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Power Out in Part of the House?
Some rooms dead, others working — and the neighbors still have lights
Half the house is dark, the AC stopped or lights are dimming? Call before you reset anything twice.
Quick answer
When only part of a home loses power, the cause is usually a tripped breaker, a tripped GFCI or a problem on one of the two “legs” of the electrical service. Xlectrical's licensed electricians (Florida License EC 13014052) answer 24/7 from Sunrise and serve all of Broward County. The emergency service call is $299 and is applied toward the repair.
Fire, smoke or someone shocked? Call 911 first. Whole street dark? Report it to FPL at 1-800-4OUTAGE.
Do this right now
- Check if neighbors have power. If the whole street is dark, it's an FPL outage — report it at 1-800-4OUTAGE (1-800-468-8243).
- Open the panel and look for a breaker in the middle or OFF position. Push it fully OFF, then back ON — once.
- Press RESET on GFCI outlets in kitchens, bathrooms, the garage and outdoors; one GFCI can feed several rooms.
- If lights are dim, some outlets are dead and 240V appliances (AC, dryer, range) act strange, stop: turn off the AC and call us — that pattern points to a lost service leg or a loose main connection.
- If you smell burning or the panel feels hot, switch off the main breaker if it's safe and call 911 if there is smoke.
Why only part of your house lost power
Your home is fed by two 120-volt “legs” that combine into 240 volts. Every circuit in the panel is on one leg or the other. That's why a partial outage is a clue, not a mystery:
- One room or a few outlets dead: usually a tripped breaker or a tripped GFCI outlet somewhere upstream — often in a bathroom, the garage or outside.
- About half the house dead, and the AC or dryer won't run: one leg of your service is missing. The problem can be FPL's service drop or meter, the meter can, the main breaker or a loose connection in the panel.
- Lights dim in some rooms and get brighter in others: a loose or failing neutral connection. This one is dangerous — it can send higher voltage to electronics and appliances. Turn off sensitive equipment and call us right away.
When it's an emergency
Call an electrician immediately if the panel is warm, buzzing or smells like burning plastic, if you see scorch marks, if lights brighten and dim on their own, or if a breaker trips again the moment you reset it. Those are signs of overheating connections, not a nuisance trip.
FPL or an electrician?
FPL owns the service drop and the meter. If the problem is on their side, they fix it. Everything from the meter can into the house — the can itself, the main breaker, the panel and the wiring — is the homeowner's responsibility and must be repaired by a licensed electrician. When we can't tell from the house which side is at fault, we test both legs at the meter and the main breaker and tell you exactly who needs to fix what.
What we do when we arrive
- Make the home safe — shut off affected circuits and check for heat damage.
- Measure voltage on both legs at the main and the meter to find where power is being lost.
- Find and fix the failed part: a breaker, a burned lug, a loose neutral or a damaged connection.
- Give you the repair price in writing before we do the work, day or night.
What it costs
An emergency service call is $299 and is applied toward the repair when you approve it. Many partial-outage repairs — a breaker, a GFCI, a tightened or replaced connection — are done the same visit. If the meter can or panel is damaged, we quote the replacement in writing; see our price list.
Not sure what you're dealing with? See all common electrical emergencies or call our 24/7 emergency electricians.
FAQ
Power Out in Part of the House: FAQ
Why does half my house have no power?
Most often because one of the two legs of your 240V service is missing — at FPL's equipment, the meter can, the main breaker or a loose connection in the panel. A single tripped breaker or GFCI usually affects only one area.
Can a bad breaker cause partial power loss?
Yes. A failed breaker can cut power to its circuit without looking tripped, and a failing main breaker can drop one leg of the service. A licensed electrician can test it under load.
Is it safe to leave it until morning?
If the panel is cool, there's no burning smell and you've simply lost a few outlets, you can usually wait. If lights are flickering or brightening, a 240V appliance stopped, or anything is hot or buzzing, call us now.
Who pays if the problem is FPL's?
If the fault is on FPL's service drop or meter, FPL repairs it. Repairs from the meter can into the house are the homeowner's responsibility.
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