Short answer
Most outdoor outlets are protected by a GFCI. If yours has Test and Reset buttons, make sure it is dry and press Reset firmly. No buttons? Look for a GFCI in the garage, a bathroom or the basement. If it got wet, switch off its breaker and wait until it is completely dry. Then check the panel for a tripped breaker. If it trips every time it rains, call an electrician.
Safety first
Never touch an outdoor outlet that is wet, or while you stand in water or on wet ground. Switch off its breaker and wait. Do not open the outlet box.
How to get an outdoor outlet working again
1Outdoor outlet dead? It is likely the GFCI
Outdoor outlets are protected by a GFCI. It may be this outlet, with Test and Reset buttons, or another one indoors that feeds it.
Read all the steps
- Outdoor outlet dead? It is likely the GFCI. Outdoor outlets are protected by a GFCI. It may be this outlet, with Test and Reset buttons, or another one indoors that feeds it.
- Wet from rain? Hands off. Do not touch a wet outlet, cord or plug. Switch off its breaker and wait until everything is completely dry.
- Dry? Lift the lid and press Reset. With dry hands and dry ground, lift the weatherproof lid and press Reset until it clicks. No buttons? Check the GFCIs in the garage and bathrooms.
- Still dead? Reset the breaker. Look for the breaker sitting in the middle, maybe marked outdoor, garage or GFCI. Push it fully Off, then On, once.
- Close the lid over the plug. An in-use (bubble) cover keeps rain out while something is plugged in. If it trips every time it rains, call an electrician.
- Still not fixed? Call an electrician Especially if: it trips every time it rains, even with a closed cover.
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Where the GFCI might be
- On the outdoor outlet itself, under the weatherproof lid.
- In the garage, often near the door or the workbench.
- In a bathroom, sometimes on the other side of the same wall.
- In the basement or near the main panel.
- In the panel itself, as a GFCI breaker with its own Test button.
Why it trips when it rains
Water gets into a cover that does not close, a cracked box or an old outlet, and the GFCI cuts the power to protect you. An in-use (bubble) cover that closes over the plug helps. If it still trips with every rain, the outlet or the wiring is letting water in: call an electrician.
When to call an electrician
- It trips every time it rains, even with a closed cover.
- You reset every GFCI and the breaker and it is still dead.
- The cover is cracked or missing, or the box is loose on the wall.
- You see burn marks or rust in the slots.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my outdoor outlet not working?
Most often its GFCI tripped, from rain or a device with a fault. Press Reset on the outdoor outlet or on a GFCI in the garage, a bathroom or the basement. If none works, check the breaker.
Why does my outdoor outlet stop working after rain?
Water got in and the GFCI cut the power to protect you. Switch off its breaker, let it dry completely, then reset it. If it happens every rain, call an electrician.
Where is the GFCI for my outdoor outlet?
It can be on the outlet itself or on another GFCI in the garage, a bathroom or the basement. Some homes have a GFCI breaker in the panel instead.
Can I use an outdoor outlet in the rain?
Only if it has an in-use cover that closes over the plug and the cords are rated for outdoor use. Never touch it with wet hands or while standing in water.
How long does a wet GFCI take to reset?
It will not reset until it is dry inside. Leave its breaker off and give it time, longer after heavy rain. If it still will not reset once everything is dry, call an electrician.
Do outdoor outlets need a GFCI?
Yes. U.S. electrical codes require GFCI protection for outdoor outlets at homes. If yours has none, ask an electrician to add it.