Visual Inspection
For appliances, lamps, or electrical devices that stop working, you can check the outlet and the electrical cord for signs of damage. Occasionally, it will be a power outlet malfunction. Keep an eye out for signs of damage, such as discoloration. At the same time, you should also check plugs and cords for breaks, fraying, and other damage. Finally, replace the damaged outlet or cord.
Try a Different Outlet
If checking your outlet and power cord does not solve the problem, try plugging your lamp or device into a different outlet. This way, you can determine whether the outlet or the electrical item is defective. If plugging into a different outlet makes your device work, then you can deduce that the outlet is the problem.
Reset the GFCI
One of the most common reasons an outlet will stop working is because it is connected to a GFCI outlet that has tripped a circuit. Most outlets have a reset button. If you cannot find it, the reset button will be on another outlet within that circuit. The reset button for the entire circuit is often found on a GFCI outlet which can be found in your bathroom or kitchen. Sometimes they are also installed in obscure locations like the garage or laundry room. Once you are able to locate the GFCI outlet, resetting it is an easy fix for a dead outlet.
Check the Breaker Panel
There will be times when the problem won’t be the outlets themselves but the circuit breaker. By examining your home’s breaker panel, you can usually figure out which breaker has gone bad. Breaker panels have clearly labeled circuits indicating which ones are for the different areas of the house. Turning the breaker off and then back on can fix the problem. Sometimes, the breaker itself may have a bad or loose connection. If that is the case, then the breaker will have to be replaced.
Call Your Landlord
Regardless of the severity of the electrical issue you experience, it is best to call your landlord to let them know what the problem is and what steps you have done to try and solve it. In most cases, it could be a call just to inform them that you had an issue but you were able to resolve it. But if these issues happen very often, it could signal some bigger electrical problems. If you still have non-working outlets after your troubleshooting efforts, you can request that your landlord call a professional electrician to sort things out. Either way, good communication with your Hampton property manager is the best way to get electrical issues permanently resolved.
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