Electrician Troubleshoot Bathroom & Bedroom Outlets Not Working

[@crowmac004]

I Stumbled across this video and want to let you know I enjoyed it very much. Thank You for posting, being thorough, and showing everyone how difficult it can be troubleshooting something that you know is going to be a simple fix once you find the problem. The difficult part is the hunt and tracing the route of the wire…you always start with what you think is the simplest solution first and then go from there. I’ve been an electrician for over 20 years and always try to avoid the attic or crawl spaces…unfortunately sometimes it can’t be avoided. But as your video showed once you identified the wire path you knew exactly where to go and as soon as you came down the ladder and seen the switch you knew…and I know exactly how you felt in that moment. So again kudos to you for showing how time consuming it can be. I’ll definitely subscribe and check out some of your other videos. Take care and Thanks Again!

[@unitedtradesmanacademy1894]

Crow thx for understanding the process of troubleshooting an sharing your opinion.

[@sparkys406coins3]

Thanks for sharing the real day to day struggles of a good service electrician! I was giggling throughout the video because... been there done that!! The old cliche...it's always the last place you look. Thinking to yourself.....Nah.... one outlet in the bedroom and half the bathroom isn't wired off a switch leg, nobody would do that. It's wired like a normal person would wire it! Gotta love homeowner specials! Be thankful that attic wasn't here in Montana... you would have 3 feet of blown in insulation to blind you from seeing those wires! Great job sticking with it and finding the issue.

[@jake5993]

Looks like a homeowner special! They say they didn’t touch it but it’s always the case. GFIs are wired backwards hooks backwards the whole 9 yards. Thank you for the video I love troubleshooting it really stretches your mind

[@unitedtradesmanacademy1894]

@ Jake thank you for the comment. Troubleshooting is a whole different animal.

[@k.hendrickson8735]

NO, a flipper’s special!! Us homeowners really do want well-constructed homes. Really we do. Real Estate flippers, however….🙄

[@mattb541]

Thanks for not editing out anything you're having issues with. Very helpful

[@mikejohnson7528]

Please keep making trouble shooting videos. You are a master at your craft. And many of us need to learn from your experience. Thank you.

[@Eddy63]

Troubleshooting is an art and you are an artist ... Thx for letting us crawl in the attic with you ...

[@unitedtradesmanacademy1894]

Thank you Eddy!! Much appreciated

[@taylerjohnson2340]

This made my day!! Such a detailed and informative video! I was able to troubleshoot the source of 3 inoperable receptacles because of this. Thank you!

[@unitedtradesmanacademy1894]

Welcome 🙏

[@JillofAllTrades2]

I'm about to head up into the attic to do some troubleshooting, that's how I ended up watching your video. Too many hacks, I mean hands, in the mix. It's a ROYAL MESS. Thanks very much for the great work!

[@unitedtradesmanacademy1894]

Glad I could help!

[@MichaelSmith-fi8ni]

I used to work as a cable technician (contractor for Comcast) and you took me back to the service call days 😂 , tracing live and dead TV and phone cables and fishing new ones through the walls... good job!

[@joeyAPB]

As a young man coming out of trade school into the field i truly relax watching videos like this. It feels like im cheating compared to electricians who came before me

[@rexconway2317]

I just found your you tube videos, me and my wife are going crazy we have a breaker that won't reset, I've done each outlet by taking all the wires off and testing the breaker with no success, I have watched your videos over and over, you are an artist,if you have any suggestions I would really appreciate it, have a great day.

[@unitedtradesmanacademy1894]

Have you tried a new breaker? Is it a GFCI BREAKER?

[@rexconway2317]

@@unitedtradesmanacademy1894 Thanks for replying,yes I put in a new breaker and it is doing the same thing, I was just wondering if it is sparkling in the panel box will it also spark where it is shorting out at, I wish you lived in Georgia.

