Call your utility first
Call the utility: likely a lost leg of power
Half the house dead with no tripped breaker usually means one of the two incoming hot wires has come loose. Call the utility first, and alert a licensed electrician.
Why this happens
Jefferson County PUD explains that most homes get three wires from the transformer: two hot wires at 120 volts each, which together supply 240 volts, and a neutral. If one hot wire is loose you see flicker; if it disconnects, about half the house loses power. That can happen at the transformer, in the meter base, or at the main breaker connection in the panel.
What to do right now
- Call your utility and tell them half the house is out with no breaker tripped.
- Call a licensed electrician at the same time, in case the problem is in the meter base or panel and the power must be shut off to fix it.
- Turn off or unplug sensitive electronics and large appliances until the utility has checked the service.
- Do not touch the meter, the service wires or anything inside the panel.
What to tell the utility and the electrician
- Which rooms and appliances are dead and which still work.
- Whether lights flickered or dimmed before it happened, and whether it was windy or stormy.
- That no breaker was tripped, and what the utility found at the transformer or meter.
- The panel brand from the label on the door.
Build the full list: what to tell the licensed electrician.
Start this troubleshooter over
Vent, Valve & Volt is published by the team behind FourHome. Browse all FourHome replacement faucet and shower parts on the FourHome Amazon store.