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There are a few reasons your lights may be on, but the rest of your electrical outlets and appliances are not working. The first is that while one circuit blew out, the lights may be on another circuit than your other electrical fixtures. Alternatively, your powerless appliances may be plugged into a GFCI outlet that was tripped and needs to be reset. If these issues aren’t responsible for the problem, you may have dead outlets or a wiring issue. Either way, you should contact an electrician to identify and fix the issue.

GFCI outlets generally need to be replaced every 7 to 15 years, though some may fail in as little as 5 years, depending on usage. It is important to test them regularly. Signs that a GFCI outlet is failing or has reached the end of its lifespan include: no power coming from the outlet, the outlet not resetting when the 'reset' button is pressed, or the outlet not tripping when the 'test' button is pressed. If you notice any of these issues, it is time to replace the outlet, and it's best to contact an electrician to do so.

Yes, electricians must be licensed, certified, and in most cases, insured. Licensing requirements vary by state and local municipality, but most U.S. municipalities require electricians to hold an electrical contractor’s license. It's always a good practice to confirm requirements with your local municipality. Even if licensing is not required in your area, hiring a licensed and experienced electrician often leads to a better end result.

A license is a legal requirement to operate a business and is necessary for pulling project permits. Certifications, on the other hand, are typically voluntary and demonstrate a certain level of expertise. In some cases, a certified electrician may send an apprentice or journeyman to perform the work, but they must operate under a primary electrician who holds the proper license.

Before hiring, you should verify the electrician's license, insurance coverage, and any third-party certifications. You can use Angi’s contractor licensing search to confirm a pro's license status. Additionally, businesses with the “Angi Approved” badge on our platform meet strict criteria, including having the required state and local licenses, passing a background check, and maintaining a high average rating.

It's recommended that you only use your circuit breaker for your water heater. Tacking on additional appliances, especially large ones like refrigerators, can overload the circuit and lead to electrical fires. Therefore, it's best to have separate circuits for each major appliance, particularly continuous load appliances, which use a lot of energy over prolonged periods of time.