If you are dealing with electrical issues in your rental property, such as flickering lights, non-working outlets, or circuit breakers that frequently trip, you may be looking for ways to address them.
It’s important to prioritize safety and possibly hire a licensed electrician for major electrical issues, though you can try troubleshooting common problems yourself. Taking steps like checking for tripped circuit breakers, testing outlets, and inspecting light fixtures can help you understand the problem and decide what to do next.
Visual Inspection
Should an appliance, lamp, or device cease functioning, first check the outlet and cord for signs of damage. Sometimes, a power outlet will fail and stop working. Damage might be visible, such as discoloration. Similarly, look over all plugs and cords for breaks, fraying, and other damage. If the outlet or cord is damaged, it’s probably time for a replacement.
Try a Different Outlet
If your outlet and power cord appear fine, the next step is to plug your lamp or device into another outlet. It’s necessary to ascertain if the outlet or the electrical item is the cause of the problem. If the device functions when plugged into another outlet (preferably in a different room), then the outlet is the primary issue.
Reset the GFCI
One frequent cause of an outlet ceasing to work is its connection to a GFCI outlet that has tripped. Most outlets feature a reset button. If it’s not visible, the reset button will be on another outlet in the circuit.
The reset button for the entire circuit is on a GFCI outlet, commonly located in bathrooms or kitchens but sometimes in less obvious places like garages or laundry rooms. You may need to search for it, but once located, resetting a GFCI outlet is a quick fix for a dead outlet.
Check the Breaker Panel
Sometimes, a bad circuit breaker, not the outlets, is the source of the problem. You can often identify the bad breaker by checking your home’s electrical panel. Numerous breaker boxes are clearly labeled to show which circuits serve which areas of the house. If so, flipping the breaker off and back on can often fix the problem. Other times, the breaker might be faulty or have a loose connection. If that occurs, the breaker must be replaced.
Call Your Landlord
Regardless of the electrical issue, be sure to inform your landlord about the problem and the troubleshooting steps you’ve taken. If these issues occur often, it might signal more serious electrical problems.
If troubleshooting doesn’t fix the non-working outlets, your landlord should call a professional electrician. Either way, clear communication with your Burleson property manager is crucial for swift electrical issue resolution.
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