Outdoor Outlet stopped working: Reasons and Workarounds

An outlet is one of the appliances that are most often encountered in any house. Whatever the age of your home, there is always an outlet there. Even though they perform different tasks, they all work by transferring energy from a source to an outlet, which is their common operating principle. But what could be the reason if your outdoor outlet stopped working?

Outdoor Outlet stopped working

Well, there are many potential reasons why outlets could not work, but some of them occur more often than others. One of the most common reasons, an electrical surge or spike, may blow out the breaker panel in your house or apartment building. Additionally, outlets that get sloppy and come loose from their mounting screws will cease working. An outlet might cease working for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, all it takes is a simple light switch or fuse problem. Other sources may find these problems more difficult to deal with and need professional aid. The outdoor power outlet’s malfunction might thus be caused by a number of factors. Let’s look at those reasons as well as some potential remedies.

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Primary reasons why outdoor power outlet stopped working:

A tripped circuit breaker:

When troubleshooting your outdoor electrical outlets, always start by excluding the most straightforward and immediate possibilities. You should start by checking the circuit breakers at the main electrical box in your house. Due to the circuit breaker being off, your home’s other sections do not have power, but your exterior electrical outlets do.

That will happen if there is an electrical issue, such as a sudden spike in power, for example. When that happens, the circuit breaker for those outlets will trip to protect them from any possible danger. Once you have access to the main electrical box and have determined that the circuit breaker is in the middle or OFF position, you can turn them back on. You can resume using the outlets on a regular basis by doing this.

A tripped GFCI outlet:

After looking at the main electrical box in your house, there is still one more circuit breaker you need to look for. Because outdoor power outlets and GFCI outlets typically share a circuit. A device that protects the whole circuit against electrical failures is referred to as a “ground-fault circuit interrupter.”

The way GFCI outlets function is the same as how the circuit breaker you just tested functioned. However, rather than being in the main electrical box with the other breakers, the breaker is situated within one of the outlets. You can read the difference between the two Here. The GFCI outlet and associated circuit are responsible for protecting your outdoor electrical outlet. But the GFCI itself is typically found inside. In houses, the garage is often where the GFCI outlet is found.

Find the GFCI outlet and check to see whether it is damaged. It will do so with one of its buttons protruding. You merely have to press the reset button to restart that circuit. This will restore power to the external outlets on your same circuit.

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Wet Appliances Or Outlets Outside:

After a trip, the problem is often resolved by resetting a circuit breaker or GFCI outlet. If there is a significant fault anyplace in the circuit, those components will often trip. That not only irritates us, but it also suggests a significant problem that requires your immediate attention. For instance, if the outdoor outlet is wet, the whole electrical circuit is in significant danger. Every single one of your outside outlets has to be sealed off with a waterproof casing per the legislation. The outlet’s casing will then include a waterproof door that shuts when it’s not in use to protect it from the weather.

If the casing or door is broken or won’t close completely, water can enter, which might cause an outlet short circuit. Whatever device you plug into that socket can also encounter the same issue. For instance, if hooked into an outlet, plug-in lighting fixtures might become wet and destroy the whole circuit. First, while fixing this problem, don’t touch any outside outlets or appliances. Before having an electrician check it for damage, you must wait until it has fully dried.

The waterproof casing of the outlet should then be mended or changed to prevent it from becoming wet once again. You should also be cautious about the devices you plug into your outdoor electrical outlet. Furthermore, if these gadgets get wet1, they can have an electrical issue that stops the power outlet from working correctly.

When you see and believe that your outdoor power outlet stopped working, you can quickly perform these actions and examine them. Now that we know from where the problems arise, it’s time to learn how to fix them.

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How to fix my outdoor outlet if it stops functioning?

Verify whether your GFC (ground fault circuit) interrupter has been turned on:

You should leave this task to the experts unless you have expertise with GFCIs (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters). To protect homes from electrical shocks, GCFIs trip and shut down when they detect an energy leak. GCFIs are typically found in basements, kitchens, and bathrooms as well as on the outside of dwellings. As soon as you notice your GFCI has been activated, get in touch with a certified electrician.

Verify to see if a Circuit Breaker Was Triggered:

One of the first steps you should do when an outlet stops functioning is to check the circuit breaker to see whether it has tripped or blown a fuse. To determine which of these components is the issue, you can inspect your electrical panel, which is typically located in basements, laundry rooms, or garages. The “off” position on any breaker switches indicates that the breaker has tripped.

The most frequent reasons for tripped circuit breakers are circuit overloads or short circuits caused by plugged-in devices. If this is the issue, getting in touch with an experienced electrician to remedy it is the best plan of action. This is essential since sometimes the problem may be caused by a loose wire in the electrical box. Only licensed electricians should do any work on unprotected wires.

Check Any Loose Connections You Might Have:

Additionally, weak connections might be an issue with your outside outlet. It is necessary to remove the outlet from the box and check it for any loose connections that could be obstructing electricity flow. A loose connection might potentially create electrical fires since it will heat up the outlet and burn the wire. For this reason, if you suspect that the connection to your outlet is loose, contact a certified electrician immediately.

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Conclusion: As you can see, there are several reasons why your outdoor outlet stopped working. To get your house back to working at its best, you need to deal with a specialist. You can ensure the job is done appropriately and that you aren’t jeopardizing the safety of your family or your home by doing this.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

How Can I Stop Water From Penetrating The Plug?

Invest in a second-hand cover. You can shut the in-use lid by plugging in a plugged-in object, such as a cable. This will help keep rain or other liquids from getting into the plug. Apply caulk or silicone around the outside of the cover to stop water from dripping down the wall and seeping into the plug. If you are constructing a new home under a covered porch, your electrician should now install the outside plug. In doing so, you’ll help prevent the weather plug.

Why Is The Red Light Flashing On The Outlet?

There is a GFCI produced by Hubbell that is obtainable and has both red and green LEDs. Green denotes a go, whereas red denotes a stop. No, jokes aside, green means that the outlet is operational and that there is power.
The red solid color indicates that the GFCI has tripped and has to be reset. The outlet has to be changed if the red light is blinking, indicating a fault.

Why, after a reset, does my outside outlet did not function?

The trip mechanism on your outside plug may no longer work. When you press reset, the light should resume and the plug should completely reengage. It shouldn’t feel spongy once you reset it. Try hitting the reset and test buttons many times. Sometimes the buttons could become trapped. If this still doesn’t fix the problem, check your breaker panel. The breaker for the outside plug periodically trips. A GFCI breaker can be used in lieu of a GFCI plug in certain situations. You may need to reset it on your power panel.

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