Bill: Larry, my dining room outlets are dead and I opened them up and they look fine. I spent 8 hours yesterday checking voltage at different places, but I’m afraid a wire must be broken inside the wall or something.
Larry: About when was your house built?
Bill: About 1980.
Larry: OK. That was before GFCIs were required for kitchen areas outlets -- you know, the receptacles with the pushbuttons on them?
Bill: Yes, I know what you are talking about. I have one or two in the kitchen. But everything in the kitchen works.
Larry: That's OK. I'm just thinking that whoever put them in... It wasn't you, was it?...
Bill: No.
Larry: Whoever put them in may not have done it quite right. And that might mean that one of those GFIs got tripped but will still work itself. If that's the case, other outlets from there on would be dead because of it.
Bill: What can I do to check that?
Larry: Go push in the reset button of any GFCI outlets in the kitchen.
Bill: You mean right now?
Larry: Yes. See if resetting it restores power to the dining room.
Bill: OK. Hang on a minute....
Bill: ....Larry, that did it! That’s what it was!
Larry: Good. It might have been something harder, but you’re in luck.
Bill: I feel a little stupid. Such a simple thing!
Larry: No, don’t feel bad. Who could have known? Besides, you weren’t stupid -- after all, you found my website. Now you should get that GFCI hooked up the right way. Is that something you’re OK with?
Bill: Yes, I’ve put one in before, but if I have any problem, I know who to call -- not an electrician!
Larry: But I am an electrician!
Bill: Oh. Right. Hey, thanks a lot, Larry!