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Outlets Stopped Working?

Dead outlets with no tripped breaker are often a GFCI that tripped somewhere else, sometimes in another room. Here’s how to check before you call.

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What it usually means

When one or more outlets go dead, the cause is usually one of these:

  • A tripped GFCI upstreamOne GFCI outlet can protect other outlets “downstream” on the same circuit (CPSC). So a GFCI in the bathroom, garage, kitchen or outside can shut off outlets somewhere you wouldn’t expect.
  • A tripped breakerSome breakers trip to a middle position that’s easy to miss (ESFi).
  • A switched outletSome outlets are controlled by a wall switch, often in living rooms and bedrooms for lamps.
  • A loose or burned connectionOutlets on a circuit are usually connected one to the next. A loose connection at one can kill the ones after it. That’s a job for an electrician, since loose connections can get hot.
  • A worn-out outletIf plugs fall out or feel loose, the outlet should be replaced (CPSC).

Safe for you to check

  • Flip nearby wall switches. The outlet may be on a switch.
  • Look for GFCI outlets, the ones with TEST and RESET buttons, in bathrooms, the kitchen, garage, laundry, outside, and in basements or crawl spaces. Press RESET firmly on each one.
  • Check the panel for a breaker that’s at OFF or in the middle. Push it fully OFF, then ON, once.
  • Test GFCIs once a month and after a power outage: plug in a lamp, press TEST (the lamp should go off), then press RESET (it should come back on). If it doesn’t, the GFCI isn’t working right (CPSC, ESFi).

Leave these alone

  • Don’t take outlets apart or pull them out of the wall to look.
  • Don’t run extension cords across the house as a permanent fix.
  • Don’t keep using an outlet that’s warm, discolored, sparks or crackles.
  • Don’t keep pressing RESET on a GFCI that trips again right away. Something on that circuit may be leaking current, like a wet outdoor outlet or a damaged cord.

How IES helps

  1. 1
    We find the break

    We test the circuit to find the GFCI, breaker or loose connection that cut power, including the hard-to-find ones behind furniture or in the garage.

  2. 2
    We repair it the right way

    That can mean replacing worn outlets, fixing a loose or burned connection, replacing a GFCI that no longer tests right, or adding GFCI or AFCI protection where it belongs.

  3. 3
    Bigger fixes, handled

    If the circuit or panel needs more than a repair, we give you a free estimate. For a panel change-out, we handle the permit, the inspection and PG&E’s disconnect and reconnect.

Estimates are free. Call (530) 401-7419, answered 24/7, or use the form below.

Common questions

Why are some outlets dead when no breaker tripped?

Most often a GFCI outlet somewhere else on the circuit tripped. Check bathrooms, the kitchen, garage, laundry and outside, and press RESET. Also check for a breaker stuck in the middle, and for a wall switch that controls the outlet.

Why won’t my GFCI reset?

It may have no power coming to it (check the breaker), something on the circuit may still have a fault, or the GFCI itself may be worn out. GFCIs can fail without showing any sign, which is why monthly testing matters. If it still won’t reset, call an electrician.

How often should I test GFCIs?

CPSC says to test every GFCI after it’s installed, at least once a month, and after a power failure.

Can I replace a two-prong outlet with a three-prong one?

Not just by swapping it. A three-prong outlet needs a ground wire. Where there’s no ground, a GFCI outlet is an allowed fix, labeled “No equipment ground,” and CPSC notes it can replace an old two-slot outlet. We can tell you which option fits your home.

Read more

Related problems

Request a free estimate

Free estimates, no pressure. Tell us a little about the job and we’ll get back to you. Or call (530) 401-7419, answered 24/7.

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Use the full form

Sources

General safety information for homes, checked against the sources above in November 2026. Every home is different and this is not a substitute for an on-site look by a licensed electrician. Never work inside a panel, at the meter or on live wiring. In an emergency, call 911.