Check the panel
Look for tripped breakers and reset them once. Check GFCIs in bathrooms, kitchen, garage and outside.
Part of the property lost power?
When some rooms or appliances lose power but others work, and neighbors are fine, the problem is usually a tripped breaker, a GFCI, a loose connection or a problem with one leg of the service. Call 833-877-1717. RepairNowUSA connects the request. An independent electrician does the repair.
Am I in the right place?Yes for dead rooms or outlets, half the building dark, lights dim and bright, or large appliances not working.
Is this urgent?Urgent with flickering, dimming, burning smells or heat; one leg of power failing can damage equipment.
What do I do next?Check breakers and GFCIs, then call 833-877-1717. If lights brighten and dim, call the utility too.
Whole street out: contact the utility. Breakers tripping: breaker keeps tripping.
RepairNowUSA editorial review · Last substantively reviewed October 14, 2026 · Review standards
Quick checks
Call the utility if lights act strangely
If lights get brighter and dimmer, or half the house is out with no tripped breaker, call the utility. It can be a lost leg or neutral, which can damage equipment.
Unplug sensitive equipment
Unplug electronics until the cause is found, especially if voltage seems unstable.
Service problems can damage equipment
Never touch electrical equipment while wet or standing in water, and do not open panels or devices that are hot, buzzing, smoking or sparking. If you see smoke, flames, or sparks that do not stop, leave the building and call 911.
Causes of partial power loss
Tripped breaker or GFCI
The simplest cause. One breaker or GFCI can control several rooms.
Lost leg of service
Homes get two legs of power. If one is lost at the utility or meter, half the circuits and 240-volt appliances stop working.
Loose neutral
A failing neutral connection can make lights brighten and dim and can damage electronics. Treat it as urgent.
Panel or wiring fault
Loose connections at the panel or in the wiring can drop circuits. See breaker repair.
What to have ready when you call
- Property ZIP code and whether it is a home, rental or business
- Which rooms or appliances lost power
- Whether you checked breakers and GFCIs
- Whether lights are dim, bright or flickering
- Whether the utility reports a problem
How partial power outage repair usually works
- Rule out simple causes. Breakers and GFCIs are checked and reset.
- Measure voltage. The electrician measures voltage at the panel to check both legs and the neutral.
- Utility or customer side. If the problem is at the meter or service drop, the utility is called. Problems inside the panel are repaired by the electrician.
- Repair. Loose or damaged connections and failed breakers are repaired or replaced.
Utilities usually handle problems up to the meter; the property owner is usually responsible for the meter base and wiring after it. Arrangements vary by utility.
What happens when you call RepairNowUSA
- Describe what is happening in plain words and give the property ZIP code. You do not need to know which trade to ask for.
- RepairNowUSA checks for a participating independent provider who handles electrical repair for partial power loss in that area.
- If one is available, you are connected. The provider confirms timing, access, scope and price with you before any work.
- The provider, not RepairNowUSA, diagnoses and performs the repair.
RepairNowUSA is a referral and connection service. Provider availability and response times vary by location, time and demand, and are not guaranteed. Before you approve work, ask what was found, the price, the timing and what is not included.
Call 833-877-1717Partial power outage questions
Why is half my house without power?
You may have lost one leg of power at the utility or meter, or a main connection is loose. Call the utility and an electrician.
Why do my lights get brighter and dimmer?
This can be a loose neutral, which can damage appliances and electronics. Call the utility and an electrician promptly.
Is it the utility or my wiring?
If several 240-volt appliances stop and many circuits are out without tripped breakers, the problem may be at the service. An electrician can tell after measuring voltage.
Should I keep using the working circuits?
If voltage seems unstable, unplug sensitive electronics until the problem is fixed.
Can I call at night?
Yes. You can call 833-877-1717 at any time, including nights, weekends and holidays. Whether an independent provider can come out right away depends on your ZIP code, the time and provider capacity, so availability is not guaranteed.
Authoritative references
These public sources give general safety context. They do not replace an on-site evaluation, and RepairNowUSA does not perform the work.