# Power out in part of the house: what to check

Updated: 2026-10-24 · https://pros411.com/en/guides/electricians/power-out-in-part-of-house

## Short answer

If the power is out in part of the house, unplug space heaters and other big appliances in the dark rooms. Then look in the breaker panel for a breaker sitting in the middle. Standing on a dry floor, push it fully to OFF, then to ON. If outlets are still dead, press Reset on the GFCI outlets. If nothing tripped and lights dim or flicker, call the power company, then an electrician.

> Safety first: Touch the panel only to move a breaker handle, with dry hands and standing on a dry floor. Never take off the panel cover. If the panel is hot, buzzing or smells burnt, do not touch it: call an electrician, and 911 if there is smoke.

## How to get the power back in part of the house

![Cartoon breaker panel looking worried while one room has light and the room next to it is dark](https://pros411.com/img/guias/power-out-in-part-of-house.webp)

1. **Part of the house went dark.** Some lights and outlets died while others still work. That is usually one tripped breaker or one tripped GFCI outlet.
2. **Unplug the big stuff in the dark rooms.** Space heaters, microwaves, hair dryers. If they stay plugged in, the breaker can trip again the moment you reset it.
3. **Find the tripped breaker and reset it.** It sits in the middle, not lined up with the others. Standing on a dry floor, push it fully to OFF, then back to ON.
4. **Outlets still dead? Press Reset on the GFCI.** Look for outlets with Test and Reset buttons in the kitchen, bathrooms, garage and outside. One GFCI can feed outlets in other rooms.
5. **Nothing tripped and lights dim? Call.** Half the house out, or lights that dim and brighten, can mean a problem on the incoming line. Call the power company, then an electrician.

## Why only part of the house loses power

- A breaker tripped. Each breaker feeds a group of lights and outlets, often in more than one room.
- A GFCI outlet tripped. It cuts the outlets after it, even in another room, but not the lights.
- A wall switch controls the lamp or outlet that seems dead.
- Half the house is out and nothing tripped. The house may have lost one of its two incoming lines: that is for the power company and an electrician.

## What not to do

- Do not take off the panel cover or touch anything behind it.
- Do not keep resetting a breaker that trips again right away.
- Do not run extension cords from the rooms that still have power.
- Do not use the appliance that was running when it tripped until you know why.

## When to call an electrician

- Nothing is tripped and half the house is still dark, or lights dim and brighten (call the power company first, then an electrician).
- The breaker trips again as soon as you reset it.
- A breaker will not stay on, or feels warm.
- An outlet or switch in the dark area is warm, buzzing or smells burnt.
- The panel buzzes or smells burnt.

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## Frequently asked questions

### Why is the power out in only part of my house?

Usually a tripped breaker or a tripped GFCI outlet. Each breaker feeds lights and outlets in one area, and one GFCI can cut outlets in other rooms. Reset them one at a time.

### Why do half my lights work and half don't?

Most homes get power on two incoming lines. If one fails, about half the house goes dark and some lights may glow dim or too bright. Call the power company first: it may be their line.

### How do I know which breaker tripped?

Look for the one sitting in the middle, not lined up with the others. Some also show a small colored window when they trip. Push it fully to OFF, then to ON.

### Why do the lights work but not the outlets?

Often a GFCI outlet tripped. Find the outlets with Test and Reset buttons in the kitchen, bathrooms, garage, basement and outside, and press Reset firmly.

### Is a partial power outage dangerous?

One tripped breaker is not. Lights that dim and brighten, warm outlets or a burning smell can be. Unplug electronics and call the power company or an electrician.

### Can I fix a partial outage myself?

You can reset a tripped breaker and the GFCI outlets. Anything behind the panel cover, or a problem with the incoming line, is for an electrician or the power company.