[@mxslick50]

@@rexconway2317 (Yes I know this is a year old, but for everyone else who reads this comment thread this is important.) QUIT RESETTING THE BREAKER!! You are in over your head and need a professional electrician. You have a shorted wire somewhere in the attic or walls and if you keep resetting the breaker you WILL start a fire. (Oh, and if you've reset the new breaker into a short more than three or four times you have ruined the contacts.) I had a situation at a friend's house with this exact problem, and when I opened the wall to replace the damaged wire run there was a very large burn mark where the wire had shorted (at a too tight staple) and it was obvious it had gone up in flames at one time. Luckily the fiberglass insulation prevented it from spreading.

[@ltwadley7619]

Great video. I loved the POV perspective. It felt like I was working alongside with you and you were my JW teaching me. You just earned yourself a new subscriber. I look forward to more of your videos.

[@unitedtradesmanacademy1894]

Thank you

[@nalbantlamb9935]

Loved how genuine this video is, troubleshooting is excellent. Thank you.

[@dubled2765]

Wow man, you are a hard working dude! I really relate to the 'never quit' mindset you operate with. Conditions maybe could have been worse, but not by much. I hope people can find this video as it was informative, but actually really entertaining. I found myself routing for you to succeed! Please keep making videos!!

[@unitedtradesmanacademy1894]

I will thank you for the comment. it mean alot to me!

[@thomasgregory8941]

Good

[@TERRI4REAL]

Man! I love your drive and passion for what you do

[@johnnynewburgh9745]

Great video I just experienced a similiar issue a month ago. 2 recepticles not working on a branch circuit . I had known 1 of them was on the bathroom circuit with gfci because in past when gfci tripped no power to outlet. The one outlet not working only had 1 wire coming in so i knew it was end of circuit then bathroom with gfci had to be start of circuit. So from there traced power and found outside outlet on deck was on ciruit. Ended up being push in connection on that outlet corroded and loose not making connection feeding 2 outlets with no power. I used a wire tracer tracking down the lines it helped out alot and it was interesting and I learned quite a bit

[@jeffster7]

I can add a few TIPS for outlets NOT WORKING: 1) Make sure you don't have a GFIC outlet between your dead outlet, and your breaker box! Happened to me in garage, could not find the outlet with the GFCI had tripped. 2) Make sure the breaker for the circuit is OFF every time (this video does not check all outlets after turning off breaker, one could still be hot!). 3) GET A TONE GENERATOR that plugs into the dead outlet ($15 Harbor Freight). Follow the tone thru the wall with the wireless signal receiver, and walk the wire thru the wall until you find where it is going inside the wall. This will show you several things: A) where power is coming from and how it reaches the outlet from the fusebox. B) Where power is going to after it reaches the dead outlet, if anywhere. C) It will take you to the source of power, and thus the source of your problem. This is a much more simple way to test continuity. When a signal is no longer found, you are close to your break in continuity.

[@jayvalentin018]

A year late but 10:20 is literally me when I am diagnosing electrical issues on cars (I just transferred over to electrician) luckily the owner wasn’t there for you but when they were for me, They give u like that look like….. “this mf does not know what he’s doing” or the “you sure u got this look?” 😂 and u feel so pressured cause dawg….. THAT SHIT SHOULDA WORKED ! But the clients just don’t understand. (I do mobile mechanic work which is why sometimes they are there) Such a relatable moment that is probably overlooked lol and the response “okay….hmm” and u just stare at it going thru ideas in your head 😂😂 what a great video

[@xajabz1176]

I love this man thank you so much every other video is just a vlog or talking hypothetically this is amazing one by one explaining your thinking process thanks again

[@sjpropertyservices3987]

Would a circuit finder like the Klein ET310 help with diagnosing what circut a receptacle or switch is on? I am not an electrician, but I have found the tool helpful in identyfying which circuit a recetacle or switch is on which can help with diagnosis.

[@unitedtradesmanacademy1894]

Additional tools help.

