several outlets go dead occasionally

[ToocoolZ28]

What would cause several outlets go dead once in a while? I have two rooms that the power goes out for hours or sometimes days at a time, ceiling light and fans still work. I have replaced the outlets in both rooms but it hasn't helped. The breaker doesn't trip. After a while we just check and the power is back on.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[The Cobbler]

aluminum wiring? switch controlled circuits that get randomly switched off?

 

[n8n]

There's a loose connection somewhere, you just haven't found it yet. Maybe not even one of the receps that's going dead; it might well be the one immediately upstream (if the electrician used the backstabs to feed power through.)

Personally I'd just get a 10-pack of new good receps and start hunting. If you pull one out to inspect you might as well replace it with new while you're at it for the cost of the devices vs. your time and effort dealing with them. Make sure that all connections are tight including neutrals and grounds. (grounds won't cause your problems, but over time s**t happens, especially if the original installation was indifferently done.)

 

[machine_punk]

are you the only one living there? Sounds like someone is tripping a Ground Fault Interrupter, then going back and resetting it later.

Kev

 

[ToocoolZ28]

The house is 28 years old, copper wire, and all the outlets were backstabbed. All the ones I have replaced I used the screws to connect them. I guess I just need to start replacing all the outlets in the house

 

[n8n]

^probably the right answer. I'd start by killing the circuit that has the problem devices and replacing all those receps. You're on the right track by using the screws, and also spending the tiny extra cost for spec grade devices means that you'll likely never have to do this again unless you end up retiring in the same house.

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

Start at the first dead plug and work back to the power supply.

 

[volleyball]

It is the outlet 1 closer than the first non working outlet. The backstab weaken over time. New outlet or use screw terminal

 

[Mustang51js]

Check switches also,sometimes people will wrap one hot on the screw and backstab the other. Like said above find the circuit it's on and just check all those switches and outlets

 

[CNGsaves]

What does the main panel look like ??? Any black spots or arc marks??

Sure hope builder didn't use garage sale "burner" panel !!

Let's SEE pic of your main panel . . . cover on . . . .and . . . cover off.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

There's a loose connection somewhere, you just haven't found it yet. Maybe not even one of the receps that's going dead; it might well be the one immediately upstream (if the electrician used the backstabs to feed power through.)

Personally I'd just get a 10-pack of new good receps and start hunting. If you pull one out to inspect you might as well replace it with new while you're at it for the cost of the devices vs. your time and effort dealing with them. Make sure that all connections are tight including neutrals and grounds. (grounds won't cause your problems, but over time s**t happens, especially if the original installation was indifferently done.)

Backstabbed outlets will stab u in the back everytime!

 

[ToocoolZ28]

What does the main panel look like ??? Any black spots or arc marks??

Sure hope builder didn't use garage sale "burner" panel !!

Let's SEE pic of your main panel . . . cover on . . . .and . . . cover off.

Two years ago I had smoke in the garage (where the breaker box is) I opened the cover on the box and found 3 melted breakers. I had an electrician come out and replace the entire box and all the breakers. The problem with these outlets was going on before the breaker box burned up.

 

[Lassen Forge]

First thing I'd check is the breaker - make sure the wiring is connected, the neutral is as well, the breaker snug to its bus bar, and (this is hugely important) the bus bar isn't trying to self-immolate or the breaker melt down (a'la f***in' Zinsco/Sylvania/Connectatit Electrical crapola), and the on-again off-again circuits are an indication of that happening. Takes a few minutes,if the entire circuit is going dead at once that's teh first thing I'd check. (We have F'n Zinsco cr@p in our house, slowly changing them over to Schneider/Square D QO boxes and breakers)

If that checks out OK then follow your circuit back (or out) from there.

 

[dw1]

As plenty on here have already stated, I think you are on the right track with checking the back stabbed devices. One thing I have used in the past that has helped is a 3 prong polarity receptacle tester (Available at HD or Lowes) plug this in your receptacles and check all around the room, if you get to one not working, wiggle this tester around while plugged into receptacle, also move back to the one before it that is working, do the same, plug in tester and wiggle around, sometimes you get lucky and it cuts the troubleshooting time down. Unfortunately this is a very common problem.
Something like this:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Gardner-...ster-1-clam-5-clams-master-GFI-3501/202867890

 

[Elginz]

I agree with the polarity tester. You have replaced the back stabs, so follow back from there to find the first place that is working. Many times it is the neutral someplace in a wire nut.

 

[BD1]

Check to see if they piggy back stabbed. That's the problem as mentioned. They feed into one side of the outlet and then back stab again from the other side of the same outlet to feed next outlet.

 

[Petey156]

One way I check for loose back stab commections is with a gfci tester. Put it in and wiggle it a bit, this requires load, like a lamp to be on, The when you find the problem outlet the light comes on. Your problem will probably be on the neutral wire.

 

[Ben Buck]

Check everything in the breaker panel, make sure they are tight.

We had several outlets in our kitchen that went "dead", the wife blamed it on me, because I eliminated a couple of 220 base board heaters we didn't need.

Had an electrician come in, he couldn't find what I did was at fault, he kept checking, pulling outlets, and switches, finally went to the box, low and behold somehow the neutral wires on the outlets were LOOSE!

I don't know how this happened, But this place is ate up!!