​Frequently Asked Questions:

What is a GFCI and why do I need one?

GFCI stands for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter.  It will protect you from an electrical shock.
Trouble shooting dead outlets
Unplug anything that might be on same circuit if the GFCI won't reset. The following appliances will commonly trip the GFCI: fridges, Christmas lights, ice melting device and pumps.
Unplug items one at a time and wait 5 minutes between items to find the faulty appliance.  
Often times older houses will have circuits running all over.  If your outside outlets are not working, check your garage and basement for GFCIs and reset them.
Bedroom outlets will sometimes be connected to bathroom outlets, reset those.  



Has a breaker tripped?          

• Turn breaker to "off" position, then "on"

              If your breaker keeps tripping your breaker might be overloaded. Try unplugging all items on the circuit. If the breaker still trips, call On Call.  If the breaker stays on for 10 minutes, start plugging your items back in one at a time to give the wires plenty of time to heat up and trip the breaker again if need be.  If a device trips the breaker, that might be "the straw that broke the camel's back" and you need to plug something in on a different circuit.  It also might mean that device has reached the end of its life.  So sad, but at least you didn't have to call out an electrician to tell you.  
If you need more help resetting your breaker check out this website: Tips on breakers reset

Is the item in question under warranty?  1

Furnaces, hot water heaters, and boilers might have a warranty.  You need to call the warranter.
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Is there an outage in your area?  

It is common for only one phase (about half) your house to go off with power company issues.  Check with your neighbors adjacent with you and see if they have full power.    

Electrical Tools Every Home Should Have:

Pocket Testers
A Pocket Easy way to test if electricity is present
For example, if your light is not working, take the light bulb out and check to see if there is power going to the light 
safe way to test voltage, you don't have to expose live contact.
For example, if you take that same light, remove the switch cover, you can see if there is power present at the switch          

Link to purchase detector

Receptacle Testers
        A safe, easy, and thorough way of testing most receptacles
There are three lights of which any assortment will light up, look on the tester for the code conversion 
For a little more money you could upgrade to a GFCI receptacle tester