If your rental property has electrical issues like flickering lights, non-functioning outlets, or circuit breakers that trip often, you might wonder how to fix them.
It’s crucial to prioritize safety and consider a licensed electrician for major electrical issues, but you can try some troubleshooting for common household problems. 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
If an appliance, lamp, or electrical device fails, begin by examining the outlet and cord for damage. Now and then, a power outlet may fail and go dead. Visible signs of damage, like discoloration, may be present. Likewise, check all plugs and cords for any breaks, fraying, or other damage. If the outlet or cord is damaged, it’s probably time for a replacement.
Try a Different Outlet
If the outlet and power cord look okay, the next thing to do is plug your lamp or device into another outlet. Determining whether the outlet or the electrical item is the problem is essential. If plugging your device into a different outlet (especially in another room) makes it work, the outlet is the main problem.
Reset the GFCI
A common reason an outlet stops working is due to it being connected to a tripped GFCI outlet. Most outlets are equipped with a reset button. If you can’t locate it, the reset button is on another outlet in the same 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 might need to look around for it, but resetting a GFCI outlet is a straightforward fix for a dead outlet once you find it.
Check the Breaker Panel
Sometimes, the issue isn’t with the outlets but with a faulty circuit breaker. Frequently, you can spot the faulty breaker by looking at your home’s electrical panel. Many circuit breaker boxes are labeled to indicate which circuits connect to which areas of the house. When this is the case, turning the breaker off and on again can often solve the issue. In some instances, the breaker may be faulty or have a loose connection. If that occurs, the breaker must be replaced.
Call Your Landlord
No matter the electrical problem, always call your landlord to report the issue and describe the troubleshooting steps you’ve taken. Should these issues arise frequently, they might indicate more substantial electrical problems.
If troubleshooting doesn’t solve the non-working outlets, your landlord should bring in a professional electrician. Either way, effective communication with your Bedford property manager is essential for quickly resolving electrical problems.
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