Electrical · Outlets & Switches
Outlets and Switches — real answers.
Dead outlets, GFCI resets, smart switches, dimmer compatibility.
All questions in this topic
Why is only one outlet in my bathroom dead?
Nine times out of ten a bathroom outlet is dead because a GFCI upstream tripped — sometimes on a different floor. Find the nearest GFCI outlet (or a GFCI breaker in your panel), press RESET, and the bathroom outlets tied to it come back. If it trips again immediately, stop resetting — you have a ground fault to diagnose.
Are smart light switches worth installing in an older PNW home?
For most the greater PNW homes built after 1985, yes — smart switches deliver real value: scheduling, vacation lighting, voice control, and safer stair/hall lighting. In pre-1985 homes without a neutral wire in the switch box, the story changes: you'll need no-neutral-required models or a licensed electrician to add neutrals.