Damn, my outlet isn't working! Let me go to the Jose Of The Day blog.

     

    Is your outlet not working? Then please call a licensed electrician before you go and do something you'll probably regret. Also, it's the right thing to do if you are uncomfortable making these repairs yourself. I have no idea how these things work in the legal sense; so just know your well-being is in your hands here. Otherwise, here are some go-to fixes you can try before giving up! 

    1.) Check and Reset the GFCI Outlet. GFC-What??
    
    GFCI outlets are the same as regular ol' outlets but with two buttons in the middle: one that says TEST, and another that says RESET. These things are designed to protect us from electrical shock by shutting off power when it detects a minor fault like exposure to water. If you can find one of them near the wonky outlet, press the RESET button firmly to see if that does it. 

    2.) Not fixed? Let's Review your Circuit Breaker Panel. OoOo scary!

    Another one of the most common reasons could be a tripped circuit breaker. This only means that a breaker (the switches that make up the bulk of the inside of your breaker panel) detected an issue, and has shut off in response. This usually happens when you're using more power than you're supposed to, or have poor wiring. Your breaker box can either be found in your garage, basement, laundry room, hallway closet, kitchen, or near an electric meter if you're in an apartment. This isn't as straightforward as resetting GFCI outlets, so here are the steps to go by. 

• Before opening the panel door, ensure you're standing on a dry surface.

• Inside, you'll locate the switch that is tripped (a switch that's stuck in the middle; between ON and OFF)

• Turn the tripped breaker OFF, then turn it back ON. If you hear a click when you do this; power should be returning to the outlet.

    A few notes; don't force a reset if the breaker won't budge, and call for an expert if it trips immediately. If anything else goes wrong during any part of this repair, I had nothing to do with it. 

    3.) Okay, that didn't work either? Well, let's replace the outlet. 

    First, always turn off the power at the breaker panel before inspecting your lame outlet. For security, use a tool called a voltage tester to check for any live electricity. Remove the faceplate (with a screwdriver) and unscrew the outlet to check inside its box for any loose wires, burn marks, or funny smells. Generally, green wires go to your green screw, blacks to your gold, and whites to your gray. Use a tool called a needlenose plier to connect these wires to their proper place by forming the end tip into a hook that can sit under the head of the screw. You can follow this routine to see if that does the trick; and if not, take your connections out and install an entirely new outlet before putting the faceplate on.

 
    Well, that's it! These were three quick fixes you can give a shot at if you're hesitant about calling the pros. Please reach out to them if you notice recurring burn marks, constant breaker trips, buzzing sounds, sparks, or anything out of the ordinary! Stay safe out there. 

    Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

- 1 John 4:7