Electrical Outlet Repair: Dead, Loose, Warm or Sparking Outlets
Red Electricians repairs and replaces outlets that are dead, loose, warm or sparking, and finds out why when more than one outlet is affected. Outlet repair starts from $39 (starting price; your cost may differ).
24/7
Emergency service
About 5 min
Callback after a form request
Licensed & insured
In every city we serve
Request a service
Tell us what you
see, hear or smell.
Tell us what the outlet does and whether others are affected. Then call, or send the form.
- A form request gets a callback in about 5 minutes
- Same-day service is possible in many cases
- We offer 24/7 emergency service
Call any time, 24/7
(213) 322-0128
Request a Service
Tell us the problem and we will call you back in about 5 minutes.
Prefer to talk? Call (213) 322-0128.
Overview
Is your outlet dead, loose, hot or sparking? Start here
Electrical outlet repair covers an outlet that does not work, one that will not hold a plug, one that feels warm and one that sparks. Outlet repair starts from $39, and we talk through the price on the call. You can read about every electrical service we offer or call (213) 322-0128 now.
Stop using an outlet that is burnt, hot or sparking, and do not keep resetting it. Switch off the circuit if you can do so safely, then call us. If there is smoke or fire, call 911. See our emergency electrician service for urgent problems.
What we do
Outlet problems we diagnose and fix
Every price in this section: starting price; your cost may differ.
Outlet not working, but the breaker is fine
We test the circuit and the device to find where power stops. A tripped GFCI somewhere else can be the cause, and callers often cannot find it.
Half of an outlet is dead
Some outlets are wired so one half is controlled by a wall switch. We check that before replacing anything.
A loose or worn outlet
A plug that slips out, or an outlet that moves in the wall, is usually worn contacts or a loose mounting.
A GFCI that will not reset
It may be overloaded, worn or wired wrongly. We find out which. Our guide to GFCI outlets has more.
A warm, scorched or sparking outlet
Heat and scorching need attention at once. See the safety note above.
An outdoor outlet cover that will not close
A cover that fits the plug you actually use, so the outlet stays protected.
A group of dead outlets
Several dead outlets in a room or on one side of the house point to a shared circuit. If a breaker keeps tripping, see circuit breaker repair.
If you simply need more outlets, that is a different job. See adding new outlets.
Pricing
What an outlet repair costs and what moves the price
How much does it cost to repair an outlet? Outlet repair starts from $39. The final price depends on what is wrong.
A worn device and a fault in the wiring behind it are different jobs, so we find the cause before we quote a final price.
Every price in this section: starting price; your cost may differ.
| Service | Starting price | What changes the final price | Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outlet repair | From $39 | A hidden wiring fault, GFCI or AFCI protection, how many outlets are affected, access, and a scorched box | Quoted on the call |
Decision guide
Repair the outlet, replace it, or look deeper?
| Repair or replace the device | Trace the circuit | Upgrade to GFCI protection | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Signs | The plug will not stay in, or one outlet is dead and everything else works | Several outlets are dead, or the outlet is warm or scorched | A wet-area outlet with no protection, or a GFCI that keeps tripping |
| What is done | The worn device is replaced with a listed one of the right rating | We find where the circuit breaks | Protection is added or the device is replaced |
| When it stops being outlet repair | It does not | Damaged wiring goes to wiring repair | Older homes may need an inspection |
Tightening the faceplate does not fix an outlet that no longer grips a plug. The internal contacts are worn, and the device has to be replaced.
The visit
How a repair visit runs, step by step
- Call us, or send the form. A form request gets a callback in about 5 minutes.
- Tell us what the outlet does, whether others are affected and whether a breaker trips.
- We agree a time. Same-day service is possible in many cases, and if not, it is usually the next day or within a few days.
- The electrician tests the circuit and the device and explains what was found.
- We discuss the price on the call and explain it before the work starts.
- The repair is done and tested, including plug grip, polarity and the load the outlet carries.
Field notes
Field notes: one-half-dead duplex, loose receptacle, exterior cover
A bedroom outlet had power on one half only, and the resident thought it was faulty. Before replacing it, we worked out that the room had a switched outlet by design, and tested the control. The break was in the switched connection. We corrected it and showed the resident how to tell a switched half from a permanent one with their own lamp. A matching replacement would not have restored the original arrangement.
A secure faceplate does not mean the receptacle contacts still grip a plug correctly.
Our electrician
Our electrician’s advice: describe whether the plug falls out or the whole outlet moves when you report a loose connection.
A loose receptacle near a cleaning cupboard
Plugs slipped out of a dining-room outlet and cut a vacuum cleaner off now and then. The faceplate was firmly fixed, but the contacts inside had worn. We replaced the receptacle with a rated, listed one and checked plug grip, polarity, grounding and the vacuum’s load. The relevant reference is NFPA 70 (NEC), 406.
An exterior outlet cover that would not close
The old cover could not close over the plug of the owner’s outdoor appliance. We fitted a listed cover that suited the installation and the plug, instead of cutting an improvised opening in the old one.
Availability
Outlet repair near me: coverage and scheduling
We repair outlets across our service area. See where we work for the full list. Same-day service is possible in many cases. If not, it is usually the next day or within a few days, and we do not promise a time before we hear about the job. Our call center is open 24/7.
Customer feedback
What homeowners and tenants say after a repair
We have no outlet-repair review to show here that we have not already used elsewhere, and we will not repeat one. The Google ratings of the three profiles above, as of Oct 8, 2026, are Pasadena 5.0 from 71 reviews, Sherman Oaks 4.9 from 52 and Topanga 5.0 from 69. Each belongs to its own profile. Read what our customers say.
Common questions
Outlet repair questions answered
Is a sparking or hot outlet an emergency?
Treat it as urgent. Stop using the outlet, do not keep resetting it, and call us. If there is smoke or fire, call 911. See our emergency electrician service.
Why is my outlet dead if the breaker is fine?
The outlet may be worn, a connection may be loose, or a GFCI elsewhere may have tripped. Our electrician tests to find out.
Why will my GFCI not reset?
It may be overloaded, worn out or wired wrongly. Our GFCI guide explains more.
Is there a fee to come out?
We give the price on the phone before you book. Free estimates apply only to panel upgrades, panel installation, breaker replacement and whole-house rewiring.
Can you fix several outlets in one visit?
Yes. Tell us how many are affected and where.
Do you work for renters, landlords and businesses?
Yes. Tell us who can approve the work and when we can get in. See our commercial electrical services.
Will you use outlets I have bought?
Ask us on the call. We would rather talk about the part before the visit.
Do you offer a warranty?
Red Electricians offers a standard warranty on its work. Ask your technician for the details when you call.
Get an outlet repaired
Tell us what the outlet does and whether others are affected. Then call, or send the form.