Having electrical issues in your Hawthorne rental property? You might be torn between troubleshooting it yourself or calling for professional help. Unless it is a major electrical problem that is best left to the professionals, most common household electrical system issues can be fixed with basic troubleshooting. Here are some steps you can follow to determine the problem and resolve it.
Visual Inspection
One of the first things to do when your appliance, lamp, or electrical device stops working is to check the outlet and electrical cords for signs of damage. Sometimes it could be a power outlet malfunction. Look for visible signs of damage, such as discoloration. Check all plugs and cords, as well, for breaks, fraying, and other damage. If the outlet or the cord is damaged, it might be time to have them replaced.
Try a Different Outlet
If your outlet and power cord looks fine, you can try plugging your lamp or device into a different outlet. It is important that you know whether the outlet or the electrical item is defective. If your device works when you plug it into a different outlet, you know for sure that the outlet is faulty.
Reset the GFCI
One of the most common reasons an outlet will stop working is because it is connected to a GFCI outlet that has tripped a circuit. Outlets usually have a reset button. If you cannot find it, the reset button will be on another outlet within that circuit. The reset button for the entire circuit is located on a GFCI outlet that can either be in your bathroom, kitchen, or in a more obscure location such as the garage or laundry room. You might need to look around for it, but once you find it, resetting a GFCI outlet is an easy way to fix a dead outlet.
Check the Breaker Panel
There are times when, instead of the outlet, the circuit breaker is the problem. You can tell which breaker has gone bad by examining your home’s breaker panel. You can tell which ones are for the different areas of the house since many breaker panels have clearly labeled circuits. If this is the case, you can resolve the issue just by switching the breaker off and then back on. If it still does not work, you might have a breaker that has gone bad or has a loose connection. If that is the case, then you need to replace the breaker.
Call Your Landlord
You must always let your landlord know about any electrical issues you experience. Call them and report the problem as well as the steps you have taken to solve it. Most of the time it can just be a “just-to-let-you-know” call to report that you had an issue that you fixed after following the steps above. But if you notice frequent recurrences, it might be a sign of a bigger electrical problem. If there are still non-working outlets after some troubleshooting, your landlord will need to call a professional electrician to diagnose the problem. Either way, good communication with your Hawthorne property manager is the best way to get electrical issues permanently resolved.
Would you like to trade in your current rental home for one that is maintained year-round by qualified professionals? Real Property Management California Coast can help! Please browse our listings or call us at 310-535-2150 today!
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
