Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help !
Ask
    sgbristol's Avatar
    sgbristol Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #1

    Feb 1, 2008, 01:33 PM
    Outlets not working
    My fiancée and I had recently bought a house this past fall, and being in the house with our first Christmas approaching I hung some exterior Christmas lights, not know that the ice dams on the edge of the house grow to very large.

    Anyway one day I noticed that one outlet in the kitchen and the dining room outlets were not working, and I also noticed that the Christmas lights weren't turning on, I had them set on a timer. I had looked at the extension cord that the lights were plugged into and the water from the ice/snow melting on the roof had ran down to the connection of the two cords, the Christmas lights and the extension cord. I know the basics of outlets and how they work, but is there an easy fix to this or am I going to have to call an electrician.
    tkrussell's Avatar
    tkrussell Posts: 9,659, Reputation: 725
    Uber Member
     
    #2

    Feb 1, 2008, 01:39 PM
    Look for a GFI device that has tripped. It can be a circuit breaker, it will have colored reset button on the face.Or there is a GFI receptacle that needs resetting. These have a Test and Reset button on the face. GFI outlets can be found in kitchens, bathrooms, garage, basement, and outdoors.
    sgbristol's Avatar
    sgbristol Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #3

    Feb 5, 2008, 03:49 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by tkrussell
    Look for a GFI device that has tripped. It can be a circuit breaker, it will have colored reset button on the face.Or there is a GFI receptacle that needs resetting. These have a Test and Reset button on the face. GFI outlets can be found in kitchens, bathrooms, garage, basement, and outdoors.
    So am I looking for a GFI on the same circuit as the other outlets? Because I am pretty sure that none of the outlets that are working have a GFI device.
    tkrussell's Avatar
    tkrussell Posts: 9,659, Reputation: 725
    Uber Member
     
    #4

    Feb 5, 2008, 04:04 PM
    I assumed you checked the circuit breakers. Keep in mind that often a breaker will be tripped, but not noticeable. If this or a GFI is not the problem, then there is a loose connection in the wiring. Each outlet and junction box will need to be opened looking for a bad connection. Or, and this is most likely, if the wire connections are the push in the back type, these are popular for loose connections. Check each pushed in wire by pulling out firmly. Change any to the wrap around the screw type connection.

    Check each device also, and change any the connection damaged the plastic.

Not your question? Ask your question View similar questions

 

Question Tools Search this Question
Search this Question:

Advanced Search

Add your answer here.


Check out some similar questions!

Outlets not working! Help! [ 13 Answers ]

Hi... I came home today and the outlets in our bonus room aren't working. I checked the breaker and nothing was tripped. Then I went searching for the GFI outlets. All of them were fine except the one in the bathroom nearest the bonus room. Here is the issue: On that outlet, the power...

Outlets Not Working [ 21 Answers ]

I have been checking other posts about outlets not working but I still don't know what to do. During an Ice Storm this past weekend, my Christmas lights went out. I have the lights plugged into a power strip that is then plugged into an outlet outside. During the storm half the lights went out and...

Previously working electrical outlets stopped working [ 2 Answers ]

Hi Everyone A wall of electrical outlets in my kitchen just stopped working. They were working just fine about a month ago. I tried checking the circuit box, and turning the circuits on/off just to make sure anything that has been tripped was turned on back again. But it didn't work for the...

Non-working outlets! [ 9 Answers ]

I switched out the light switch in our laundry room and after I turned the breaker on to the whole room (laundry/ living room) I noticed my TV and dvr were not turned on I went to turn on the TV and realized that all the outlets and my closet light , including the light in my backyard as well as my...

Outlets not working [ 3 Answers ]

I just bought a new home and it seems that some of the outlets in our house have stopped working since we've moved in. They are just regular outlets in the living room and also the outside outlets are not working. Is this a problem for a licensed electrician or is there something I can do to fix...


View more questions Search