You might be experiencing issues in your Kalamazoo rental property, and you’re wondering if there’s anything you can do about it. Although it’s best to leave most major electrical problems to the professionals, you can try to troubleshoot some common issues with your household electrical system. Following these steps could help you figure out the problem and try to fix it.
Visual Inspection
If your appliance, lamp, or electrical device suddenly stops working, your initial step would be to check the outlet and the electrical cord for signs of damage. Most of the time, a malfunctioning power outlet is a culprit. A usual sign of damage is discoloration. You should also check all plugs and cords for breaks, fraying, and other damage. If you find that either the outlet or the cord is damaged, it could be time to replace them.
Try a Different Outlet
Try plugging your lamp or device into a different outlet if your outlet and power cord do not seem to have a problem. It is important to know if the outlet or the electrical item is the source of the problem. You can be sure that the outlet is the problem if your device works after plugging it into a different outlet.
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. Your outlet will most likely 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 located on a GFCI outlet. This outlet is usually found in either your bathroom or kitchen, although sometimes in an obscure location like the garage or laundry room. Resetting a GFCI, once you find it, is an easy fix for a dead outlet.
Check the Breaker Panel
Sometimes a bad circuit breaker is a problem, and not the outlets themselves. You can usually tell which breaker has gone bad by examining your home’s breaker panel. Most breaker panels have clearly labeled circuits that tell you which part of the house they are connected to. Simply flipping the breaker off and then turning it back on can fix the issue. If not, the breaker itself may have gone bad or have a loose connection. If that is the case, then the breaker has to be replaced.
Call Your Landlord
Always report any type of electrical issue to your landlord and tell them what the problem is and what troubleshooting steps you have done. 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 these issues recur frequently, it could be a sign of bigger electrical problems. If after some troubleshooting you still have non-working outlets, your landlord will have to call a professional electrician to do a thorough check. Either way, good communication with your Kalamazoo property manager is the best way to get electrical issues permanently resolved.
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