Whenever electrical issues arise in your Muskego rental property, you might wonder what you can do about it. Unless it is a major electrical problem that is best left to the professionals, most common household electrical system issues can be fixed with basic troubleshooting. Following these steps could help you figure out the problem and try to fix it.
Visual Inspection
If an appliance, lamp, or electrical device suddenly stopped working, you can check the outlet or electrical cord for signs of damage. Sometimes, a power outlet malfunctions and goes dead. Look for discoloration, a visible sign of damage. Make sure you also check all plugs and cords for breaks, fraying, and other damage. If the outlet or the cord is damaged, it might be time to have them replaced.
Try a Different Outlet
If your outlet and power cord look fine, you can try plugging your lamp or device into a different outlet. It is important to know if the outlet or the electrical item is the source of the problem. If your device works when you plug it into a different outlet, you know for sure that the outlet is faulty.
Reset the GFCI
One of the most common reasons an outlet will stop working is because it is connected to a GFCI outlet that has tripped a circuit. Outlets usually have a reset button. If you cannot find it, the reset button will be on another outlet within that circuit. The reset button for the entire circuit is often found on a GFCI outlet which can be found in your bathroom or kitchen. Sometimes they are also installed in obscure locations like the garage or laundry room. Once you find the GFCI outlet, resetting it is an easy way to fix a dead outlet.
Check the Breaker Panel
Sometimes a bad circuit breaker is a problem, and not the outlets themselves. By examining your home’s breaker panel, you can usually figure out which breaker has gone bad. You can tell which ones are for the different areas of the house since many breaker panels have clearly labeled circuits. If this is the case, you can easily remedy it by flipping the breaker off and then on again. If that doesn’t work, the breaker itself may be bad or have a loose connection. If that is the case, then you need to replace the breaker.
Call Your Landlord
Be sure you let your landlord know about your electrical issue and the steps you have done to troubleshoot the problem. Sometimes, it can be a call just to let them know you had an issue that you resolved following the steps listed above. But if you notice frequent electrical issues, it may be a symptom of a bigger electrical problem. If you still have non-working outlets after your troubleshooting efforts, you can request that your landlord call a professional electrician to sort things out. Either way, good communication with your Muskego property manager is the best way to get electrical issues permanently resolved.
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