When a ground fault occurs, the GFCI will trip and stop the electricity flow through the circuit, causing other outlets downstream from the GFCI also to lose power. Much like AFCI protection, GFCIs have a built-in sensor that monitors electricity flow through the circuit. GFCI is located in wet areas such as bathrooms, kitchens, garages, exterior, laundry rooms, etc. Ground-fault circuit interrupters ( GFCI) are electrical outlets designed to immediately trip when ground faults occur to stop the flow of electricity to prevent electrical shock. Vacuums are notorious for tripping AFCI circuits due to the amount of electrical current used. Think about what you have plugged into the circuit routinely or what you are routinely doing when the breaker trips.

If your breaker stays engaged but then trips frequently, you could be overloading the circuit. It is a good idea to call a licensed electrician for further examination and repair. However, this may not be the source of the problem. Replacing an AFCI breaker isn’t too hard.

If the breaker doesn’t stay engaged, you likely have a bad AFCI breaker that needs to be replaced.

If your outlets are now working, your repair is complete.

If the breaker stays engaged, recheck your outlets by plugging in a lamp or other device.

To reset the AFCI breaker, flip the lever fully to the “Off” position then back into the “On” position.

The lever on a tripped AFCI breaker will be in the center position and will not be fully engaged in the “On” position. AFCI breakers will be labeled as such and will have a “Test” button.

Check the AFCI breakers located inside the electrical panel box to see if any have tripped.

When even a subtle change occurs in the electrical current, the AFCI breaker will trip. AFCI breakers have a built-in sensor that monitors the flow of electrical current through the circuit. Nuisance tripping occurs when the flow of electricity through the circuit is less than its suppose to be. The problem is AFCI breakers are prone to what is known as nuisance tripping. Today, in most areas, every room in a new home has to have AFCI circuit breakers to meet building codes and receive a certificate of occupancy. Tripped AFCI BreakersĪrc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) protection has been growing in homes built since 2000. If you still don’t have power, let’s continue below. To check the outlet, plug another device or lamp into the outlets to confirm the outlet does not have power. So let’s get started.īefore we get started, let’s verify the outlet does not have power. We will be diving into more detailed explanations of the most common reasons why electrical outlets stop working.

If these terms seem foreign to you, we will explain them in more detail.

Bad electrical receptacle – You could have a bad electrical outlet or have an outlet that is wired incorrectly.

Loose or faulty wiring – If you have loose wiring connections, faulty wiring, or old ungrounded wiring in your home, it can overheat, causing circuit breakers to trip continuously or damaged outlets.

Switch operated electrical outlets – Older and newer homes can have single outlets or multiple outlets operated by a wall switch.

Circuit breaker tripped due to overload – If you have too many devices or appliances plugged in, you can overload the electrical circuit, causing the breaker to trip.

Tripped GFCI outlet or breaker – If your home has been built or remodeled since 1980, you may have a tripped GFCI circuit breaker or receptacle.

Tripped AFCI breaker – If your home has been built or remodeled since 2000, you may have a tripped AFCI circuit breaker or receptacle.

We will troubleshoot the six reasons why electrical receptacles stop working as follows: We will dive deep into each reason to help you get your electrical outlets back working again. This article will help you troubleshoot why your single electrical outlet isn’t working or why multiple electrical outlets in your home don’t work. Other reasons include outlets that are switch operated or bad receptacles caused by faulty electrical wiring. Standard circuit breakers can also trip if the circuit has been overloaded. The most common reason that an electrical outlet or multiple electrical outlets stop working is a tripped AFCI/GFCI outlet or circuit breaker. So, why have your electrical receptacles stopped working? In this article, we will help you troubleshoot why your electrical outlet or outlets aren’t working. While it’s true that electrical outlets can fail, it’s rare. It can be frustrating when an electrical outlet or multiple electrical outlets suddenly stop working in your home.

New gfci outlet not working