How to Fix Power Outage in One Room?

power went out in one room but breaker not tripped

If you lose power in just one room, there is no reason to panic. There could be a number of reasons this could have happened, and you can resolve most of these on your own, with no tools. You will be glad to hear that only a few of these problems actually demand that an electrician comes in, so there is no need to call them until you’ve made sure you can’t fix the problem yourself. 

This way, you can save hundreds of dollars. Power outages can happen for a variety of reasons, including: 

  • Traffic accidents involving a crash into a power pole, 
  • Power line maintenance, 
  • Storms and other weather extremes could compromise power production and /or distribution. 

If there is no power in a single room in your household, there could be a different set of reasons why this may have happened: 

In the last case, there is nothing you can do but inform the power company. If some or most households in your street experience the same issue, there may be a single phase-out. If this happens to you, you should call the electric utility company and inform them. They probably already know about the issue, but not in all areas. Informing them will ensure the problem gets fixed faster. In the other two cases, there are things you can do. 

What is a Breaker?

A circuit breaker is a small device that connects to your home’s power lines. Breakers are installed between the electricity meter and power outlets and light fixtures of your home. They are devices that constantly monitor power use. In case there is a power surge, the circuit breaker will trip, breaking the line (hence the name) and ensuring that no other devices connected to your home’s electric supply are damaged. 

This only works if the power surge comes from within your home. If the surge is coming because let’s say, lightning has hit nearby power lines, the main breaker will break the entire circuit in your home, effectively protecting all equipment you may have from electric damage and preventing an electric fire from breaking out. This is usually the largest switch in the breaker panel. 

Together, these two devices can cause a power outage whenever there is something wrong with the devices connected to your home’s power supply. They create a mini power outage to spare you the headaches and the hassle of dealing with an overloaded electrical circuit. The lost power is a headache on its own, but replacing your appliances is an even bigger problem. 

If you live in an older home, instead of a breaker panel, you may actually have a fuse box. The thing is that circuit breaker are a relatively new technology. There has simply not been enough time to switch out all the old fuses. A fuse is a device similar to a breaker, but, unlike a breaker, a fuse cannot be restarted. A fuse will burn out, leaving you with the need to go and purchase another fuse to replace the old one. Circuit breakers are simply restarted, making you save money, unlike a blown fuse which costs every time something goes wrong in your home. 

Causes of a Breaker Tripping

There are several possible causes of breaker tripping. In general, if the power is out in a part of your home, it is probably the circuit breaker that has tripped. You should understand that this may happen for a variety of reasons: 

  • An overloaded home electrical wiring
  • Damaged circuit breaker (yes, it happens), 
  • Faulty wiring (nothing you can do but call an electrician), 
  • A defective appliance is connected to the outlet, 
  • Other electronic devices or appliances have been damaged due to humidity, electricity fluctuations during recent storms, or even due to rodent damage – damaged cords can easily short-circuit, damaging both the appliance and possibly other appliances in your home. 

So, a tripped circuit breaker is a good sign. 

How to Fix a Tripped Breaker

Fixing a tripped breaker is as easy as it gets. You do not need any tools. You do not need expert knowledge. All you need is to follow our steps and restore power to your entire home in no time. Here are steps to fixing a tripped breaker: 

  1. Unplug all your electronics, 
  2. Check for damaged cords, 
  3. Find your breaker box, 
  4. Look for the tripped breaker, 
  5. Reset the breaker, and 
  6. Find the cause. 

Unplug all Electronics

Unplugging all electronics in a room where there is no power is the first logical step to do. As faulty electronics trip the breaker and cause power outages, even in just one room, unplugging them is a sure first step to restoring power in your home. While there, make sure to check all the light bulbs as well. 

Although light bulbs are usually connected to separate wiring, in some older houses, or homes where a lot of additional work was done on the wiring, they may be connected to the same breaker or fuse in the fuse box as other appliances. When lights go out, they can knock the breaker into tripping and cause damage. 

Always check light bulbs before proceeding. If they get a grayish-brownish hue to them, they are done and should be replaced. If you notice that an energy-saving light bulb is damaged, check for signs of damage to the glass parts. If there is a crack, throw the light bulb out immediately and ventilate the room for a minimum of 15 minutes. The light should be thrown out of the house, not just into the trash bin inside. LEDs can be disposed of just as any other light. 

Check for Damaged Cords

Once all your appliances are unplugged, check their cords. If any cords are damaged, and especially if you can see the internal wiring in the cord, through the whole appliance out. If this is one of the major appliances or a piece that has cost you a lot, it is much better to call an electrician to replace the cord for you. 

This way, you can save some money on purchasing a new appliance. Cords can easily get damaged by your pets if you have any. They can also get damaged if you have rodents, such as mice and rats in your home. Another way to damage a cord is if it gets pressed by pieces of furniture, between the door and doorframe or if the furniture is placed on it. 

