How Does A Partial Power Outage Happen?
When the power goes out during a thunderstorm, you can usually rest assured that your appliances will start running again once the services are restored. But, discovering that the power goes out while you’re enjoying a movie or working from home is much more unsettling.
If you add in the fact that power is only out in certain rooms of your house, then the issue can get even more confusing. When you’re dealing with half the power out in your home, it’s reassuring to know that our team is here to help.
Using this guide can help you begin finding the root cause of the partial power outage while you wait for our Gainesville technician to arrive.
Get Started With These Key Takeaways
Discovering that you’re suddenly sitting in the dark is disorienting. Fortunately, you can start getting a handle on the situation right away with these key points.
- Partial power outages involve losing electricity to specific parts of the house.
- A tripped breaker is one of the most common reasons for losing power.
- A loss of power could occur in parts of your home that don’t always make sense.
- Many partial power outages are preventable with routine electrical services.
What Exactly Is a Partial Power Outage in a House?
A partial power outage simply involves losing electricity in one or more rooms in your house. Unlike having the entire neighborhood’s power go out during a storm, you’ll notice that the issue is specifically restricted to your property.
With a partial power outage, you may have only one or two rooms without power. Losing power to only one or two circuits could also mean that the lights in your kitchen work, but the dishwasher doesn’t. Since you can find power is spotty throughout your house, it can sometimes make this issue difficult for the average homeowner to diagnose.
To prevent frustration, our electricians have the tools and experience you need to quickly determine if a circuit is overloaded or a wire has fallen out of place. When you need power fast, it’s perfectly fine to skip ahead to reaching out for our pros’ help.
What Are a Few Common Reasons Why My Home’s Power May Go Out?
The suddenness of dealing with half the power out in your house can leave you scrambling to figure out what’s wrong. Taking a look at these common causes of partial power outages could help you track down the issue.
- Consider a tripped circuit breaker
- Look for a blown fuse
- Watch out for faulty wiring
- Check for failing outlets
- Assess your home’s appliances
- Be wary of aging wiring
- Suspect possible rodent infestations
Take These Steps to Begin Restoring Power
Now that you know that a partial power outage could be caused by anything from a new appliance to an annoying squirrel chewing on a wire, it’s time to start honing in on the problem. Following these steps will help you start determining if it’s an easy fix or time to call our Gainesville electrician.
Prioritize Your Safety
Electrical currents are nothing to play with. If you notice exposed wires or arcs coming from an outlet, it’s you might need to shut off power at the main breaker. You’ll also want to exit your home quickly and safely if you smell smoke or other signs of a house fire.
Remember that you’ll want to end your inspection right away if you have any doubts about what you are doing. Professional electricians undergo extensive training to learn how to address power outages safely.
Check the Electrical Panel
You’ll usually find the electrical panel in the garage or basement area of a home. Sometimes, they’re located on an exterior wall near the meter. Starting here gives you a quick look at the circuits that run through your house.
Occasionally, a switch may trip due to a power surge or other issue that causes it to detect overheating. If you see a switch that is in the off position, then you might simply turn it back on.
Although this may work, it’s important to note that some issues that cause circuit breakers to trip aren’t temporary. If the breaker trips again, you’ll need an electrician to check for a recurring problem.
Begin Identifying and Isolating the Issue
Taking a moment to reflect on what happened before the outage could reveal a solution. Sometimes, too many appliances can overload a circuit. If you recently installed a new appliance or plugged one into an outlet, then you can try unplugging it to see if that’s the culprit.
Know When to Call a Pro
If you’ve reset breakers and assessed the appliances in the affected rooms, then you may need to call a pro to help you find the problem. In some cases, you may also need an electrician to help you fully fix the problem. For instance, unplugging an appliance might work briefly.
But, it might be time to upgrade the electrical panel to meet the increasing energy demands of your home. This is especially common in older homes that might not have been wired to handle today’s high-powered electronic appliances.
Prevent Future Partial Power Outages
Upgrading your home’s electrical panel is just one way that our electricians can help prevent future partial power outages. We also suggest scheduling annual inspections to check for corrosion and other wiring issues.
In the meantime, you can also take these steps to avoid losing power in part of your house.
- Trim trees and vegetation away from electrical lines
- Use surge protectors
- Monitor your home’s power consumption
- Install a backup generator
Ask Our Friendly Technician to Shed Some Light On the Situation
Are you still frustrated by trying to figure out why your house lacks power on one side? Don’t put up with any malarky, call Mister Sparky. Reach out to our crew at Gainesville Mister Sparky to find the answers you need to restore power safely and get back to your normal routine.
