When half your house suddenly loses power, it usually means something’s tripped, shorted, or failed. It’s a common issue that’s usually tied to circuit breakers, GFCI outlets, or a utility problem feeding into your home’s panel.

This blog breaks down how to troubleshoot it step by step. You’ll learn what’s safe to fix yourself, what’s not, and how to prevent it from happening again.

And if you live in the Southeast and hit a dead end, our licensed electricians are just a call away. Let’s get started.

Why Part of Your Home Loses Power

Partial power loss typically happens when one circuit or one leg of your home’s power system fails, either due to an internal problem like a tripped breaker or an external issue from the utility company. Unlike a total power outage that knocks out everything, these types of failures affect specific rooms or outlets.

Your home’s electricity is split into multiple circuits, each handling a different zone or appliance. Think of them like branches of a tree. If one branch snaps, the rest still stands. That’s why you might lose power in just the kitchen while your bedroom lights stay on.

Below are the most common reasons part of your house has no electricity:

Tripped Circuit Breaker

Your home’s electricity is divided into sections called circuits. Each circuit is protected by a breaker, a small switch in your electrical panel that shuts off power if something goes wrong. If you overload a circuit by plugging in too many things (like a space heater, microwave, and toaster all at once), the breaker trips (or “flips”) to prevent overheating or fire.

Blown Fuse (In Older Homes)

Still rocking a fuse box? Fuses serve the same purpose as breakers but melt when overloaded. These won’t flip. You’ll have to replace it. If one part of your house is dark and you’ve got fuses, that’s the first place to look.

Loose or Damaged Wiring

Rodents. Moisture. Shoddy work from a past remodel. Any of these can loosen wires inside outlets, junction boxes, or your breaker panel. That breaks the flow of electricity, sometimes intermittently. This can be dangerous, and it is absolutely a project that demands a certified electrician.

Tripped GFCI Outlet

GFCI outlets (outlets with the little “Reset” and “Test” buttons) shut off power to protect you from shock. However, when one trips in the garage, it may also disrupt power to a nearby bathroom or patio.

Phase Loss from the Power Company

Your home’s power comes in two “legs” or phases. If one fails at the street, you’ll lose half the house. You’ll see weird symptoms:

Lights flickering, oven won’t heat, A/C won’t turn on, etc. Call your utility provider first if the problem affects multiple areas and involves neighbors as well.

Faulty Appliance Triggering Trip

Sometimes it’s not the wiring, it’s what’s plugged into it. A shorted-out microwave or space heater can trip a breaker instantly. Unplug everything in the dead zone, reset the breaker, and plug things in one at a time to find the culprit.

Electrical Troubleshooting Home Checklist

We’ve walked into hundreds of homes with power out in just one room or one half of the house, and it’s almost always one of the same handful of issues. This quick electrical troubleshooting checklist will help you rule out the most common causes before calling us (or any licensed electrician).

Check for Tripped Breakers

Start at your electrical panel. Look for any switches that aren’t fully in line with the others. Even if it doesn’t look totally off, a half-flipped breaker can still cut power. This is often the reason half the house has no power.

Flip Breakers Off, Then On

Don’t just tap them. Flip the suspect breaker all the way off, then back on. That reset is what restores power if the breaker was tripped.

Check GFCI Outlets

Walk through your bathrooms, garage, kitchen, and outdoor areas. Look for the outlets with “Test” and “Reset” buttons. Press the “Reset” button on each. One GFCI can control outlets in multiple rooms.

Test Outlets with a Lamp or Phone Charger

Grab a device that you know works and plug it into each outlet in the affected area. You’re looking for patterns of what works, what doesn’t. Don’t use your laptop or something sensitive that could get damaged if there’s an unstable connection, voltage drop, or wiring issue hiding behind the scenes. Stick with something simple and low-risk.

Note Any Patterns

Is it one room? One wall? One floor? Maybe it’s just the outlets, but not the lights. These patterns help narrow it down to a single breaker, circuit, or wiring zone.

Ask the Neighbors

Check if anyone nearby has lost power. If so, the issue might be coming from the utility company’s side, especially if you’re noticing flickering lights or appliances acting strangely.

Prioritize Safety

Don’t open outlets, unscrew plates, or poke wires. If you smell burning, see scorched outlets, or hear buzzing sounds, stop here. Call an electrician immediately.

