Published on

Troubleshooting Multiple Electrical Outlets Not Working

At Bolt Electric, we get frequent calls from New York City landlords and property managers for home and office outlet problems. One of the most common is for multiple electrical outlets not working. The causes for this range from easily fixed nuisance issues to dangerous electrical wiring and circuit panel malfunctions. Let’s take a look at some of these reasons, so you can troubleshoot problems whenever possible or know when it’s time to call in the experts.

Switch Toggled Off

A simple solution

Sometimes the reason for multiple electrical outlets not working is ridiculously simple: they are controlled by a wall switch, and the switch has been turned off. This usually happens when people attempt to use outlets they haven’t used before, such as when they’re new to an apartment or workspace, or when they rearrange the furniture.

The outlets are all controlled by one switch, so it’s a matter of locating the switch to make the outlets usable. The switch may even be in another room. If there are “mystery” wall switches in the property, it just takes some trial and error to find the one that controls the associated outlets.

Loose Outlets or Wires

Wear and vibration

Sometimes outlets can come loose from the rest of the electrical box over time. When this happens with multiple outlets simultaneously, it’s usually due to vibration, such as from industrial machinery, clothes washers, or recent renovations with equipment like floor sanders. You may notice flickering lights when this happens too.

The wires behind the box can also come loose. We see this most often when they are “backstabbed,” that is, inserted directly into the connection rather than attached with screws. In both of these situations, if you are comfortable with the work, you can do the tightening yourself. Otherwise, we are happy to do the job for you.

Tripped GFI Outlet

Kitchen or bath

A tripped GFI (ground fault interrupter) outlet, can shut off all the outlets on the same circuit. These GFI outlets are located in kitchens, baths, and other areas where water is used to prevent electric shock. They may trip accidentally if someone pushes a button on the switchplate, or appropriately if they encounter liquid. This usually causes a red button on the outlet to pop out.

This is another easy fix. The simplest way is to press the reset buttons on all GFI outlets (most places only have a few) until the outlets on the same circuit function again. If a GFI outlet won’t reset or keeps tripping, it may be faulty and need to be replaced.

Tripped Circuit Breaker

Multiple causes

A circuit breaker on your panel may trip, causing all the outlets on the circle to cease function. There are many reasons a circuit breaker can trip. Most frequently, it’s because too many electronic items or appliances are being used on the same circuit, and there just isn’t enough power for them. It can also happen when one item draws far more current than the circuit has capacity. This is known as a circuit overload.

If you have an overloaded electrical circuit, chances are it will trigger your circuit breaker repeatedly. Try moving some items to different outlets to see if that solves the problem. When using powerful tools, such as table saws, plug them in where no other items are competing for electrical current. Another option is to rewire, giving major appliances their own circuits, so you’re not overloading any one circuit with too many items.

Other causes of a tripped circuit breaker include:

• Arc fault: sparks (arcing) between electrical contact points
• Ground fault: a hot wire contacting metal or a ground wire
• Short circuit: either a hot wire touching a neutral one or an overall wiring problem with the circuit

If any of the three causes above are making your breaker trip frequently, it’s time to have a professional electrician explore and repair the wiring before a fire occurs.

Bad Breaker

Overheating… or worse

Though a tripped circuit breaker is a nuisance, it’s functioning as it should in order to prevent a potential electrical fire. Sometimes, however, a breaker should trip but it doesn’t. If you have a large number of outlets not working simultaneously, especially if you lose power across an entire electrical circuit, and if the related breaker hasn’t tripped, it may be bad and need replacement. You may even see melting or charring on or in the vicinity of the breaker, which is a sign it needs immediate attention from a professional electrician.

Malfunctioning or Recalled Circuit Panel

Danger zone

Sometimes the entire circuit panel needs to be replaced. This is true even if most of the circuits appear to be working. The panel may be nearing the end of its lifecycle, or it may have been manufactured by one of the brands that have been deemed unsafe. If you have an outdated or dangerous panel, you want to have a professional electrician replace that immediately to avoid the risk of fire.

If you can’t troubleshoot multiple electrical outlets not working in your property, we’re here to help. Reach out to Bolt Electric by calling 212-434-0098 or by using our online message form. We’re happy to answer your questions and set up an appointment soon to get all your outlets working the way they should.