Know How to Fix Outdoor Power Outlet Not Working? Quick Fixes

Top 3 fixes if your Outdoor power outlet is not working

Check to See if You Triggered a Circuit Breaker

When an outlet stops working, one of the first things you should do is check the circuit breaker to determine whether it has tripped or blown a fuse. You may check your electrical panel, which is frequently situated in basements, laundry rooms, or garages, to see whether any of those items is the problem. Any breaker switches that are in the “off” position mean that the breaker has tripped.

Circuit overloads or short circuits from plugged-in equipment are the most common causes of tripped circuit breakers. The best course of action if this is the problem is to contact a qualified electrician to fix it. This is crucial since a loose wire in the electrical box may occasionally be the source of the issue. With unsecured wires, only qualified electricians should work.

Verify Any Loose Connections You May Have

Your outdoor outlet may also be having a problem with loose connections. You’ll need to take the outlet out of the box and inspect it for any loose connections that could be preventing power from flowing. Because a loose connection will heat up the outlet and burn the wire, it may even start electrical fires. For this reason, get in touch with a licensed electrician right away if you think your outlet’s connection is loose.

Check to see whether your ground fault circuit interrupter has been activated

Unless you have experience with GFCIs (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters), you should leave this work to the professionals. When they detect an energy leak, GCFIs trip and shut down to safeguard households from electrical shocks. GCFIs are frequently discovered on the exterior of houses, in basements, kitchens, and bathrooms. Contact a licensed electrician as soon as you detect your GFCI has been triggered.

As you can see, there are several causes for an inoperable exterior outlet. It’s important to work with a professional to restore your home’s operation to its full potential. By doing so, you can make sure the task is done correctly and that you aren’t endangering your family’s safety or your house.

Frequently Asked Questions on How to Fix Outdoor power outlet not working

Why Doesn’t My Outdoor Outlet Work Now That It’s Been Reset?

Your Outdoor plug’s trip mechanism might no longer function. When you hit reset, the plug
should fully re-engage and the light should restart. When you reset it, it shouldn’t have a spongy feeling. Try repeatedly pressing the test and reset buttons. The buttons might become stuck on occasion. In the event that this does not resolve the issue, check your breaker panel. The Outdoor plug’s breaker will occasionally trip. In some circumstances, a gfci breaker is used in place of a gfci plug. Your power panel has this, and you might need to reset it.

Why Doesn’t My Outdoor Plug Work After Rain?

The main killer of an Outdoor plug is moisture. If moisture enters the outlet, it will simply stop functioning. This includes wind, precipitation, and fog. The electronics within the gfci will probably need to be changed if they become wet. We have also observed that having an extension cable hooked into the socket, such as Christmas lights, will also make it trip. The gfci will trip even if the cord is outdoor-rated since it will pick up moisture from the rain.

You’ll observe that once it has dried up, you may reset the gfci

How Can I Prevent Moisture From Entering The Plug?

Purchase a used cover. The in-use cover enables you to close it using a plugged-in device, such as a cable. This will assist in preventing rain or water from entering the plug. To prevent water from seeping into the plug from flowing down the wall, caulk or apply silicone around the exterior of the cover. The Outdoor plug should now be installed by your electrician if you are building a new house beneath a covered porch. This will assist in avoiding the weather plug.

Should I Install A GFCI On An Outdoor Plug?

A gfci is required by code to safeguard an outdoor plug. Additionally, it noted that these plugs were to be covered when in use right away. There is no requirement that you have gcfi protection outside. You may put a gfci inside and down feed it from the Outdoor, or you can use a gfci breaker.

Can a GFCI breaker be installed?

You can install a gfci breaker, yes. It will immediately fit in your panel box. By doing this, the reset is moved from an Outdoor socket to the panel. The fact that you won’t have to worry about moisture getting into the plug and tripping it makes having this done quite handy. This approach is pricey though. A gfci breaker costs roughly $90, however, a gfci plug costs about $20. To reduce costs, you should cover all of your Outdoor outlets with one single breaker.

Why Is The Red Light On The Outlet Flashing?

A GFCI made by Hubbell is available and features both green and red LEDs. Red indicates a halt, and green indicates a go. No, jokes aside, green indicates that there is electricity and that the outlet is functioning properly.

The gfci has been tripped and has to be reset, according to red solid color. If the red light is flashing, there is a problem with the outlet, and it has to be replaced.