The outlets in your home are some of the unsung heroes of modern comfort. For most of our lives, we’ve enjoyed the convenience of being a simple plug away from instant and reliable power. At least, it’s supposed to be reliable.
It can be annoying when you go to charge your phone, only to discover that the outlet you plugged into doesn’t work — or worse, the act of plugging in your charger awards you with a painful jolt that reminds us that the electricity that powers our daily lives is a serious force of nature and is not to be taken lightly.
When the unfortunate happens and you’re zapped with a bolt of reality, Arnold Electrical Services is here for you! For nearly 15 years, we’ve been setting the standard for quality in Chicago residential electrical repairs.
Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers, and we consider it our job to equip you with as much information as possible so you can confidently do your minor repairs, save money and avoid having to ask yourself, “Why does my outlet shock me?”
Dead Outlet Repairs
Troubleshooting a dead outlet is fairly simple and can be safely done with a few tools and a few simple things Here’s a step-by-step checklist:
- Make sure the problem is with the outlet and not the appliance. Make sure the appliance works if it’s plugged in elsewhere.
- Make sure the outlet isn’t connected to a switch that’s turned off.
- Check the GFCI breaker. Almost every home has an outlet or two with buttons, usually located near a sink or tub. These outlets come with built-in circuit breakers and are easily tripped if overloaded. When troubleshooting these outlets, make sure nothing has tripped its breaker.
- Check your main breaker panel. Sometimes, a circuit breaker can trip without you noticing and will leave outlets dead.
If the problem isn’t fixed by addressing any of these obvious areas, it’s fairly simple to check the connections within the outlet itself and repair it if needed.
- Turn off the main electricity. This can be done by flipping the main switch inside of your circuit breaker. If you are at all unsure of whether or not you’ve successfully turned off the power, you should contact a professional.
- Unscrew the outlet from its fixture and carefully remove it from the wall.
- Check the connections at the back of the outlet. They will either be inserted into slots or connected via screws. Make sure all points are making solid contact and are firmly attached. Replacing an outlet is a simple matter of disconnecting these wires and attaching them to a new unit.
- Reinstall the outlet to the fixture and return power to the home.
When You Get Zapped, Arnold Electrical Has Your Back
When you’re tired of the inconsistent outlets or have been zapped one too many times, calling one of the qualified technicians at Arnold Electrical is the best decision you could make. We offer timely and professional repairs, 24 hours a day, all backed by a list of guarantees and promises. If you need anything electrical, call us today!
