Outlets not working? Reset the GFCI or breaker
When some outlets in the bathroom or garage go dead and the breaker panel looks normal, don't start taking outlets apart. Look for a tripped GFCI outlet first, often in another room, and press RESET. That fixes a lot of these in under a minute. Building codes have called for GFCI protection in bathrooms, garages, kitchens and outdoors for years, so those are the first places to look.
How GFCI outlets work
A outlet (the one with TEST and RESET buttons) cuts power in a fraction of a second when it senses current leaking where it shouldn't, like through water or a person. The catch is that one GFCI often protects every regular outlet wired after it. When it trips, all of those go dead too, and they look like ordinary outlets with nothing to reset.
Some homes also have GFCI or AFCI breakers in the panel instead. Those look like regular breakers with a small TEST button on them, and when they trip, a whole circuit goes out.
Why outlets go dead
One GFCI outlet often protects several regular outlets further along the circuit. When it trips, they all go dead, even if they're in another room.
Too many things running on one circuit, like a space heater and a hair dryer, can trip the breaker.
Outdoor and bathroom GFCIs trip when water or humidity gets into the outlet box. They may not reset until things dry out.
If one outlet is dead and nothing is tripped, a wire may have come loose inside that outlet or the one before it.
| If the dead outlets are in the | Check the GFCI in |
|---|---|
| Bathroom | Another bathroom, or the garage. Older homes often put one GFCI in the first bathroom on the circuit. |
| Kitchen | The countertop outlets, especially the one closest to the sink. |
| Garage or basement | The garage wall, near the door, or the unfinished part of the basement. |
| Outside | The garage, a bathroom, or the outdoor outlet nearest the door. |
| Anywhere, and no GFCI outlet has tripped | The . Look for a breaker with a TEST button that's in the middle position. |
Get the power back
- Unplug what was runningWhatever tripped the circuit will trip it again the moment power returns. Unplug things on the dead outlets first.
- Hunt for a GFCI outletCheck bathrooms, kitchen, garage, laundry and outdoors. One GFCI often protects several outlets downstream, sometimes in a different room. A dead bathroom outlet is often reset from the garage.
- Press RESET firmlyYou should feel and hear a click. Test the dead outlet with a lamp.
- Check the breaker panelA tripped breaker sits in the middle or looks slightly out of line with its neighbors. Push it all the way to OFF first, then back to ON.
- Plug things back in one at a timeIf it trips when you plug in one particular device, that device is likely the problem. If it trips with nothing plugged in, stop there.
Watch it done
- RESET clicks and stays in
- A lamp lights up in the dead outlet
- The breaker stays ON, in line with its neighbors
- Devices plugged back in one at a time don't trip it
Nothing tripped but still dead? Turn off the breaker and call an electrician.
If the outlet stays dead
If an outlet is dead and no GFCI or breaker has tripped, the problem is usually a loose wire in that outlet or the one before it. Turn off the breaker and call an electrician; don't take outlets apart to hunt for it.
If the GFCI won't reset at all, it may have no power coming in (check the breaker), a fault still downstream (unplug everything on that circuit), or it may have worn out. They don't last forever; many last about 10 years.
What a pro typically charges (a rough estimate; prices vary by area): An electrician usually charges $100–$250 for a service call to troubleshoot dead outlets. Replacing a GFCI outlet typically costs $120–$250.
Find an electrician near you