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Outlet Repairs 101

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:

  1. Make sure the problem is with the outlet and not the appliance. Make sure the appliance works if it’s plugged in elsewhere.
  2. Make sure the outlet isn’t connected to a switch that’s turned off.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.

  1. 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.
  2. Unscrew the outlet from its fixture and carefully remove it from the wall.
  3. 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.
  4. 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!

Why Choose Arnold Electrical?

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Reliable Service
We believe in providing premium electrical services, all backed by our 5 year parts and labor warranty
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Upfront Flat Rate Pricing
Emergency calls and regular service calls are performed on a flat rate. No surprises!
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Quality Products
Safety is our mission. We only purchase the highest quality materials from trusted suppliers.

What Our Clients Say

Quick To Respond

Jeff M. and Derek H. were amazing! If ever you need any type of electrical work done in your home this is the company you can trust. Their knowledge and work shows how dedicated they are to getting the job done the right way. They really know their stuff and it shows! Not only are they quick to respond but they will get the job done the right way and it is backed by their guarantee. I am amazed! Thank you Arnold Electrical! 🙂

Lizette F.

Realtor Approved

The staff at Arnold Electric Service were on time for our appointment to assess the electrical needs of my client’s condominium and were very professional and thorough in doing so. Most appreciated was the fact that their staff electrician was absolutely honest with me about his ability to provide further services. I will most definitely refer this wonderful company to those needing their services going forward

Jane C.

Simply the Best

They are the best.

Tunya K.

Would Definitely Recommend This Company

First time using Arnold. Derek arrived early (after confirming it was ok) and was very professional. He fixed the problem and offered some recommendations. I appreciated that he wore a mask. Would definitely recommend this company.

Colleen M.

Easy To Work With

The staff is fantastic they have an attitude of “we can do that” “we can get it done”. The coordinator Mary is superb she is knowledgeable, a great listener, she is a winner, easy to work with. AES is one Chicago’s best businesses. A loyal customer

Cal W.

Courteous and Knowledgeable

The techs were on time, courteous and knowledgeable. They explained the issues they saw and recommended several pricing options. We plan on using this company again.

Stephen B.

Reliable & Professional

This company was great to work with. They arrived on time and worked tirelessly to get the job done ahead of schedule. We would highly recommend their service to anyone in need of electrical work.

Kristen N.