When your blow dryer or microwave suddenly shuts off, you probably “tripped” the breaker or outlet. When you have appliances that use lots of power and you have many people living in one house using these appliances at the same time, you will likely have this problem. Always check the outlet before the breaker.
Sometimes the outlet will trip instead of the breaker, if you have GFCI outlets. To reset these, simply push the red or top button that says “reset” in the center of the outlet to reset the power. The outlet is what the appliance is plugged into.
Video: Resetting GFCI Outlet
Sometimes the breaker will trip. Do the following to reset the breaker in the electrical panel. Most electrical panels are found outside on the wall of the house. Ask your landlord where it is when you move in!
- Turn off all the lights and unplug everything in the affected room or rooms.
- Take a flashlight and open the circuit breaker panel so you can see the circuit breakers. These are usually located on the outside wall of a house.
- Look for the circuit breaker with the switch in the center position.
- Flip the switch to off, and then flip it to on.
Video: How to Reset a Breaker