[@1brownss]

So that switch controls the bathroom area

[@lechzekjacobs2752]

So...were the plugs fed from the switched line of the lights? Wonder how long they've had it wired like that and/ or why they've only noticed now...

[@jamesloyd-wm3mk]

So the plugs and the switches were tied into the switch so when you turn the switch on it all came on?

[@tomaridance]

From an amatuer electrician, Thanks great work and instructional video, this is down and dirty electrical skill on the move, your a talent. I want MORE VIDEOS from Steven!

[@daleashlaw4080]

Great job

[@brohambroham8298]

I am having to troubleshoot at the moment and this was great help. Thanks bud.

[@carlomiranda3799]

Wow! That was a handyman install lol, tapped the switch leg.

[@venturalopez81]

Love the videos bro . Keep rolling them in . Very good knowledge

[@WiliamBennettwildarbennett]

I too recently had this headache in an 1980's dbl wide mobile home took me better part of a hour to determine that a neutral wire was broken off at a receptacle. When you probed it 120 v but plugged anything in and noting and it was the common feom the breaker so it would work whenever it wanted to.😂 Love you content

[@unitedtradesmanacademy1894]

Thank you William

[@bradley9212]

Are you going to separate the switch from the outlets so they dont have to turn the fan on just to have power to the outlets?

[@samanthawhite245]

Good work good work my guy 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 neva gave up kept searching for the solution

[@frednepa9690]

I enjoyed the video. You did a good job walking us through your process. You found the problem with the switch being turned off and stopped there. Did you rewire or eliminate the switch?

[@RidgebackEstates]

Subscribed. Based on the camera angle and how fast he was going… Pro!

[@wessleyrosser3968]

Sparky here from Wales UK , nice vids keep them coming enjoying watching them 👍

[@unitedtradesmanacademy1894]

Wessley so glad to have you watching from the UK.

[@elijahhavemercy2719]

Did u tie the hot and neutral together from the same wire or the hot from the power in and the neutral from the traveler.

[@plain-train2512]

This is why I pigtail outlets. Isolate the defective plug if an issue arises.

[@oddjobz9858]

I only pig tail don’t give a flip how long it takes only doing quality work. No stab garage or hack work quick stuff. Time value quality triangle only two sides one can pick as a consumer

[@everythinghomerepair1747]

There’s nothing that says your wire nut won’t fail and cause the exact same problem as if the outlet was wired feed through. I’ve seen it happen, they did it “right” by using pigtails and screw terminals but the system failed and they all had to be redone because of sloppy workmanship. It was redone without the pigtails and tight connections to the screws that will never fail. That’s all that really matters in the end the workmanship. Even backstabs will last 30-40 plus years if done correctly.

[@JillofAllTrades2]

@@everythinghomerepair1747CANNOT STAND wire nuts. Wago lever nuts ONLY for me.

[@MrCbell57]

@@JillofAllTrades2every Buildimg in the world uses wire nuts. For over 100 years and going strong. 312,887,655,000!!!!

[@anthonyesposito7]

​@everythinghomerepair1747 pigtailing will always be superior. But as you stated you have to know how to make proper connections before you even put a wire nut on which is really just there to cover the connection and that's it, a soild connection will not come apart or burn up. But also pigtailing is better mostly because you don't want every device in the circuit to be carrying load even when it's not being used.

[@miguelcarbajal5333]

When you check for continuity do you flip the braker off?

[@unitedtradesmanacademy1894]

Yes

[@beverlyheinritz5294]

Your video is real world. I have watched videos before where they wired up circuits on a board in the shop and tell you how to trace them out. You showed it down and dirty. This is how to trace out a circuit! My house is wired very strange. I have no gfi’s in the upstairs kitchen and 3 in the downstairs kitchen. I am currently trying to trace the circuit that feeds the fridge and microwave upstairs.

[@rachelsingleton2023]

What's the cable tracer tool you used that made the sound?

