Why Your Outlet Isn't Working

You're about to go to bed, and your dead phone is in your hand. You plug it into the wall outlet by your bed, and go to sleep thinking that it will be fully charged when you awaken. However, you wake up groggy and without a charged phone, and you wonder why. Well, if it's not your phone, it's an electrical failure, and contacting your San Mateo electrical service in San Mateo for an outlet repair is your best option. Electrical outlet failures, although inconvenient, are common, and they have multiple causes.

Burned Outlets

If you insert a plug into the outlet and the outlet pops with sparks, the wire insulation may be melted. A sudden flare can burn out your outlet, and the outlet will appear blackened around the plugs, a signal that you should stop using this outlet. This problem is serious, and the entire outlet should be replaced by your San Mateo electrician as soon as possible to prevent an electrical fire.

Switched Plugs

Some builders will install a switch that manages only half of the outlets in the room if there is not an overhead light so that homeowners can simply flip switches on the walls instead of walking over to turn on lamps. San Mateo homeowners have to identify all of their houses' switches and the switches' functions, especially the ones that they are unsure about.

Tripped Circuit Breaker

Sometimes circuit breakers trip, and when they do, the outlets stop working. If you have this problem, you should reset any breakers on the panel that are shut off. The knob on the circuit breaker may be stuck in the middle of "on" and "off," or you may be overloading the circuit with too many devices and appliances.

Blocked Cord Plugs

If your outlet feels squishy or blocked when you attempt to plug in a device, don't continue to jab in the plug. An obstruction is likely blocking the socket. Protective shutters may lie across the outlet, and if they are impaired, they may cease to move as the prongs are entered. Additionally, the outlet may have a child safety feature or a broken piece that is blocking plug entry. If you suspect you may have a blockage in your electrical system, speak to a San Mateo electrical service to solve the complication.

Backstabbed Wiring

Your wires may be backstabbed into their receptacles, a problem which indicates that the wires have been pushed into connectors that grip the wires inside the devices. A loose connection results from backstabbed wires, leading to burned out wires and a dead circuit.

Electrical system malfunctions pose extreme hazards, so if you experience any electrical failures, seek assistance from your San Mateo electrical service, Owens Electric & Solar.