Wiring & Outlets
Installation, Repair, and Replacement

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Wiring & Outlets

Wiring and outlets form the electrical highway for your home. They deliver electricity where you need it, powering the lighting, heating, cooling, and appliances that support your way of life. Ensuring that your wiring and outlets work reliably is crucial to enjoying your home. At APower we provide comprehensive service and the highest-quality materials and hardware backed by our APower warranty.

Most outlets do not have a set lifetime before they will go bad. Regular outlets with high use may wear out or become damaged and outlets may also go bad due to age or wiring issues. Loose or damaged outlets are a safety hazard. When you plug something into your outlet and the plug will not stay in or is loose or wiggles in the socket, it is time to replace that outlet. Our licensed and insured electricians are dedicated to providing safe and to code electrical service on everything from your outlets and switches to your panel.

New Circuits

Have you noticed your breakers tripping more frequently? Or maybe you’ve just purchased a new appliance that requires a dedicated circuit in order to meet code? Or perhaps you need to upgrade your circuits simply to ensure that your home is safe. We can help you to determine which circuits need to be replaced, the amperage needed for each new circuit and how these circuits integrate with your current electrical system. Call us today if you have any questions, or would like us to take a closer look.

220V / 240V Outlets

Sub panels are small panels used to distribute electricity to specific parts of your home, a new addition to your home, or even another structure such as a garage or workshop. Sub panels offer a safe solution when all of the breaker slots in the main service panel are filled by shouldering some of the power burden by supplying power to lights, outlets and appliance circuits.

Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming more and more prevalent on American roads. This trend is forecasted to continue with EVs and hybrids comprising an estimated 30% of all vehicle sales by 2025 (Source: JPMorgan). Home charging is the most convenient way to charge your EV. However, many homeowners are unaware that dedicate circuits, increased power supply and specific charging equipment may be necessary to charge the car efficiently at home. If you are considering the purchase of an EV, or have already made an EV purchase, call APower to ensure that your charging setup is operating at its best. There may be opportunities to increase charging speed, and consequently vehicle range.

Welder

Welders consume significant energy, sometimes requiring a dedicated circuit and corresponding outlet capable of delivering increased amperage. Whether in a garage or on an industrial scale, APower can facilitate the power required for uninterrupted welding.

Appliances

Large appliances are expensive so it is important that you protect them by plugging them into outlets that comply with manufacturer recommendations. Many large appliances simply will not work with conventional outlets and may require installation of 220V or 240V outlets as well as a dedicated circuit in accordance to code. We recommend you contact APower shortly after making a purchase. We will inspect the area in which you intend to connect the appliance and install the necessary equipment to keep your appliance working perfectly for years to come.

HOT TUB

Don’t let your new hot tub overheat your electrical system! Hot tubs have specific energy supply requirements, are often installed outdoors, and pose potentially dangerous scenarios due to the presence of water. Installation should generally be left to a professional who can navigate code requirements, permits and inspections, while calibrating your electrical system to withstand the extra power demand.

RV Power Hook Up

Connecting an RV to your home’s existing electrical system may limit your ability to power RV appliances or lighting on a continual basis. RVs usually require a higher voltage in order for the vehicle’s electrical systems to work reliably. Without adapting your electrical system to manage this load, you risk tripping breakers or causing damage to your electrical system. We can examine the energy consumption of your RV and instal the necessary equipment to power it effectively.

Ground Fault Protection

Ground faults are unintended breaks in the grounding path from your electrical system. When a ground fault occurs, any electrical current traveling along the broken path will seek a new path to the ground. This can be an extremely dangerous situation because electrical currents seek the shortest path to the ground, which is often a person. APower can help protect you and your home from these dangerous ground faults.

GFCI Outlets

A GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) is a device that is installed to help decrease the risk of electrocution. The GFCI device is typically a receptacle installed in areas of your home where you may come into contact with water and electricity at the same time.

What Causes Your Outlets to Stop Working?

Having an electrical outlet that doesn’t work can be frustrating and inconvenient.

