An outlet most often stops working because a breaker or RCD has tripped, a contact inside the outlet has burned out, or a wire on that section has broken. Start by checking the panel and other outlets in the home — that immediately tells you whether it's a local problem or something wider.
Possible causes
- A breaker or RCD covering that outlet's circuit has tripped
- A contact inside the outlet has burned out or oxidized from age or overload
- A wire at the outlet's terminal has come loose or worked itself free
- The outlet is wired through a switch with an indicator light or a control unit that's currently off
- A break in the wire somewhere on that circuit — inside a wall or a junction box
- The RCD has tripped due to current leakage elsewhere on the same circuit — for example, from a damp or faulty appliance
Why it matters
A dead outlet by itself isn't dangerous — the danger shows up if the cause is damaged wiring or a hidden short circuit that just hasn't manifested any other way yet. If an outlet stopped working after a burning smell, soot marks, or in a damp room, don't try to test it yourself with makeshift tools — there's a shock risk.
What to do
When you need an electrician
Call an electrician if the outlet is dead but the breaker and RCD are fine, if several outlets on the same circuit stop working at once, or if the outlet failed after water got into it. Diagnosing a broken wire inside a wall without specialized equipment is nearly impossible — that needs an electrician.
Frequently asked questions
Only one outlet is dead, the others are fine — where do I start?
Check the panel first — sometimes a single outlet runs off its own dedicated breaker. If the breakers are fine, the fault is most likely in the outlet itself — an oxidized contact, a loose terminal wire, or a built-in switch that's tripped, if it has one.
Several outlets in different rooms stopped working at once — is that dangerous?
That usually points to a problem on a shared section of the circuit — a tripped breaker, a broken wire in a junction box, or a faulty RCD. It's not necessarily dangerous on its own, but it needs a diagnostic to rule out a hidden short circuit behind the outage.
The outlet stopped working after water got into it — what should I do?
Don't switch it on or test it while it's live. Cut power to that circuit at the panel and let it dry out fully — but it's better to call an electrician, since moisture may have damaged the internal contacts, and switching it back on could trigger a short circuit.