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us Home & property emergencies partial power outage • power out in one room • some lights work some dont • outlets not working but breaker on • half the house has no power • breaker panel looks normal • no breaker tripped • gfci tripped somewhere • afci breaker tripped • gfci breaker test button • lost one leg of power • intermittent power in house • power loss to circuits • lights out but rest of house ok • breaker handle still on • no electricity in some outlets • kitchen outlets dead • bathroom outlets dead • garage outlets dead

What to do if…
you lose power in part of your home and the breaker panel looks normal

Short answer

Treat this as a potential electrical hazard. Reduce load, do one careful reset of the likely breaker and any GFCI/AFCI protection, and if the partial outage persists or anything seems unsafe, call your utility and/or a licensed electrician.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t remove the electrical panel cover or touch service conductors (leave panel internals to a pro).
  • Don’t keep flipping breakers repeatedly or “force” a breaker that won’t reset.
  • Don’t use damaged/overheating outlets, or use extension cords as permanent fixes.
  • Don’t run a generator indoors or in any garage/shed (attached or detached), or near doors/windows/vents (carbon monoxide risk).
  • Don’t rely on candles for routine lighting if you can avoid it (use flashlights/headlamps).

What to do now

  1. Check for immediate danger first. If you smell burning, hear buzzing/crackling, see smoke/sparks, or an outlet/switch plate is hot:
    • If you can do it safely, turn OFF the main breaker.
    • Call 911 if there’s fire/smoke or immediate danger.
  2. Limit damage while you troubleshoot. Unplug sensitive electronics in the affected area (TVs, computers), and switch off big loads (space heaters, microwave, window AC) that might be on the dead/unstable side.
  3. Confirm it’s not a neighborhood outage. Check a few lights in other rooms and (if easy) ask a neighbor. If others are affected, your utility may already be working it.
  4. Do a single “firm reset” on the likely breaker. A breaker can look “ON” but be tripped internally. For the breaker feeding the dead area: push it fully to OFF, then back to ON once.
  5. Check for GFCI/AFCI protection in two places.
    • GFCI outlets: Press RESET on GFCI receptacles in bathrooms, kitchen, garage, basement, exterior outlets, laundry. One GFCI can feed multiple downstream outlets.
    • GFCI/AFCI breakers: In many homes, breakers have a TEST button (common for GFCI/AFCI). If one feeds the dead area, reset it the same way: fully OFF, then ON once.
  6. If the outage is like “half the house” or many circuits scattered, call the utility now. That pattern can indicate a service/supply problem the utility must address. Tell them you have a partial outage with breakers appearing normal.
  7. If the utility says their side is fine (or you can’t reach them), call a licensed electrician. Ask for urgent assessment if the problem is widespread, returns intermittently, comes with flicker/dimming, or you noticed heat/smell/noises.
  8. Keep it stable until help arrives. Leave high-load appliances OFF, keep the affected rooms “quiet” (switches off, non-essential items unplugged), and keep people away from any outlet/switch that seemed warm or abnormal.
  9. If someone depends on powered medical equipment, move them to a powered area and arrange backup support now (family/friend/caregiver). If you cannot keep essential equipment running, call 911 for urgent medical need.

What can wait

  • You don’t need to figure out which device caused it right now.
  • You don’t need to open outlets, remove covers, or test wiring yourself.
  • You don’t need to decide on major repairs until a professional identifies the cause.

Important reassurance

This is frightening but common enough that utilities and electricians deal with it routinely. A “normal-looking” panel doesn’t rule out a real issue—so one calm reset pass and then escalation to the utility/electrician is the safest way to avoid fire risk or equipment damage.

Scope note

This is first steps only to reduce risk and get the right help. Diagnosis and repairs should be handled by your utility and/or a licensed electrician.

Important note

This is general information, not professional electrical advice. If you notice heat, burning smells, smoke, sparks, or any sign of fire/shock risk, prioritize safety and emergency help. Generator use must follow safety guidance to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

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