If your rental property has electrical issues like flickering lights, non-functioning outlets, or circuit breakers that trip often, you might wonder how to fix them.
It’s important to prioritize safety and possibly hire a licensed electrician for major electrical issues, though you can try troubleshooting common problems yourself. By checking for tripped circuit breakers, testing outlets, and inspecting light fixtures, you can get a better grasp of the problem and decide how to move forward.
Visual Inspection
When an appliance, lamp, or electrical device stops working, first check the outlet and cord for damage. Sometimes, a power outlet will fail and stop working. Signs of damage, like discoloration, may be noticeable. In the same way, check all plugs and cords for any breaks, fraying, or damage. When damage is found in the outlet or cord, it’s likely time to replace them.
Try a Different Outlet
If your outlet and power cord appear fine, the next step is to plug your lamp or device into another outlet. It’s necessary to ascertain if the outlet or the electrical item is the cause of the problem. If plugging your device into a different outlet (especially in another room) makes it work, the outlet is the main problem.
Reset the GFCI
One frequent cause of an outlet ceasing to work is its connection to a GFCI outlet that has tripped. Most outlets are equipped with a reset button. If you can’t locate it, the reset button is on another outlet in the same circuit.
The reset button for the entire circuit is on a GFCI outlet, commonly located in bathrooms or kitchens but sometimes in less obvious places like garages or laundry rooms. You may need to search for it, but once located, resetting a GFCI outlet is a quick fix for a dead outlet.
Check the Breaker Panel
Sometimes, the issue is not with the outlets but with a defective circuit breaker. You can often identify the bad breaker by checking your home’s electrical panel. Circuit breaker boxes often have labeled circuits indicating which areas they cover. If so, flipping the breaker off and back on can often fix the problem. There are cases where the breaker itself is faulty or has a loose connection. If so, the breaker needs to be replaced.
Call Your Landlord
Whatever electrical issue arises, make sure to notify your landlord and explain both the problem and your troubleshooting attempts. Should these issues arise frequently, they might indicate more substantial electrical problems.
If troubleshooting doesn’t solve the non-working outlets, your landlord should bring in a professional electrician. Either way, effective communication with your Henrico property manager is essential for quickly resolving electrical problems.
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