If you experience electrical problems in your rental, like flickering lights, dead outlets, or frequently tripping circuit breakers, you might be curious about solutions.
It’s important to prioritize safety and possibly hire a licensed electrician for major electrical issues, though you can try troubleshooting common problems yourself. By following steps like checking tripped circuit breakers, testing outlets, and inspecting light fixtures, you can gain a better understanding of the issue and make an informed decision on how to proceed.
Visual Inspection
When an appliance, lamp, or electrical device stops working, first check the outlet and cord for damage. At times, a power outlet may malfunction and become nonfunctional. Signs of damage, like discoloration, may be noticeable. Similarly, look over all plugs and cords for breaks, fraying, and other damage. If there is damage to the outlet or cord, it’s probably time for a replacement.
Try a Different Outlet
If your outlet and power cord appear fine, the next step is to plug your lamp or device into another outlet. It’s necessary to ascertain if the outlet or the electrical item is the cause of the problem. If plugging your device into a different outlet (especially in another room) makes it work, the outlet is the main problem.
Reset the GFCI
A major reason an outlet might stop working is its connection to a tripped GFCI outlet. Most outlets are equipped with a reset button. If you can’t find it, another outlet in the circuit will have the reset button.
The circuit’s reset button is located on a GFCI outlet, often in the bathroom or kitchen, but sometimes in more hidden spots like the garage or laundry room. It might take some searching, but once found, resetting a GFCI outlet is a simple fix for a dead outlet.
Check the Breaker Panel
Sometimes, a bad circuit breaker, not the outlets, is the source of the problem. Frequently, you can spot the faulty breaker by looking at your home’s electrical panel. Many breaker boxes have clearly labeled circuits, showing which areas of the house they serve. If this is true, flipping the breaker off and then back on can often resolve the issue. There are cases where the breaker itself is faulty or has a loose connection. If so, the breaker needs to be replaced.
Call Your Landlord
Whatever type of electrical problem you face, ensure you call your landlord and explain the issue and what you’ve done to troubleshoot it. Frequent occurrences of these issues may indicate more serious electrical problems.
When troubleshooting fails to resolve non-working outlets, your landlord needs to contact a professional electrician. In any case, clear communication with your San Gabriel property manager is the key to quickly resolving electrical problems.
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Originally published: April 2, 2021
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