Why are the electric outlets in one of our rooms not working? Part of the circuit is working...?

Question

My wife unplugged something from an outlet the other day and right then all of the outlets in that room stopped working. I turned the breaker off/on multiple times, looking into the outlet to see if anything is loose, but nothing obvious worked. Part of the circuit seems to be working, and it's currently in the 'on' position. I wonder how much an electrician would cost me.

Answer 1

Check to see if you have any GFCI receptacles in the area. The powerless receptacles may be dowline of a GCFI plug

Answer 2

Turn off the power to the circuit. Then remove the outlet from the wall and check the wiring connections on the side of the outlet. They must be tight. If the wires come into the outlet on the back instead of being on the screws, cut the wires off close to the outlet, strip the insulation off and put them on the wires. If this is the case, this is the problem. Some electricians, during installation, are lazy about putting the wires on the screws and stick them into the outlets into holes on the back, this is called "quick wiring". The problem is there is a small barb of copper digging into the wire, in time it burns and looses contact. If this is the problem, you might need to do the same to every outlet in your house, I did.

Answer 3

The GFI idea is worth a check. A wire might have had a nick on it and snapped over time. Turn off the circuit breaker. Take the outlet apart and check the wires. One might be disconnected.

Answer 4

Maybe she pulled a wire loose when she unplugged something. That would interrupt thcircut at that point. Turn off the breaker and replace that particular outlet.That might help.

Answer 5

Have you tried flipping the wall switch. Sometimes these wall switches are tied into parts of the circuit