No Power in Part of Your House? Here's What to Do
Partial power loss is one of the most common emergency calls we receive across North Carolina. Here is how to troubleshoot safely and when to call a 24 hour electrician.
Step 1: Check the breaker panel
Look for a breaker in the middle position. Switch it fully off, then on. If it trips again immediately, leave it off — there is a short or overload on that circuit.
Step 2: Check GFCI outlets
A tripped GFCI in a bathroom, kitchen, garage or outdoors can cut power to several other outlets downstream. Press "reset" on every GFCI you can find.
Step 3: Is it one circuit or half the house?
If an entire half of the home is dark — some rooms with power, some without — you may have lost one leg of your 240V service or a neutral. This is a serious hazard that can destroy appliances. Turn off sensitive electronics and call us at (888) 592-6466 right away.
Step 4: Look for signs of danger
Burning smells, buzzing at the panel, warm outlets or flickering throughout the home all mean stop troubleshooting and call an emergency electrician.
Common causes we find
- Failed or worn breaker
- Loose neutral at the panel or meter
- Burnt backstab connection in an outlet
- Rodent-damaged wiring in attics and crawlspaces
- Utility-side issue at the service drop
We respond 24/7 in Fayetteville, Winston Salem, Greenville, Concord and every city we serve.