[@unitedtradesmanacademy1894]

no touch tester

[@GolayaPravda]

Great video, just wanted to know what would be a solution for this type of problem?

[@CryptoiNNERG]

What camera and mount are you using for this first person view

[@unitedtradesmanacademy1894]

@@CryptoiNNERG GoPro10

[@jaaqess2525]

Anyone wanna talk about that hole in the ceiling? Or the insulation not getting full coverage? How old is this house???

[@Journeyman1642]

Is that the TP XXL bag? I got the same one!

[@rodgerrabbit2955]

Shit broke. Lol...... when he came down the ladder, priceless.....

[@bravo3541]

So the ceiling fan switch was also powering the bathroom outlets when turned on?

[@FreeAmerican-mm2my]

yes

[@nhitc6832]

Yes. That's why connecting an outlet to a switch so you can turn it on or off with the switch is a stupid idea.

[@k.hendrickson8735]

@nhitc… No, that is not stupid at all to have ONE outlet that works from a switch across the room… It’s nice to be able to enter a dark room and flick on a lamp way across the room. But to have EVERY darn outlet and switch on the bedroom wall switch?? LOL, that’s Jerry-rigged all the way and seems dangerous also.

[@billhandymanbill2775]

You mentioned aluminum wire was used so be very careful hooking up other wires and fixtures. 2 thumbs up for your determined hunting to find the problem. Looks like the bedroom outlet had weak holding power to keep the meter probes connected. No staples on the Romex in the attic. All in all, looks like original work was done by a weekend homeowner and not to code.

[@realSamAndrew]

So the dead outlet was working all along? Just flip the light switch to power the outlet?

[@KrisKYL]

Pretty much

[@nhitc6832]

Yes. That's why im against the idea if controlling an outlet with a switch.

[@realSamAndrew]

@@nhitc6832 why are you against it?

[@nhitc6832]

You might have a different opinion than mine but the intended purpose of a wall outlet, is to always have power all the time (provided that the circuit breaker that feeds it is on). No one should ever plug something in a wall outlet and have to check if that outlet is on/off via a switch somewhere. That to me beats the purpose of a wall outlet. Now I'm not completely against controlling a wall outlet with a switch if that wall outlet has its own NEC code compliance. E.g, maybe different color, different shape, or maybe a stamped mark on it. Something that tells you oh... this outlet can be turned on/off by a switch.

[@realSamAndrew]

@@nhitc6832 I agree with you that it would be a good idea to have a different color or some marking that indicates it is a switched outlet. But these things are or at least WERE very common as people would plug in a switched table or floor lamp and leave it on at the lamp and switch the light on at the wall switch. This was common in some homes that had no permanent light fixtures installed when new in certain rooms, like a living room.

[@k.hendrickson8735]

OK. So WHAT is the solution to fix this problem once it’s determined that FaR too many rooms were run on on one hot wire… How will he make it copacetic? I feel like I just saw one of those darn movies with the sudden ending and nothing was resolved.

[@RichardRomagnoli-es6ti]

This video was extremely helpful. I was able to pin point my short using this same process of elimination. Thank you for posting.

[@bennoyes6395]

Very informative content!

[@bennoyes6395]

@Ian?

[@idunne1000]

yep

[@louisgholston2116]

Thanks this was very helpful, I think you identified my problem

[@reemwill8763]

So how did u fix tge problem?

[@realscreen7735]

Why did you take out the switch in order to do the continuity test. Would it not be the same if you just turned on the switch to see if the receptacle in the bedroom is connected to the others in the washroom?

[@boeing757pilot]

Unless there is a switch failure..

[@Pasangsherpa2254]

May I know which multimeter r u using

[@SavedByFaithInJesus]

21:05 FIELDPIECE SC460

[@nickfish4385]

Came across your channel and find it educating. I am having a issue of a 3 phase power outlet not showing power unless put its circuit breaker to off and put it on again. buy next day same thing appears and had to do the same to have power from the socket. wondering what is the reason for such strange thing? Thanks a great deal!

