• Thu, 28 Jan 2021
• Carlos Melgar Craftsman Handyman

Why Are Multiple Electrical Outlets Not Working? How Can I Fix Them?

Do you have multiple electrical outlets not working at home? This may be because of several reasons. If you don’t have experience dealing with electrical problems, then we encourage you to keep reading our blog. We will discuss what may be wrong with your outlets.

It doesn’t matter if it is in your current house or your brand-new one; having an outlet that doesn’t work is common. But, you have to learn how to find the source of the problem. If you attempt to do something that you’re unsure about, then you may cause a bigger issue.

For that reason, we recommend letting a professional electrician or handyman handle the outlet problem. In this blog, you’ll learn how to identify the problem and quickly fix it. But, for a more detailed solution, it’s always best to work with an expert.

Multiple Electrical Outlets Not Working: How to Figure Out What’s Wrong

Dealing with electrical problems is not something to take lightly. So, you should learn the basics if a problem arises at home. This time we will focus on electrical outlets not functioning properly.

When you have multiple electrical outlets not working, follow these steps to determine the problem. First, test for other dead outlets. Secondly, check for tripped circuit breakers. Third, ensure you don’t have a blown fuse. Fourth, check the GFCI outlets. Finally, look for loose electrical connections.

Carefully go through each of these steps to figure out the outlet problem. When you figure out why an outlet doesn’t work, then check if you can solve it or if you’ll need to call a professional.

Test for Other Dead Outlets

It’s easy to assume that there’s a problem with the circuit breakers when you have several outlets that don’t work. But, you should test the outlets nearby first. Also, take a minute to check if other lights and appliances are affected.

For the lights, we recommend turning them on and off to test them for power. For the outlets, you can use a voltage tester. If you don’t own one, then you can plug in a lamp to check the outlets.

Make sure to also check that your appliances are not overloading or short-circuiting the line. Once you have done this and there’s still no power, then you can be sure that your outlets have stopped working.

A good tip is to mark the dead outlets with masking tape. This is so that you can find them easily and don’t waste time testing them again.

After you’re done with this step, then you can move on with the next.

Check for Tripped Circuit Breakers

Now it’s time to go to the electrical panel. There you will find all of your home’s circuit breakers. You may have multiple dead outlets because your circuit breakers tripped or shut down.

Before you start attempting to do anything to your circuit panel, you must unplug all your devices.

You identify a tripped circuit breaker by checking if it is in the “OFF” position while the rest are ON. Also, it could have just slightly moved out of its position. So, in either case, make sure that you reset it to “ON.”

Some of the reasons why your circuit breaker tripped are:

• Circuit overloads: when a circuit is forced to carry more electrical current than it can hold.
• Ground fault: when a hot wire touches a metal box, metallic wall, ground wire, or wood framing members.
• Short circuit: when a hot wire touches the neutral one or a wiring problem with a device that draws power from it.

If the breaker pops back after you’ve set it to ON, then you have a short circuit or ground fault. In this case, it’s best that you contact a professional.

Make Sure You Don’t Have a Blown Fuse

This step only applies if your house is really old. The majority of modern homes have circuit breakers in the electrical panel. But, you might find that your panel has fuses instead of breakers.

The benefit of having circuit breakers is that you can reset them to restore the circuit’s power. With a blown fuse, however, you would have to replace it with a new one of the same type and amperage.

A short circuit or ground fault can cause a fuse to blow. You can identify a blown fuse by checking the inside for charred glass or a broken filament. After you have identified it, you just unscrew it and replace it with the new one.

Check the GFCI Outlets

GFCI outlets, or “ground fault circuit interrupter”, are required in areas where there is a greater risk of electrical shock or hazard. These outlets sense leaks in the electrical current and trip immediately to shut off the power.

It’s common for electricians to connect several standard outlets to GFCI outlets; this is mostly done to save money. For this reason, sometimes it’s hard to tell if a tripped GFCI is the source for multiple electrical outlets not working.

If an outlet that is connected to the GFCI has an electrical leak, then it will cause the GFCI to trip. As a result, the other outlets connected to the GFCI will shut down.

Look for GFCIs in bathrooms, the kitchen, garages, basements, or on the outside of your home. You can differentiate a GFCI outlet from a standard one because it should have a label. Another way to identify them is with the test and reset button they have.

If the reset button doesn’t work, or it pops up after you’ve pressed it, then it’s time to call a professional. This is because you may be dealing with a dangerous current leak.

Look for Loose Electrical Connections

If you have followed all the steps and the problem persists, then you will have to remove the outlets and check for loose connections. Before you do this, make sure to turn off the main circuit breaker.

There are three common types of loose electrical connections, which are loose terminal screws, stab-in connections, and wire connectors.

When you remove the outlet, check for broken or loose wires. If you locate them, then you’ll find that the screws are corroded, broken, or burned.

A stab-in connection is when electricians press stripped wires into holes in the back of the outlet. This method loosens over time, which may be the source of your dead outlets.

When you find these loose stab-in connections, we don’t recommend just reinserting the wires. Instead, cut and strip the end of the wire and then connect it to a terminal screw.

Finally, check the wire connectors and see if there are any wires that are loose there. If they are loose, then cut and strip them until you expose the copper wire. Then, twist them clockwise into a new connector.

If you still find multiple electrical outlets not working, then it is definitely time to call an electrician or your trusted handyman. As we mentioned before, don’t attempt to do anything dangerous yourself.