Visual Inspection
For appliances, lamps, or electrical devices that stop working, you can check the outlet and the electrical cord for signs of damage. Sometimes it could be a power outlet malfunction. Look for visible signs of damage, such as discoloration. Check all plugs and cords, as well, for breaks, fraying, and other damage. Damaged outlets or cords need to be replaced.
Try a Different Outlet
If there seems to be no problem with the outlet and power cord, try plugging your lamp or device into a different outlet Determining whether the outlet or the electrical item is defective is an important step in troubleshooting. If plugging into a different outlet makes your device work, then you can deduce that the outlet is the problem.
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. Locate the outlet’s 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. This outlet is usually found in either your bathroom or kitchen, although sometimes in an obscure location like the garage or laundry room. You might need to look around for it, but once you find it, resetting a GFCI outlet is an easy way to fix a dead outlet.
Check the Breaker Panel
There will be times when the problem won’t be the outlets themselves but the circuit breaker. You can tell which breaker has gone bad by examining your home’s breaker panel. Breaker panels have clearly labeled circuits indicating which ones are for the different areas of the house. Simply flipping the breaker off and then turning it back on can fix the issue. If not, the breaker itself may have gone bad or have a loose connection. If that is the case, then the breaker will have to be replaced.
Call Your Landlord
Regardless of what type of electrical issue you encounter, make sure you inform your landlord what the problem is and what you have done to troubleshoot 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 you still have outlets that are not working after doing some troubleshooting, your landlord will need to call in a professional electrician to check everything. Either way, good communication with your Winter Garden property manager is the best way to get electrical issues permanently resolved.
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