I have two failing outlets in my kitchen, and I noticed that one of them has a piggyback connection that might lead to the family room lights. Interestingly, the breaker that controls these outlets also switches off the family room lights, porch light, and even the smoke detectors. I've used a plug-in tester on the outlets, and it shows no power at all. However, everything else is functioning perfectly fine. I'm puzzled as to how both of these outlets can be completely dead while everything else that seems connected continues to work. Can someone explain how this is possible?
3 Answers
It could be that there's a loose wire at one outlet but the connection for the light is still working. Sometimes the connections inside the outlet itself can fail while the rest remains fine.
Check for a GFCI breaker. Many kitchen outlets are connected to a GFCI circuit. If that GFCI has tripped, it might turn your outlets off while other connected devices still work. Try resetting any GFCI outlets you find.
Outlets can fail, even if the wires are okay. If you're unsure, it might be worth getting a multimeter to test the outlet directly.