm outlet faces, outlets that work only when you wiggle the plug, or scorch marks around the slots all mean the outlet itself has failed. Do not keep using it; call us for a replacement.
When It Is the Wiring
If the GFCI and breaker are fine and the outlet is not the problem, the fault is in the wiring between: a loose connection in a junction box, a damaged conductor, or — in older east-side homes — aluminum wiring with a failing termination.
We test from the dead outlet back toward the panel to find exactly where power stops, then fix that point. No guessing, no replacing parts at random.
After a Storm
Outlets that quit after a thunderstorm usually trace to a surge-damaged GFCI or breaker. GFCIs are sensitive devices, and a nearby strike can kill them while everything else survives.
If several outlets died with a storm, say so when you call. And ask about whole-home surge protection — it is what prevents the encore.
Common questions
Why did outlets in three different rooms stop working at once?
Almost certainly one tripped GFCI upstream protecting all of them. Find every GFCI in the house — bathrooms, kitchen, garage, laundry, outdoors — and press RESET on each.
The outlet works if I wiggle the plug. Is that okay?
No — that is a worn outlet with loose internal contacts, and loose contacts arc. Stop using it and have it replaced.
Can I replace the outlet myself?
We do not recommend it. Miswired outlets are among the most common hazards we find, and it is a quick, inexpensive job for an electrician.
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