Half the House Lost Power
When half the house loses power, the cause may be a utility leg issue, a main panel or service problem, or a failed main breaker or service connection.
Quick summary
Losing power to half the house is usually more serious than losing one room or one outlet. It can point to a utility supply problem or a service issue inside the home. If lights seem unusually bright or dim, or appliances start acting strange, treat it as a condition that deserves quick professional attention.
Common causes
One utility leg may be down or unstable.
There may be a problem in the main panel or service equipment.
A main breaker or service connection may have failed.
A dangerous partial outage condition may be affecting only part of the home.
A loose service or main connection may be causing unstable voltage.
Safe checks homeowners can do
Check whether neighbors also seem to have power problems, which can point to a utility issue.
Check the main breaker area only visually and reset a branch breaker only if one is clearly tripped.
Notice whether some 120V circuits work while others do not.
Pay attention to lights that look much brighter or dimmer than normal.
When to stop and call an electrician
- Stop immediately if lights are unusually bright or dim, appliances behave strangely, or the outage affects large sections of the home.
- Do not open the electrical panel beyond resetting a breaker, and do not work on live wiring.
- Call the utility or a licensed electrician right away if the outage is widespread or appears tied to the main service.