No phone number, ever. We never sell your info.Answers before any sign-up.Your home record is yours. Export any time, free.Every number shows its source and date.
Sign inSave my home
Electrical · triage

An outlet stopped working

The short answer

Check three things: a wall switch that controls it, a tripped GFCI elsewhere on the circuit, and the breaker. If all are fine, or the outlet is warm or discolored, leave it for an electrician.

Warm or scorched? StopA discolored, warm or loose outlet is a failing connection. Switch off its breaker and see the sparks card. casaq covers switching a breaker off and on, and the test/reset buttons on a GFCI outlet. Opening the panel, outlets or switches is licensed electrician work.

Know your shutoffs

Electrical panel and main breakerThe breaker panel (or fuse box), often in a garage, basement, utility room or hallway.

Every outcome on this card

TodayA damaged outlet

Switch the breaker off; electrician today.

  1. Switch off its breaker
  2. Don’t plug anything in
  3. Call an electrician
WatchBack on

Note what fixed it.

  1. Label the switch or GFCI that controls it
  2. Log it
  3. If it keeps happening, call
This weekDead with power on

Book an electrician this week.

  1. Leave it unused
  2. Note which other outlets on that wall work
  3. Call an electrician A loose connection upstream often kills a string of outlets.

Related

GFCI outlet won’t resetBreaker keeps tripping after you reset itSparks, a burning smell, or a hot outlet

Written from

Original casaq guidance, updated 2026-10-05. General guidance, not a diagnosis; licensed-pro review pending. Severity levels: Emergency now / Today / This week / This month / Watch. Send a correction.

Step 1

Is the outlet warm, scorched, cracked or loose?