There’s always a moment of fear when you go to charge your phone and nothing happens. A lot of the time you may instantly panic and assume that your charger doesn’t work or that your phone has stopped taking a charge.

However, the issue may lie within the outlet you’re using. When your outlets stop working, here’s what you should do.

Make Sure It’s Actually the Outlet

Sometimes, appliances just stop working. If something won’t power on when plugged in, try plugging it into a different outlet. If it still doesn’t work, the issue is probably the appliance; if it does, the issue is the first outlet.

Check for a Tripped GFCI Breaker

GFCI outlets are typically found in bathrooms, kitchens, and outdoors and have two small buttons labeled “reset” and “test.” If these outlets detect a change in electrical current, they trip and shut off the power to that outlet, pushing out the “reset” button.

If you notice that button is popped out, push it back in to turn the outlet back on.

Check the Room Switching

In some cases, the light switches in your rooms also control your outlets. While an appliance is still plugged in, flip the switch and see if it powers on. If it does, it means that the switch has to be on for the room’s outlets to work.

Check the Breaker Panel

Sometimes an entire circuit can be tripped, causing every outlet on that circuit to not have power. Take a look at your breaker panel, and check to see if you notice any breakers that are stuck between the “on” and “off” positions — these are ones that have been tripped.

To reset the circuit, simply switch the breaker to the “on” position.

Call an Electrician

Other methods to fixing outlets that have stopped working involve getting a bit more hands-on with your electrical connections, so it’s best to let a professional handle the problem from there.

 

TFC Electric has been providing Suffolk County with top-notch electric work for 24 years, so you can trust our electricians are equipped to safely outfit your home with outdoor electrical outlets. For more information, give us a call at 631-589-280.