Likely cause: a tripped breaker or GFCI

Why this happens

Family Handyman says to check for a tripped GFCI in the room and then for a tripped breaker before you blame the switch, because everything in a room may be on the same circuit. A breaker can look fine when it is not: CPSC notes that one type stops in a position close to ON that is hard to see, and Family Handyman says panels are very rarely labeled correctly. Avista, an electric utility, says that when only part of a home is without power, chances are a breaker has tripped, and that when a small area or a few outlets are out, GFI outlets may need a reset.

How to fix it

1. If rain, a leak or flood water may have reached the panel, the switch or an outlet on this circuit, do not reset anything. ESFI says never to touch a breaker with wet hands or while standing on a wet surface. Leave anything that has tripped off and call a licensed electrician. The breaker keeps tripping guide covers a wet circuit.
2. At the panel, open only the hinged door. Never remove the metal cover behind it; that cover is for electricians. Keep your hands dry and do not stand on a wet floor.
3. Look for a handle sitting in the middle or out of line with the others. Some breakers trip all the way to OFF and some stop close to ON, so check every handle and do not trust the labels. If a breaker looks scorched, or you notice heat, buzzing or a burning smell at the panel, do not touch it. Close the door, call a licensed electrician and see the breaker keeps tripping guide.
4. Stand to the side of the panel and turn your face away. Push the tripped handle firmly to OFF, then back to ON. Do this once.
5. Look for a GFCI outlet, the kind with TEST and RESET buttons, in the same room and in the bathroom, kitchen, garage, basement and outside. If its RESET button has popped out, press it with dry hands until it clicks.
6. Try the switch again. If it buzzes, crackles, sparks, smells of burning or feels hot now that the power is back, stop using it, turn its breaker off and call a licensed electrician.
7. If everything else is back on and only this light still does nothing, start this guide again and choose "Only the light or lamp this switch controls". That path checks the bulb, a dimmer or smart switch, and a worn switch.
8. If the breaker trips again or will not stay ON, leave it off and go to the breaker keeps tripping guide. If a GFCI will not reset or pops out again, go to the GFCI won't reset guide.
9. If no breaker or GFCI was tripped and about half the house is dead, or lights around the house are flickering, go to the half the house lost power guide. Jefferson County PUD, an electric utility, asks its customers to call when part of the house has no power and no breaker has tripped, and suggests alerting a licensed electrician at the same time.
10. If only a few lights or outlets in one area are still dead, with every breaker ON and every GFCI reset, call a licensed electrician. Family Handyman says a wire that has come loose can cut the power without tripping the breaker. Do not take any cover plate off.

When to stop. A breaker that trips again right away, will not stay ON, or trips when you use this switch means leave it off and call a licensed electrician. CPSC says a breaker that trips when a particular switch is used needs a qualified electrician. Family Handyman says a breaker that trips immediately, even with nothing plugged in, likely has a short, not an overload.

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