Electrical Outlet Not Working? Here Are 7 Possible Causes

You’ve already popped your popcorn for movie night, but when you turn on the TV… nothing. Don’t panic; more than likely, your outlet is not working. With a few tricks up your sleeve, you could be on your way to fixing the problem and having your electrical outlet up and running again in no time. 

Safety warning: You have to take safety precautions when dealing with electricity, or you could end up with a shocking surprise on your hands (the unpleasant kind). Unplug all devices and appliances from dead outlets. Don’t attempt any troubleshooting on an electric plug or outlet without switching off the breaker from the main electric panel first.

1. Half-Hot Outlets

Sometimes outlets are controlled by different types of electrical switches. It’s common for rooms that don’t have overhead lighting to have wall switches that turn on outlets for operating a floor lamp. These are called half-hot outlets because only half of the outlet is on at all times. 

These outlets may get used for other items by accident (especially if you’ve never encountered a half-hot outlet before). So before you stress about your outlet not working, check to see that the nearby switch is actually on first. It sounds like a silly thing to overlook, but (let’s be real) we’ve all been there.

2. Problem With the Device, Not the Outlet

You might think the outlet is dead, but sometimes the problem is actually with the device or appliance you’re trying to use. This is more likely if the outlet stopped working but the breaker isn’t tripped. To make sure that's not the issue, plug a different device into the same outlet. If it works, then it’s a problem with the device. 

If you’re still not seeing results, check other outlets in the same room. Are they all dead? If so, it's time to call a pro.

3. Tripped Breaker

If you tend to plug too many things into the same circuit, it can get overloaded when drawing more electricity than the circuit can handle, causing the circuit breaker to trip. 

If your outlet doesn't work, check your home’s breaker panel. If a breaker is tripped (aka the switch is in the middle between ON and OFF), reset the breaker by flipping it to OFF and then back to ON. 

Frequent breaker trips may mean you need to upgrade your amperage. If you live in an older home, you may only have a 100-amp panel. Upgrading to a 200-amp panel will give your circuits a larger capacity to handle the electrical load. You’ll need a pro to do this job.

If the breaker reverts back to the tripped position, you’ve already upgraded your amperage, or you haven’t increased the amount of electricity on your circuit, this could be a sign you have a potentially dangerous situation with faulty or malfunctioning wiring. If so, you need to call an emergency electrician near you right away.  

4. Tripped GFCI Outlet

New buildings require GFCI outlets (ground-fault circuit interrupters) for outlets within 6 feet of a water source, like a sink. Instead of relying on a circuit breaker, this device shuts itself off (as well as the other outlets on the same circuit) when it detects strange electrical patterns. 

When this happens, press the reset button on the GFCI outlet. If it resets and your outlet is working again, you’re good to go, but if it doesn't reset or your outlet still doesn’t work, you should contact a professional electrician.

5. Blown Fuse

Sometimes, your appliance or electrical outlet is not working because you have a blown fuse. Modern homes don't typically have fuse panels, but if you live in an older home, it’s a good idea to check your fuse box for signs of a blown fuse. You may see that the glass container holding the fuse looks cracked or broken. Other times, a blown fuse contains an ashy, metallic residue inside the glass container. 

To investigate the problem, you'll need to closely inspect the fuses in the box to see where the problem originates. If you have a blown fuse, replacing the fuse is the next step. Most blown fuses are relatively simple to replace, but if you don’t feel confident with electrical work, it’s always a good idea to hire a pro to do the job. 

Replacing a blown fuse may not resolve your problem if you experience frequently blown fuses and live in an older home. Your best bet in this situation is to replace the fuse box with a circuit breaker panel. 

6. Faulty Outlet

Although it isn't common, an outlet can burn out and quit functioning. If you see any discoloration, melting, or something that looks burnt on or around the outlet, this should send up red flags that it’s faulty. If the outlet is faulty, call an electrical handyperson to replace it.

7. Improper Installation

In some cases, an outlet will stop working because of improper installation or a loose connection, such as in the following situations:

• Backstabbing: Instead of using screws to connect wires to outlets, the wire is pushed into a connector inside the device. This creates a loose connection and causes the wires to burn out. 

• Incorrect use of wire nuts: Wire nuts keep all wires covered and tied together. Not using wire nuts properly will cause an outlet to stop functioning correctly. 

• Loose connections: If any of the wires have come loose, they need reattaching. This problem is more common with old wiring. 

To determine if any of these is the issue, contact a local electrician to inspect your wiring and previous installation.

If you don’t know much about electricity, we recommend avoiding DIY attempts that could lead to dangerous mistakes. Electricians are trained to work within strict safety codes. Plus, they have special equipment to help them locate and diagnose electrical issues that are difficult for the average person to pinpoint.  

How to Troubleshoot an Electrical Outlet That Isn’t Working 

An outlet can stop working for a variety of reasons. Here are some of the most common problems and how to deal with them. Before proceeding with any of these steps, unplug everything from the affected outlet and other outlets on the same circuit.

Faulty Appliance 

If your outlet isn’t working, the first thing to do is to make sure it’s the outlet and not the appliance you’re plugging in that’s faulty. Before proceeding, plug something else in to see if the outlet is truly dead. 

Check the Circuit Breaker

If your appliance isn’t the problem, your issue could be a tripped circuit breaker. Locate your breaker box in the basement, utility closet, or access panel. Reset it by flipping the affected breaker to the off position and then returning it to the on position.

Check the GFCI

If the outlet is in the kitchen or bathroom, look for a GFCI reset button. A GFCI will trip if the outlet is overloaded or there’s a power surge or outage. Hit the reset button in the center of the outlet, then check if your device works.

Check for a Blown Fuse

If your wiring is older, you might have fuses, in which case you may need to replace a fuse at the fuse box. WHen replacing a fuse, turn off the power at the fuse box to avoid the risk of shock.

Damaged or Improperly Installed Outlet

When the above troubleshooting doesn’t solve the problem, it likely means the outlet is burnt out, has loose wiring, or was improperly installed. If this is your issue, it’s best to call in a pro to help you. DIYing maintenance on electrical systems can be dangerous, so don’t try it without experience. 

Cost to Hire an Electrician 

Hiring an electrician to replace your outlet costs $125 to $200 as long as the issue doesn’t involve rewiring or upgrading your electrical panel. If there are more extensive wiring issues that have caused the problem with your outlet, it can cost between $500 and $1,800 to address. Your outlet’s location and accessibility can also affect the cost. 

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

We do not recommend DIYing electrical work. It’s dangerous, and even if you have some experience, if your wiring isn’t installed or inspected by a licensed electrician, your homeowner's insurance won't cover any problems down the road. If you determine that the problem with your outlet isn’t within the normal range of home maintenance, if you see any charring, melting, flickering lights, or smell smoke, you should shut the breaker to that outlet off and call in a local electrician to perform a repair.