Visual Inspection
One of the first things to do when your appliance, lamp, or electrical device stops working is to check the outlet and electrical cords for signs of damage. Occasionally, it will be a power outlet malfunction. Look for discoloration, a visible sign of damage. Make sure you also check all plugs and cords for breaks, fraying, and other damage. Damaged outlets or cords need to be replaced.
Try a Different Outlet
If your outlet and power cord look fine, you can try plugging your lamp or device into a different outlet. Determining whether the outlet or the electrical item is defective is an important step in troubleshooting. If your device works when you plug it into a different outlet, you know for sure that the outlet is faulty.
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. Locate the outlet’s 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 located on a GFCI outlet. If you can’t find it in your bathroom or kitchen, it could be in a more obscure location such as the garage or laundry room. Once you find the GFCI outlet, resetting it is an easy way to fix a dead outlet.
Check the Breaker Panel
There are times when, instead of the outlet, the circuit breaker is the problem. By a simple examination of your home’s breaker panel, you can figure out which breaker has gone bad. You can tell which ones are for the different areas of the house since many breaker panels have clearly labeled circuits. Simply switching the breaker off and then on again can solve your problem. If not, the breaker itself may have gone bad or have a loose connection. If that is the case, then you need to replace the breaker.
Call Your Landlord
Be sure you let your landlord know about your electrical issue and the steps you have done to troubleshoot the problem. 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 you notice frequent electrical issues, it may be a symptom of a bigger electrical problem. Ask your landlord to call in a professional electrician to evaluate the problem if you still have non-working outlets after some troubleshooting. Either way, good communication with your Issaquah property manager is the best way to get electrical issues permanently resolved.
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