Outlet Not Working or Sparking? Outlet Repair
Dead outlets, warm outlets and sparking outlets fixed fast in Coeur d'Alene, Hayden, Post Falls and Spokane Valley. Same-day service when we can, fixed price before the repair. Call (208) 352-0662.
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CALL 208-352-0662
Quick answer
A dead outlet is usually a tripped GFCI somewhere else on the circuit, a tripped breaker, or a loose connection behind the outlet. A sparking, warm or discolored outlet is a fire risk and should be turned off at the breaker until it is fixed. We diagnose and repair outlets the same day whenever we can, with a fixed price before the repair.
Try this first
Check the breaker panel for a tripped breaker. Then look for a GFCI outlet, the kind with Test and Reset buttons, in the same room, a nearby bathroom, the garage or outside, and press Reset. Many dead kitchen, bathroom and outdoor outlets are downstream of one tripped GFCI. If that does not bring it back, call us.
What we find most often
Backstabbed outlets, where the wires were pushed into spring holes instead of screwed down and have loosened over time. Worn outlets that no longer grip a plug. Loose or scorched connections from overloaded circuits. Older two-prong outlets with no ground. Outdoor outlets damaged by water. Aluminum wiring in some 1960s and 1970s homes, which needs specific connectors.
What we do
Trace the circuit and find the fault. Replace worn or damaged outlets with properly wired, screw-terminal devices. Add GFCI protection where code requires it in kitchens, bathrooms, garages and outdoors. Install tamper-resistant outlets for homes with kids. Add outlets where you need them, including 240-volt outlets for shop tools, dryers and EV chargers.
When to turn off the breaker and call
A large spark or pop when you plug something in, a burning smell, scorch marks, a faceplate that is warm, or a buzzing sound from the outlet. Turn that breaker off and leave it off until we have looked at it.
How it works
Call or text a photo of the outlet. We come out, trace the circuit and find the actual fault, not just the symptom. You get a fixed price before we repair anything. We fix it, test every outlet on the circuit, and explain what we found.
Call (208) 352-0662 for outlet repair or new outlet installation in North Idaho and the Spokane area.
Frequently asked questions about outlet repair
My outlet sparks when I plug something in. Is that normal?
A tiny blue spark when a plug first touches is normal. A large spark, a pop, a burning smell, scorch marks or a warm faceplate is not. Turn off that breaker and call us.
Half of my outlets stopped working but no breaker tripped. Why?
Usually a tripped GFCI feeding those outlets, or a loose connection at one outlet that feeds the rest of the circuit. We trace the circuit and repair the bad connection.
Can you add an outlet where there is not one?
Yes. We add standard, GFCI, USB and 240-volt outlets, including outdoor and garage outlets, with the permit handled.
Verify our license yourself
Problem Solved Electric holds Idaho electrical contractor license 072429 and is licensed in Washington. Look up either license on the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses website or the Washington Labor and Industries contractor lookup.
Typical cost
Troubleshooting a dead or sparking outlet is a flat $400. That covers up to two hours of diagnostic time on one problem, and you leave with a clear answer about what is wrong and what the fix options cost. Any repair, including replacing the outlet or adding GFCI protection, is quoted separately and approved by you before we start. You can book a troubleshooting visit online, and sales tax is added where it applies.