Check every bathroom
A reset button in your guest bath might control the power in your master bath.
What to know before you get started.
We often find that one dead outlet in a bathroom is actually connected to a reset button in a different room or the garage. If you have checked your buttons and still have no power, the internal contacts or the wires behind it may have failed. Describe what died and when, and we will tell you where to look next.
Search for a tripped GFCI
These safety devices often protect several other plugs on the same circuit. We find them hidden behind boxes in the garage or tucked away in a crawlspace.
Look in the garage
We often see garage GFCIs that protect outdoor plugs or basement lights.
Kitchen resets
Check along your countertops for any button that has popped out.
Verify the breaker status
A breaker can trip without the handle moving all the way to the off position. We recommend pushing the handle firmly to off before flipping it back to on.
The wiggle test
If the handle feels spongy or loose, it has likely tripped internally.
Double-pole breakers
We check if one half of a large breaker for a range or dryer has failed.
Panel labels
Your label might be wrong, so we check nearby circuits to see if they lost power too.
Switched outlets that look dead
In many Moscow homes on Military Hill, half of a wall plug is controlled by a light switch. You might think it is a dead outlet when it is simply turned off.
Wall switch check
Flip every switch in the room to see if it restores power to your lamp.
Half-hot plugs
We check if the top half of your plug is always on while the bottom half is switched.
Upside down plugs
Electricians often install switched plugs upside down so you can tell them apart.
Outdoor outlets that die after rain
Palouse winters and spring downpours are hard on outdoor covers. Moisture from snowmelt or heavy rain can trip your safety sensors until the box dries out.
Wet covers
We look for water trapped inside the clear plastic flip covers.
Freeze-thaw damage
Ice can crack the seals on your outdoor boxes and let moisture reach the wires.
Sprinkler issues
Tell us if the power went out right after your lawn sprinklers ran.
Loose or failed connections
Wires can pull loose over time due to heat or poor installation. If one plug in a chain fails, every plug after it will also lose power.
Back-stabbed wires
We check for wires pushed into the back of the device that have lost their grip.
Burned terminals
We look for charred screws that indicate a high-heat failure inside your wall box.
Broken tabs
The metal bridge on the side of the plug can break and cut off power to half the device.
Questions about outlet not working but the breaker is on
Why is my outlet dead when the breaker looks on?
Usually, a GFCI device has tripped somewhere else on the circuit. Check your bathrooms, kitchen, and garage for a reset button. If those are fine, the breaker might be tripped internally even if the handle looks up.
Can one bad outlet cause others to stop working?
Yes. Outlets are often wired in a series, so a loose wire on one will kill the power to everything further down the line. We can trace the circuit to find the break.
What if my outlet smells like it is burning?
Stop using it immediately and call us at (509) 903-9411. A burning smell means a wire is arcing and creating dangerous heat in your wall.
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Service: Outlet Not Working but the Breaker Is On
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