How to Fix Partial Power Loss Yourself

If you’ve gone through the basic electrical troubleshooting checklist above and feel confident moving forward, these next steps walk you through safe, common fixes homeowners can try without needing to touch any exposed wires or pry open panels.

First, a quick disclaimer: If anything here feels outside your comfort zone or if something smells, sparks, or hums … call an electrician. Don’t forego safety to save a few bucks.

Turn Off and Unplug Electronics In the Affected Area

Before flipping anything, unplug your computer, TV, or anything pricey in the outage zone. If the power suddenly surges back on, you don’t want your electronics getting fried.

Reset the Breaker the Right Way

Head to your panel and locate the breaker that controls the dark area. Flip it all the way OFF and then firmly back ON. If it clicks and stays, that may solve it. If it immediately trips again, something’s still wrong.

Find and Reset Tripped GFCI Outlets

Press “Reset” on all GFCI outlets in bathrooms, the garage, the kitchen, and outside. Like we mentioned above, these outlets often control other rooms too. So, if one trips, it might kill power to several spots.

Replacing a Fuse (If Applicable)

If your home uses screw-in fuses instead of breakers, look for the one that’s dark or burned out. Turn off the main switch, and replace it with one of the same size and rating.

Test With a Multimeter or Plug-in Tester

If you’ve got a multimeter or outlet tester, this is the time to check voltage and confirm what’s truly dead vs. what’s just unplugged.

Notice Dimming or Flickering?

Dimming or flickering when half the house has no power could point to a loose neutral wire, especially if lights buzz, dim, or flash when major appliances kick on. This is not a DIY fix.

If the power’s still out, don’t keep flipping breakers and guessing. Our licensed electricians handle these problems across Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, and Georgia every day. We’ll find the real issue and fix it without guessing.

Prevent Partial Power Outages Before They Happen

You can reduce your chances of losing power in part of your home by preventing overloads, maintaining your electrical panel, and scheduling routine inspections. Most of the time, the problems we fix could’ve been avoided with a few smart habits and proactive upgrades.

• Don’t overload outlets: That “just one more” extension cord or multi-plug can overwork a circuit until it fails. Spread the load and don’t daisy-chain power strips.
• Use surge-protected power strips: They add plugs and protect your electronics from voltage spikes that could trip a breaker or worse. Win-win!
• Label your breaker box: When part of the house goes out, knowing what’s what cuts diagnosis time in half.
• Upgrade outdated panels or aluminum wiring: Old panels and wiring aren’t built for today’s loads. That makes them a common cause of partial power loss.
• Trim trees near utility lines: Especially if you’ve had flickering lights or weird appliance behavior after storms.
• Schedule an annual electrical inspection: A licensed electrician can catch electrical issues before they cause outages.

Lee Company+ Members get regular maintenance checks and priority service. Our customers are never left in the dark!

Southeast-Specific Risks for Partial Power Loss

Homes in Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, and Georgia face unique electrical stressors due to climate and infrastructure. That means when part of your house has no electricity, the root cause may be more common (and more preventable) than you think.

Heavy air conditioning use during brutal Southern summers puts constant strain on your circuits. We regularly see breakers trip just from too many major appliances running at once.

Humidity makes things worse, speeding up corrosion in older breaker boxes and weakening connections. If your home’s over 30 years old and still has its original wiring or panel, that’s a recipe for half-house outages.

Then there’s storm season. Falling tree limbs and lightning strikes frequently damage utility lines and transformers, especially in rural areas where lines are above ground.

If your lights flicker after storms or your breaker keeps tripping during heat waves, it’s worth scheduling an electrical inspection.  We’re local. We see this every day. We know what to do before it turns into a full-blown outage.

Get Your Power Back On With a Local Electrician

Partial power loss is a solvable issue, from a simple breaker reset to something deeper that needs a licensed electrician. And when safety’s on the line, there’s no shame in calling early.

We’ve been trusted by homeowners across the Southeast since 1944. We’re licensed, insured, and backed by 14,000+ five-star reviews to get the job done right.

Want even more peace of mind? Lee Company+ is our members-only home maintenance membership that includes special discounts, priority service, no emergency rates, and four professional visits per year, including a full-home electrical safety check.

Ready to stop guessing and get the lights back on? Request an appointment with us today!