[@davidfisher5045]

What about light circuits?

[@arealmaintenanceandrepairl1103]

You need to get the Klein 450 tracer I just got it and you would find trace this down apt faster with out going into the attic and removing all the switches you get better idea of what’s all connected with or without power good investment

[@peterkoval]

nice POV. do you have that strapped to your head?

[@mattcapp3431]

Awesome video! I love troubleshooting!

[@unitedtradesmanacademy1894]

Thank you

[@BrewCityRider]

Enjoyed watching you troubleshoot this, but I dont get what the fix was. Why were those outlets dead? Surely you don't have to turn on that fan for all the outlets to work.

[@TheCompton1963]

Great job sparky!! ⚡️💯⚡️

[@unitedtradesmanacademy1894]

Thank you

[@6BlackWings]

Do those gloves protect you from being shocked or do you wear them just for cut protection?

[@unitedtradesmanacademy1894]

cut protection

[@JKMDR]

So what was the problem ? The outlets don’t work with the switch off ?

[@vincenttullo1383]

Great video. Thanks for sharing. What was the resolution? Did you bypass the wall switch?

[@scytheblade7151]

Soooo what was the issue? And what fixed it? Powers out in my room and part of kids room and i dont kno what or how u fixed anything. Im assuming you swapped out the light switch the black wire was feeding?

[@lilchrisdonahuejr]

So where's part 2 where you actually fix the problem?

[@AlabanzasyAdoración7]

Didn't understand at the end where the problem was. You did not show it.

[@unitedtradesmanacademy1894]

Problem was outside electric gate motor shorted to ground

[@KevinWta]

​@unitedtradesmanacademy1894 I think you're talking about another job. It looks like the outlets that weren't working in the bedroom and the bathroom were wired into the switch for the fan in the bedroom.

[@michellewelch6013]

This is real helpful but I’m too ignorant of electrical systems to follow. Any suggestions for a simple to grasp beginner electrical course or book?

[@boeing757pilot]

I read a book called "Electrical Wiring, Residential." Can't remember the author. But, check the appropriate section at your local library. I've seen many electrical wiring books.

[@paulwicks254]

Gotta agree with alot of comments here. That's y I seperate outlets from lights for power n each rm on its own breaker it may be easier n quicker to pull power from closest source but in long run becomes a headache like this btw aluminum wiring is so dangerous n the bathroom vanity is supposed to have gfi. Not sure where u r but where I am that's not allowed be safe

[@k.hendrickson8735]

@paulwicks254 So in a nutshell, that wiring is FUBAR and was done entirely wrong in the first place?

[@19ADC67]

I admire your patience!! Great video…

[@MrCajjones]

I have a similar problem, open hot, can't find it.

[@Gage-z5j]

Keep doing the job right I'm gonna grow up to be a electrician

[@thekinginthenorth989]

Awesome job troubleshooting!

[@irenovatedmv]

Good job, Bro! Good job! 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💯💯💯

[@emmnlsrz115]

Why is there a toilet in a bedroom?????

[@unitedtradesmanacademy1894]

LOL they remodeling!!!!!!

[@k.hendrickson8735]

It’s painfully clear that that is a wee little house, old also, and probably had only one tiny bath and somewhere along its lifespan, some flipper - or owner, or worse: a landlord, “improved” it by adding another “Full bath” - notice how freaking small the bedroom was?? They turned part of it into a (lol) 2nd bathroom, but just couldn’t fit the crapper anywhere else due to the double sinks. People trying to squeeze maximum $$$$ out of a property in either rent or resale are a POX upon home safety and ultimate value… They devalue buildings faster than rats. It’s sad. I worked in RE, and knew Flippers who didn’t have real jobs, they just bought, and flipped used homes. They knew ZIP about actual building, or quality, or health & safety codes. Nor did they care one iota. The sad thing is - there’s tons of homes like this - and they are never fixed right.

