Vent, Valve & Volt
Outlet not working, and you're not sure why

You can fix this

Likely cause: a tripped breaker

A tripped breaker is the most common reason an outlet goes dead. Reset it once.

Why this happens

This Old House ranks a tripped breaker as the most common reason an outlet stops working. When a breaker trips, its handle usually stops partway between ON and OFF, so it can look almost normal at a glance. Family Handyman notes that panel labels are often wrong, which is why you check every handle, not just the one marked for that room.

How to fix it

  1. 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.
  2. Look for a handle sitting in the middle or out of line with the others. Some breakers trip all the way to OFF, so check every handle, and do not trust the labels; panels are often mislabeled.
  3. Stand to the side of the panel and turn your face away. Push the handle firmly to OFF, then back to ON. Do this once.
  4. Test the outlet with a lamp you know works.
  5. If the breaker trips again right away, or will not stay ON, leave it off and do not keep resetting it. Go to the breaker keeps tripping guide.

When to stop. A breaker that trips again immediately, will not reset, or feels hot means stop and call a licensed electrician.

If this does not fix it, tell the licensed electrician

  • Which outlets and lights were dead, and which breaker you reset.
  • Whether it held or tripped again, and how quickly.
  • Whether the breaker has a TEST button or an indicator light, and what color the light showed.
  • Anything new plugged in or anything that changed before it tripped.

Build the full list: what to tell the licensed electrician.

Related troubleshooters

Start this troubleshooter over

References (every fact above comes from one of these pages)
  1. This Old House: Outlet stopped working
  2. Family Handyman: Troubleshooting dead outlets
  3. Family Handyman: What to do if an outlet isn't working and it's not the circuit breaker
  4. Family Handyman: How to fix a circuit breaker that keeps tripping
  5. CPSC Publication 518: home wiring (PDF)
  6. InspectApedia: Electric panel cover removal

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