Power Outages
Are you experiencing loss of power in your rental home? Let’s check a few things to see what might be the issue. Pay particular note as to whether the power outage is isolated to a single outlet, a single room, a specific area of the home, or is affecting the entire home. In addition to the below troubleshooting items, please also keep in mind that The Outer Banks is especially susceptible to area wide power outages during Tropical Storms, Hurricanes, Nor’Easters, and Winter Storms.
Power is out on a single outlet
If your issue seems to be isolated to a single outlet, the outlet itself may need to be reset or there could be a tripped breaker. See below for how to proceed.
If the Outlet Features a “TEST” and “RESET” Button
This indicates that the outlet type is a GFCI, which stands for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter. This type of outlet can prevent electrical shock in wet locations such as bathrooms, kitchens, decks, or pool areas. Moisture may have caused the outlet to default to a safety mode where power is shut off.
If this is the case, and you are comfortable doing so, you may press the “RESET” button to restore power.
The Outlet Features No Buttons; Only Plugs/Ports
These standard outlet types do not feature dedicated control buttons.
Power is out in a single room or area
This issue is most commonly caused by a tripped breaker. Be advised that panel boxes may be located in several areas of the home.
The most common reason for tripped breakers is overloading the circuits. This occurs when too many major devices or appliances that consume power are being ran at once in a certain area. Limit excessive power use in isolated areas to prevent tripping breakers.
Power is out to the entire home
This issue is most commonly caused by area-wide storm impacts. Heavy wind, rain, and fallen tree-limb debris often disrupt power to entire communities. Use caution when navigating your home in the dark.
We advise calling the local power provider, Dominion Power, at 866-366-4357. If available, it is advised you call them directly from the landline house phone, as this may help expedite your service request. If you are able to connect to Wifi, you can also visit their website to see if the outage is area wide, review safety tips, and other useful information.
You may also call our offices and we can assist in placing an outage report or checking for an ETA of restoration.
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