If your rental property has electrical issues like flickering lights, non-functioning outlets, or circuit breakers that trip often, you might wonder how to fix them.
It’s important to prioritize safety and possibly hire a licensed electrician for major electrical issues, though you can try troubleshooting common problems yourself. By checking tripped circuit breakers, testing outlets, and inspecting light fixtures, you can better diagnose the problem and decide on the next steps.
Visual Inspection
When an appliance, lamp, or electrical device stops working, first check the outlet and cord for damage. Sometimes, a power outlet will fail and stop working. Visible signs of damage, like discoloration, may be present. In the same way, check all plugs and cords for any breaks, fraying, or damage. If the outlet or cord is damaged, it’s probably time for a replacement.
Try a Different Outlet
If your outlet and power cord appear fine, the next step is to plug your lamp or device into another outlet. It’s necessary to ascertain if the outlet or the electrical item is the cause of the problem. If plugging your device into a different outlet (especially in another room) makes it work, the outlet is the main problem.
Reset the GFCI
A major reason an outlet might stop working is its connection to a tripped GFCI outlet. Many outlets include a reset button. If it’s not visible, the reset button will be on another outlet in the circuit.
The reset button for the circuit is on a GFCI outlet, most often found in the bathroom or kitchen, but sometimes in more obscure locations like the garage or laundry room. You might need to look around for it, but resetting a GFCI outlet is a straightforward fix for a dead outlet once you find it.
Check the Breaker Panel
Sometimes, the issue is not with the outlets but with a defective circuit breaker. Often, you can find the faulty breaker by inspecting your home’s electrical panel. Many circuit breaker boxes are labeled to indicate which circuits connect to which areas of the house. If this is true, flipping the breaker off and then back on can often resolve the issue. There are cases where the breaker itself is faulty or has a loose connection. If this is the case, the breaker will need replacing.
Call Your Landlord
Whatever electrical issue arises, make sure to notify your landlord and explain both the problem and your troubleshooting attempts. If these issues occur often, it might signal more serious electrical problems.
If troubleshooting doesn’t solve the non-working outlets, your landlord should bring in a professional electrician. Either way, effective communication with your Trinidad property manager is essential for quickly resolving electrical problems.
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Originally published: April 2, 2021
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