When you think about your home's electrical system, one of the most common components you likely use is your electrical outlets. These are necessary to power your appliances and other electrical devices. However, from time to time, your electrical outlet may fail due to one of the following reasons.

Tripped Circuit Breaker

One of the most obvious reasons your outlet may be faulty is its circuit breaker has tripped. Head down to your electrical panel, and look for whatever circuit has that outlet on it. If the circuit breaker is in the tripped position, you'll want to turn it off and then back to the on position. Pay close attention to ensure the breaker doesn't instantly trip. If it seems to be working, head back to your outlet, and give it a try. In most cases, when a circuit breaker is reset, the outlet will start working again.

GFCI Reset Button

GFCI outlets are specifically designed to trip when they sense an overload of power on the circuit. This happens instantly to help prevent issues like electrocution. If your GFCI outlet trips, the reset button will protrude out from the outlet. Push the reset button to reset the GFCI outlet so that it goes back to functioning like normal.

Loose Wiring

For your electrical outlet to work, the wiring must be securely connected to the contactor. When it's not, your outlet will not work. If your outlet seems to work intermittently, it may simply have loose wiring that sometimes hits the contactor plate but not others. If your outlet tends to move in the wall when you plug and unplug items, it's likely the wiring to it will eventually become loose.

Faulty Outlet

Most outlets have a lifespan of 15 to 25 years. However, many different factors determine their overall longevity. If you plug your item into your outlet and it fails to function and you know the circuit breaker didn't trip, your outlet may simply have reached the end of its lifespan and needs to be replaced.

Loose Internal Slots

When you plug your electrical device into the outlet slots, internal metal contact points hold a constant electrical connection to the plug. Over time, these contact points can wear out, causing the plug to simply fall back out of the outlet. Unfortunately, the only way to solve this faulty outlet issue is to replace the entire outlet.

Burnt Outlet

When it comes to electricity, an overload can easily result in an electrical fire. While you may picture a big roaring fire, that result is not always what happens. Sometimes, your electrical components can undergo a small internal fire. When this happens, the components inside the outlet get burned and will no longer function. Typically, you'll be able to see scorch marks near the slots for the outlet if it has experienced a small internal electrical fire.

It's Half Hot

A half-hot outlet is common in some older homes due to non-traditional wiring practices. This is an outlet where one of the receptacles is always on while the other is controlled by a light switch. If you notice that one of your receptacles works but the other one fails to function, check for a nearby light switch. Once you flip the light switch on, the dead receptacle should start working. If you have a half-hot outlet in your home, you can have a licensed electrician rewire the outlet so that both receptacles will work all of the time.

Incorrect Wiring

If the outlet you're using is new or if you've never attempted to use it before, you may be dealing with a wiring issue. If the hot and neutral wires going to the outlet get reversed, it won't provide enough power for your electrical device to work. It's typically recommended to have a professional do any home rewiring to ensure it's done correctly and safely.

Tips for Choosing a New Outlet

In some cases of outlet failure, you'll need to have an electrician replace the faulty outlet. When selecting a new replacement outlet, there are a few different things that will need to be taken into consideration. These will ensure that your new outlet will function correctly to power your home's devices.

Amperage

Electrical outlets are available in a wide variety of amperages. The most common are 20- and 15-amp options. It's important that you match the outlet amperage to the amperage of the circuit. For example, if the circuit is 20 amps, you don't want to use a 15-amp outlet; that's too underpowered and could lead to overheating risks. Instead, opt for using a 20-amp outlet for a 20-amp circuit.

Style

There are traditional three-prong receptacles that are used for most rooms throughout a home. There are also GFCI outlets that must be used in wet rooms, which include laundry rooms, bathrooms, and kitchens. It's important to ensure you utilize these specialized outlets as they work to kill the power quickly to your outlet in the event of an overload. This feature provides optimal safety and greatly reduces your risk of electrocution.

USB Inclusion

Many modern-day outlets are available with USB ports. These usually go right in between the traditional three-prong receptacles. The outlet will have two receptacles and usually one or two USB ports that can allow you to easily charge electrical items without needing your computer to do so.

Tamper Resistance

As adults, we know that we shouldn't stick anything inside of the outlet slot that isn't a plug. However, kids don't always have the same knowledge. To ensure optimal safety at your home, you may want to consider investing in a tamper-resistant outlet. This covers the slots when there's nothing plugged into the outlet to prevent unwanted items from entering the socket.

Color

Just a couple of decades ago, home electrical outlets were only available in off-white. Nowadays, they're available in a wide variety of colors. Modern outlets come in various finishes like black, silver, gold, or any color that complements your home’s décor.

Rotating Outlets

Unfortunately, outlets aren't always in a great location. Whether they're jammed in a corner or there's furniture blocking their access, connecting to a working outlet can be a real pain. This is where rotating outlets can help. These allow the internal receptacles to rotate either way to help direct the receptacle to an angle that is most convenient for your electrical device.

Expert Electrical Outlet Repair

Mister Sparky® offers expert electrical outlet repair for the Columbia, MD, area. We can also help with all your electrical panel, whole-home surge protection, inspection and code compliance, and emergency repair needs. Don’t wait for small electrical issues to turn into big problems—call us today for expert electrical outlet service!