Introduction

Usually when an outlet goes dead, the fix is something simple and you can save the cost of a service call by doing the work yourself. We'll show you what's involved in troubleshooting a dead outlet. This article covers how to start your search for the problem by checking in the most likely places. If that doesn't work, we'll show you where to look for loose connections that may be to blame, and how to fix them.

Troubleshooting the Outlet

When an outlet goes dead, it’s easy to jump to conclusions and assume the worst. But more often than not the problem is something simple, and you can save the cost of a service bcall just by taking a few steps to trace the cause. Don’t worry if you’re not comfortable doing electrical work. Better than half the time, you’ll solve the problem without even lifting a tool.

We’ll show you how to start your search for the problem by checking in the most likely places. If that doesn’t work, we’ll show you where to look for loose connections that may be to blame, and how to fix them.

Of course, there will always be electrical projects DIYers should not take on. But if you take these steps first, there’s a good chance you’ll find the solution.

Watch this video to learn what to do first when you find a dead outlet. 

Check for Simple Solutions First

Shortly after moving into our house, we had an electrical problem. The outdoor outlets and bathroom lights didn’t work. I knew enough to check for tripped circuit breakers and GFCI outlets. But I couldn’t find the problem. I was just about to start pulling apart the wiring when I double-checked the main panel and noticed the GFCI circuit breaker up in the corner.

Sure enough, the GFCI breaker was protecting the bathroom and exterior outlets and needed to be reset. Don’t jump to conclusions, the fix for a dead outlet is usually simpler than you think.