Electrical outlets are essential in today’s homes to have an electrical connection. However, on some occasions, you may suddenly find an outlet without power. In the worst-case scenario, the power to your whole house might go out. Knowing why an outlet stops delivering power can help you resolve the issue and help you decide whether to call a repairman.
Top Causes that Stop Outlets from Working
Blown Fuse
If you’re having trouble with an outlet in a house that still uses fuse boxes instead of circuit breakers, chances are that a blown fuse is the culprit. If the current flowing through the fuse is too high, it blows. In many cases, this occurs because the total load on the circuit is too high. Most times, you can fix this type of outlet problem by simply replacing the blown fuse.
Loose Wires
Over time, vibrations from the wall, poor installation, or frayed wires in an outlet can disconnect the wires from the receptacle or simply shake the wires loose. If you think the problem is loose wiring inside the outlet, which could be a fire starter, shut off the electricity to that circuit, and then call an electrician to test and make repairs to the outlet.
Bad Connection in the Junction Box
If the connection from the junction box is poor, the electrical outlet will not function. If the wire nuts are loose or twisted in the wrong way, the electrical connections may not be secure, or the outlet may only work sometimes. People risk causing electrical fires when they don’t fix this type of problem because the junction box can spark or malfunction. You can usually inspect the junction box to see if there is a loose connection. Because of the inherent dangers of working with live electrical currents, it is best to leave this task to a certified electrician.
Rodent Damage
Rodents, particularly rodents with a voracious appetite for cables – aka, mice and rats – can damage electrical installations. Nibbling away on a cable or on cable insulation inevitably disrupts the electrical current, leaving the outlet dead. Even worse than making an outlet useless is what happens if you have rodents gnawing away on your wires: often, the rogue creatures will chew through to the live wire, potentially leading to sparks or short circuits and leaving a trail of burnt wires – which can present a fire hazard. If you’re living in an area infested with rodents, any kind of strange electrical activity should be swiftly referred to a professional electrician.
Burnt Wires
When wires overheat, they can burn, meaning they won’t send electricity where it’s supposed to go. If you have circuit breakers and the wires burn, you may smell the odor of burnt wires somewhere near the outlet. However, the circuit breaker should shut off power to the outlet if that is the issue. You might also notice that the outlet cover turns a light brown or black color as a result of the burnt wires. Always take any signs of burned wires very seriously, because this is another problem that poses a serious fire risk.
Faulty Switch
If an outlet fails to produce electricity, it might be that a wall switch (on/off) controlling the outlet is malfunctioning. The switch mechanism may have been damaged during installation, incorrectly installed, or simply worn out. If the problem appears to be with a switch-connected outlet, you might try switching out the switch to see if it helps. If you’re not sure about how to proceed, you can call an electrician.
Don’t let outlet problems stress you out. Instead, hire a professional electrician to inspect the outlet and guide you on the best choice to make. Many outlet issues are fixable with simple fixes that take only a few minutes to apply. Other times, your home might need extensive demolition to repair the problem. An electrician at Mister Sparky is here to ensure you pinpoint the exact source of the problem and use the appropriate remedy. Call us now to schedule an appointment.