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Troubleshooting Electrical Issues

Electrician working on electrical components in a new house.
If you are dealing with electrical issues in your rental property, such as flickering lights, non-working outlets, or circuit breakers that frequently trip, you may be looking for ways to address them.

While ensuring safety and considering a licensed electrician for major issues is important, there are troubleshooting steps you can take for common electrical problems. By following steps like checking tripped circuit breakers, testing outlets, and inspecting light fixtures, you can gain a better understanding of the issue and make an informed decision on how to proceed.

Visual Inspection

When an appliance, lamp, or electrical device stops working, first check the outlet and cord for damage. There are times when a power outlet malfunctions and stops working. Signs of damage, like discoloration, may be noticeable. Similarly, examine all plugs and cords for breaks, fraying, and other damage. When the outlet or cord shows damage, it’s probably time to replace them.

Try a Different Outlet

If your outlet and power cord appear undamaged, the next step is to try your lamp or device in another outlet. It’s crucial to identify whether the outlet or the electrical item is causing the problem. If your device works when plugged into a different outlet (preferably in another room), then the outlet is the main issue.

Reset the GFCI

One frequent cause of an outlet ceasing to work is its connection to a GFCI outlet that has tripped. Most outlets have a reset button. If you can’t find it, another outlet in the circuit will have the reset button.

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 may need to search for it, but once located, resetting a GFCI outlet is a quick fix for a dead outlet.

Check the Breaker Panel

Occasionally, the problem lies not with the outlets but with a bad circuit breaker. You can often locate the bad breaker by examining your home’s electrical panel. Many breaker boxes have clearly labeled circuits, showing which areas of the house they serve. If this is true, flipping the breaker off and then back on can often resolve the issue. Other times, the breaker might be faulty or have a loose connection. If this happens, the breaker will need to be replaced.

Call Your Landlord

Regardless of the electrical issue, be sure to inform your landlord about the problem and the troubleshooting steps you’ve taken. If these problems happen regularly, it could suggest more serious electrical issues.

If your troubleshooting efforts don’t fix the non-working outlets, your landlord must hire a professional electrician. Either way, clear communication with your San Antonio property manager is crucial for swift electrical issue resolution.

Do you want to exchange your current rental home for one that is maintained year-round by qualified professionals? Get your new home with Real Property Management First Class! Explore our available rentals or give us a call at 210-444-2070 today.

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