Electrical outlets are critical components of your home's electrical system. If they are not working, you may be unable to use your appliances until an electrician fixes the problem. Before concluding that you have a faulty outlet in the house, try plugging in another appliance. If it does not work, the outlet could be the problem. However, this does not always mean that the outlet is defective. You could be having another electrical problem in the home. Here are some of the reasons why your outlets could not be working, their causes, and how to get them fixed.

Tripped circuit breaker

Circuit breakers stop electricity flow in a circuit to prevent overheating and electrical fires. When it trips, electricity is no longer supplied to the outlet, and it will stop working. Go to your fuse box or switch box and assess the circuit breaker switch. If it has tripped, reset it and try using the outlet again. If the circuit breaker trips again, you may have overloaded the outlet. Try plugging in one appliance if you have connected many high-power appliances on a power strip. If the amount of electricity that's drawn into the circuit is the problem, doing this will prevent the circuit breaker from tripping again.

Faulty outlet

The contacts inside an electrical outlet can get defective over time due to prolonged use or poor handling of the outlet when plugging in appliances. When this happens, the contacts become loose, and they can no longer complete the circuit to supply electricity. To get the outlet to work again, you will be required to upgrade the entire unit. Do not try doing it on your own as you could make the wrong connections and end up causing a fire, risking an electrocution, or ruining your appliances. Hire a qualified electrician for the replacement.

Tripped GFCI system

Many homes today are installing Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) to offer protection against overheating, electrocution, and damage to appliances as a result of electrical faults. The systems are connected to the home's electrical system and are installed both outside and inside the house. These systems can shut down the entire power supply of the house if they detect a problem with the electrical system. They also come with an outlet that can be switched on and off. If you find that the outlet has tripped, try to reset it. If the power doesn't come on, you may be having an electrical problem that should be assessed by an electrician.

Malfunctioning power outlets can be as a result of a minor or a major electrical problem in the home. To avoid creating more electrical hazards, always hire an electrician to assess your electrical outlets, systems, and wiring, and to fix any underlying problems.