Half the house lost power

When roughly half your lights and outlets die and no breaker has tripped, the usual cause is one of the two incoming power lines coming loose, often on the utility's side. Check a few things first so you call the right people.

Also searched as: half the house lost power, half the house has no power, power out in half of house breaker not tripped, lost power to half my house.

Before you start. If you see smoke or fire, get out and call 911. If a power line is down, stay at least 35 feet away and assume it is live.

A flashlight beam on the closed door of a home breaker panel

Every question and answer on this page, in order

Question 1: Do you see any of these?

Look at the panel, the meter outside, and the wires running to the house. Do not touch any of them.

Smoke, flames, or a burning smell at the panel or meter: Emergency: smoke or burning at the panel or meter
A power line down, sagging, or tangled in a tree: Emergency: a power line is down
Standing water near the panel or meter, or the house flooded: Stop: water and electrical equipment
None of these: go to question 2

Question 2: Are your neighbors or the street lights out too?

Look out the window or check your utility's outage map on your phone.

Yes, they're out too: Likely cause: a utility outage
No, or I'm not sure: go to question 3

Question 3: At the panel, is any breaker, including the large main breaker, in the middle or OFF?

Open only the hinged panel door. The main breaker is usually the larger handle at the top.

Yes, one is tripped: Likely cause: a tripped breaker
No, they all line up: go to question 4

Question 4: What exactly is dead?

Walk the house. Try lights and outlets in each room, and check big appliances like the dryer, range or AC.

Just one room or a few outlets: Likely cause: one circuit or a tripped GFCI
About half the house, or lights are dim and flickering, or big appliances act strangely: Call the utility: likely a lost leg of power

Possible results

Need the words for the phone call? Build a what-to-tell-the-electrician checklist, or read when to call an electrician.