When facing electrical issues in your rental property, such as flickering lights, outlets that don’t work, or often-tripping circuit breakers, you may seek ways to resolve them.
While it’s crucial to prioritize safety and think about hiring a licensed electrician for major problems, you can try some troubleshooting for common electrical issues. By following steps like checking tripped circuit breakers, testing outlets, and inspecting light fixtures, you can gain a better understanding of the issue and make an informed decision on how to proceed.
Visual Inspection
If an appliance, lamp, or electrical device fails, begin by examining the outlet and cord for damage. There are times when a power outlet malfunctions and stops working. Visible signs of damage, like discoloration, may be present. Similarly, examine all plugs and cords for breaks, fraying, and other damage. When damage is found in the outlet or cord, it’s likely time to replace them.
Try a Different Outlet
If the outlet and power cord are in good condition, the next step is to plug your lamp or device into a different outlet. It’s crucial to identify whether the outlet or the electrical item is causing the problem. If your device works in a different outlet (especially in another room), it means the outlet is the main issue.
Reset the GFCI
One frequent cause of an outlet ceasing to work is its connection to a GFCI outlet that has tripped. Most outlets have a reset button. If you can’t locate it, the reset button is on another outlet in the same circuit.
The circuit’s reset button is on a GFCI outlet, usually found in the bathroom or kitchen but sometimes in places like the garage or laundry room. You might need to look around for it, but resetting a GFCI outlet is a straightforward fix for a dead outlet once you find it.
Check the Breaker Panel
Occasionally, the problem lies not with the outlets but with a bad circuit breaker. You can often identify the bad breaker by checking your home’s electrical panel. Many breaker boxes have clear labels showing which circuits correspond to which parts of the house. In such cases, flipping the breaker off and then on again can often resolve the problem. There are cases where the breaker itself is faulty or has a loose connection. If this is the case, the breaker will need replacing.
Call Your Landlord
Regardless of the electrical issue you encounter, make sure to contact your landlord and inform them of the problem and your troubleshooting efforts. Should these issues arise frequently, they might indicate more substantial electrical problems.
If troubleshooting doesn’t fix the non-working outlets, your landlord should call a professional electrician. Regardless, maintaining good communication with your Oshkosh property manager ensures swift resolution of electrical issues.
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