Unfortunately, an outlet can stop working for different reasons. Diagnosing the cause of electrical outlets not working can be challenging and attempting to repair the outlet without prior experience may also be hazardous.

While some problems can be easily addressed, some may require electrical professionals.

Here are some of the reasons why your outlets may stop working.

Tripped Breaker

Plugging too many items into one circuit can cause an overload. That means the circuit draws more electricity than the circuit can handle, causing a tripped circuit breaker.

A tripped breaker deprives your circuit of power, which means your outlet won’t work.

In this case, you need to check the home breaker panel. A tripped breaker means the switch will be in the middle of On and Off. Reset it by flipping the switch to Off and then back to On.

If you notice that the breaker moves back to the tripped position, you could be in a dangerous situation and may need to call an electrician immediately.

Circuit Interruptions

Your electrical outlet will not work if there’s a disruption in one of the wires between the outlet and the circuit breaker. Circuit interruptions can happen due to degraded or loose wiring.

Burned Out Outlet

Strong electrical currents can cause a fire in your wiring and cause the outlet to stop working. In this case, you’ll notice a blackened residue or a brief spark.

If you notice these signs, unplug all devices and contact an electrician.

Such outlets need to be replaced immediately.

Faulty Outlets

Some electrical outlets end up with loose wires and can fail to work once they reach the end of their lifespan. You may need to replace the outlet to solve this problem.

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters

GFCIs are designed to reduce electrical shock severity. These outlets are installed mostly in bathrooms and kitchens as these areas have a high-risk potential for electrical shocks.

A GFCI outlet shuts off power quickly when the electrical current follows the wrong path. That means if your outlet is GFCI, it could shut off because of a short circuit.

When a short occurs, multiple outlets in your home connected to the GFCI board may stop working.

Rust and Corrosion

Your electrical outlets may also stop working if there’s noticeable rust and corrosion around the breaker box. That shows there’s high moisture near or inside the panel, which can be dangerous. Call an electrician immediately if there’s rust around the breaker box.

Final Thoughts About What Causes Your Outlets to Stop Working

Figuring out why an electric outlet is not working isn’t always easy. Sometimes the outlet may be faulty, you may have a burned-out outlet, a tripped breaker, or a blown fuse. If you still can’t figure out why your outlet is not working, contact an experienced electrician today to help you diagnose the problem.

Frequently asked questions

Can outlets go bad?

An outlet can go bad and stop working. More commonly electrical outlets, especially those with high usage, will wear out over time. You may find that when you plug items in they are loose in the plug, or your outlet looks cracked or damaged and those are signs that the outlet is bad even if it is still working. Loose or damaged outlets are a safety concern and should be replaced as soon as possible.

GFCI outlets are not meant to work forever. The average GFCI outlet has a lifespan of about 10-25 years before the circuitry inside the outlet no longer works- different conditions will affect the lifespan of the outlet.

Will a bad outlet affect others?

A bad outlet can affect other outlets. Outlets are often wired in parallel, meaning that multiple outlets are wired on the same circuit downstream from one another, which can affect how multiple outlets on a circuit work. For example, an area in your home has 4 outlets wired on the same circuit downstream from one another. If the first outlet that is wired in that room goes out, it can cause the 3 remaining outlets in the room to not work as well.

How often do electrical outlets go bad?

Electrical outlets do not have a set lifetime before they will go bad. Outlets that are used often can become worn out or may quit working due to overuse. GFCI outlets do have a more set lifespan, of anywhere from 10-25 years depending on use and environment.

How can you tell if an electrical outlet goes bad?

A non-working outlet may have gone bad, but can be related to other issues which would require some troubleshooting. Visually if your plugs are loose in the outlet or if there is any visible damage on the outside of the outlet, you should consider this a bad outlet, quit using it and get it replaced as soon as possible.

What happens when an electrical outlet goes bad?

It will appear damaged or may not work. A bad GFCI outlet may still function as an outlet without providing any GFCI protection. A bad or broken outlet can become a safety or fire hazard.