Find Your Breaker Box

Then, find your breaker box. A breaker box is a metal box that is usually found in the garage, the basement, or even in the entry hallway to your home. You will recognize it as a metal box that’s in-built. It should have many cables going in and out of it, and it should have breakers for the whole house. 

Look for the Tripped Breaker

Once you’ve located the box, open it. Inside will be a breaker panel. It should have many breakers and one of those should be in the tripped position. In many cases, the off-and-on positions will be to the left and right extremes of the breaker’s swing. If the breaker is tripped, its position will be straight, so between the left and the right extreme. 

Reset the Breaker

To reset the breaker, simply pull it to the OFF position. This will reset the internal mechanism and enable you to turn it to the ON position. Once this is done, you will have your electricity back. Now, it is time to check for a possible electrical problem and to find the cause of the partial power outage. 

Find the Cause

To do this, go back to the room or the area of the house that was left with no power. Start plugging your appliances back in. When you plug in an appliance, and the breaker trips, this is the appliance that has caused the partial power outage to begin with. Replace the appliance. If this is an expensive or major appliance, you should contact a certified electrician and see what can be done to restore its functionality and safety. 

What are GFCIs?

If none of these work, your GFCIs may be at fault. The GFCI or the Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter is a device that is built into most US power outlets or receptacles. It usually contains one button, the reset button. A Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter is a small device that can detect unusual behaviors of an appliance. 

If the appliance suddenly starts drawing more power than usual, it may mean that a person is being electrocuted by a faulty cord of that appliance, for example. If the GFCI unit notices any electricity passing through the ground line, it will also trip and shut the power down to the power line. It is an additional line of defense against electrical shocks. 

Causes of a GFCIs Tripping

If the appliance suddenly starts drawing more power than usual, it may mean that a person is being electrocuted by a faulty cord of that appliance, for example. If the GFCI unit notices any electricity passing through the ground line, it will also trip and shut the power down to the power line. It is an additional line of defense against electrical shocks. 

How to Check for a GFCI Problem?

To check for a GFCI problem, you should go around your home and inspect the GFCI-enabled receptacles. Normally, you would start with a room that the partial power outage was in. Tripped GFCI outlets will have a blinking or steady light. A GFCI receptacle like this should be reset. To do that, simply press and hold the RESET button for a second or two, then give it a few seconds before plugging in an appliance. If the appliance trips the GFCI receptacle, it is time to buy a new one. 

Find a Professional Electrician

If you’ve checked your breakers and GFCI outlets, and there is no problem that you can identify, it may be time to call an electrician. This way, you will be able to entrust the delicate work on your home wiring to a professional. Indeed, if no breakers were tripped, no GFCI outlets are tripped either, and there is still a partial power outage in your home, it is time to start looking for an electrician. 

Ask your Friends & Neighbors

But finding an electrician that is good at their job can be a difficult thing to do. You may go through dozens of them before you find the one that is responsible, professional, knowledgeable, and certified. To avoid having just about anyone works around your home, you should ask your friends and neighbors first. If they cannot give you any recommendations, you should check online reviews. 

Check Reviews

Where you should go to check online reviews depends on the area you live in. In most cases, you will be able to use social networks to find a good electrician. Before hiring them, however, you should check them out on Better Business Bureau, or on BBB.org – this way, you will be able to find the best of the best. 

Tips Before Hiring an Electrician

So, before hiring an electrician, you should: 

  • Check the area they work in, 
  • Check their online reviews, 
  • Check them on BBB.org, 
  • Make sure they are certified
  • Make sure they have insurance, 
  • Make sure they’ve been in the business for a long time, 
  • Make sure they will give you a copy of their license, 
  • Make sure they will guarantee their work. 

A good electrician will be able to describe the work done in detail. They will also be able to give future recommendations and provide the best advice on how and where to look for high-quality equipment. They will also be able to give guarantees on their work. 

FAQs

Why is Half of My House without Power without Flipped Breakers?

If no breakers are flipped or tripped and if there is no power in a portion of your home, this could be a sign of a tripped GFCI breaker. If you go around your home, and none of them need resetting, there is probably a partial outage in your area, or a single phase is out. 

How Do I Fix No Power in One Room?

To fix no power in one room, you should: 

• Check the rest of the street, if everyone else has full power, then you should: 
• Check your breakers, 
• Check your GFCI outlets, and 
• Call the utility company. 

Conclusion

Having no power is never a good thing. In fact, having no power in one room and having power in other rooms is probably even worse. To make sure this does not happen to you, check your appliances and replace them periodically. You should also be able to identify some common causes of partial outages and fix them yourself. This way, you can save hundreds of dollars in a few minutes. 

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