[@stephenacman3244]

Nice work!!!! well done.

[@gregfisher216]

Do the outlets in bedroom work now ?

[@unitedtradesmanacademy1894]

Greg yes they are working fine

[@jasonlawson9561]

Wait, im confused. He just had to turn on the light switch?

[@rtsa1982]

So u find the issue but u not show us how u fix it I hope u show us complete Vedic next time , all in all I love ur explanation and ur films 🎥

[@mikeheller1225]

I'd get rid of the multiple wires coming to the receptacle, and put in a pigtail -- that isolates the device from around-the-room continuity, and makes it easy to replace the device in the future. This is a mess.

[@normac5465]

A Professional 👏👏👏

[@cassanovamousollini]

👍 I got 5 dead outlets right now that I'm trying to trace the source of the issue. thanks playa!

[@unitedtradesmanacademy1894]

Welcome

[@dante9564]

Holmes you cracked the case🤣🤣. Great stuff as always.

[@unitedtradesmanacademy1894]

Cracked

[@markie698]

they do have the toilet in the bed room so ain't no telling whats going on in that place lol

[@JohnDoe-qq8et]

Plug tester?

[@bmeekma123]

Good video! Learned a lot!

[@vince6829]

So did the original outlet that was dead in the bedroom get “juice” once you turned on the switch? I know the bathroom outlets did. Love troubleshooting videos. Thanks for sharing.

[@Sotober]

So what was the solution to the problem? They have to keep their light and fan on to use those outlets and switches?

[@RaymondAndrews55]

I've learned to keep a piece of thhn about 25ft long in the bag with my meter and have also bought leads that clamps screw on to (amazon) using those 2 items in situations like this make life a lot easier.

[@SuperSolo0621]

Man these people need to clean their damn house lol

[@unitedtradesmanacademy1894]

Lol

[@k.hendrickson8735]

I’m pretty sure it’s a real estate flip.

[@jokescity3985]

Dang carpet spikes still on the borders. Just a bunch of nails sticking up. Super safe

[@Loudes012]

And you need to clean your car. The trunk is dirty my guy!

[@backdraftmagnet]

I head the duct leaking.

[@EverRamirez-i7o]

Half how!? From the bathroom

[@larryholland1466]

Good job young man

[@raybenitez9699]

Wow! This whole place is should be a full gut.

[@Cern2024AR]

So is it going to have to be rewired ?

[@unitedtradesmanacademy1894]

No Rewire, just put the outlets in the restroom on the same circuit as the other bathroom outlets.

[@Cern2024AR]

@@unitedtradesmanacademy1894 how do you do that ?

[@rookieandvintagegraded6641]

@@Cern2024AR my guess would be disconnecting the wire from the restroom to the outlet in the bedroom but idk what source would you bring from the bathroom. Unless you run a new circuit breaker for that bathroom but he said he didn’t do that

[@frillyfidomaxwellpressley366]

@@Cern2024AR circuit from the other bathroom is going into the attic in my mind he cut the line in the other bathroom added a j box and wired the bathroom circuit up to that j box... ( were talking about that wire that came out the ceiling fan )

[@ox3289]

YOUR SUPPOSED TO TURN OFF YOUR BREAKER FIRST BEFORE TAKING OFF COVER'S

[@desi579]

I love these trouble shooting videos . So interesting. Thanks

[@lamartravis1]

The code for the dedicated outlet in the bathroom didn't happen until the mid 2000's. In older houses and apartment they are on the same circuit as the bedrooms. Aluminum wire, that' definitely the 60's.

[@tjmooney4181]

Thanks 👍

[@eliasmartinez8498]

muy buen video, good video

[@k.hendrickson8735]

I’m saying it’s time for you to get one of those re-charging electric screwdrivers.