Half the House Lost Power After a Storm: What Could Be Wrong?

If half the house lost power after a storm, there are a few different causes that could be at fault. While a GFCI or breaker issue is relatively easy to fix, panel damage, unsafe wiring, and utility-side issues require professional help. At Elkhorn Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical, we can help with electrical problems due to lightning, wet outdoor outlets, utility interruptions, and other issues.

Quick Answer: Why Only Half the House May Lose Power

When you have a partial power outage after a storm, you’re most likely dealing with one of the following issues. How you respond to an outage is going to depend on the reason why it happened.

• Tripped breaker
• GFCI/AFCI trip
• Damaged circuit
• Utility service leg problem
• Surge damage
• Panel issue
• Wet exterior device

Anytime only half the house loses power after a storm, you should always exercise caution because some of the potential causes can involve unsafe voltage, damaged wiring, and potential fire hazards.

Important Safety Note: For the safety of yourself and your home, you should never open the electrical panel or touch wet electrical equipment. If there is water near any electrical components, you should call for professional electrical services.

First Safety Checks Before Troubleshooting

Because of the dangers involved with electrical systems, there are a few safety checks you need to make before you can safely do any troubleshooting.

1. Check for burning odors or sparking.
2. Note any hot devices, warm outlets, or damaged outdoor wiring.
3. Look for visible water intrusion, but do not touch any wet electrical systems.
4. Stop and call for electrical service if any of the previous warning signs are present.

Depending on how these safety checks go, there are several additional steps you may need to perform. If your neighbors are also without power, report the outage to your utility provider. 

When you call for service, you should accurately describe the problem. Note any essential loads, medical devices, or refrigerators affected so that our team can understand the urgency involved.

Simple Causes Homeowners Can Check Safely

So, what do I do if half my house has no power? Once you’ve determined that your home is safe, you can use the following steps to troubleshoot. If these solutions do not work, you’ll need to reach out to our Comfort Specialists for a full electrical evaluation.

• Check your breaker panel for tripped breakers. If a breaker is sitting between the off and on position, you can reset it once. For repeated trips, call for repairs.
• When water is present near a GFCI outlet, it can shut off power to your bathroom, kitchen, garage, basement, or outdoor outlet. To avoid safety risks, moisture intrusion requires a professional inspection.
• An AFCI breaker may trip due to storm-related arcing or problems with the device. You can reset the breaker once. Schedule repairs if it keeps tripping.
• A plug-in surge protector or power strip may fail after a surge. After checking for damage, you can try resetting these devices.
• Moisture damage, downstream loads, and wiring errors can cause GFCI outlets and breakers to trip. If these issues are present, they’ll need to be addressed by an electrician.

While you can reset a breaker or outlet once, do not continue to reset it if it keeps tripping. Repeatedly tripped breakers and outlets likely have an underlying electrical problem that must be addressed before the circuit can be used again.

Storm-Related Electrical Problems That Need a Pro

While homeowners can perform basic troubleshooting on their own, more complicated issues should be handled by a professional. If some rooms have lost power after a thunderstorm and you experience any of the following issues, call our team right away.

• Utility Service Leg Problem: In a typical 120/240-volt residential service, each leg supplies approximately 120 volts. If one service leg is lost, circuits on that leg may lose power and 240-volt appliances may stop working properly.
• Panel or Breaker Issue: Any buzzing noises, corrosion, warmth, or repeated trips are signs that you should schedule a breaker panel inspection right away.
• Wet Outdoor Outlets, Exterior Lighting, GFCI Devices, or Damaged Wiring: Following wind-driven rain, there may be moisture inside your home’s electrical components. You should never try addressing electrical problems at all if there is any moisture involved.
• Surge Damage: After a power surge, your appliances, smart devices, garage doors, control boards, and HVAC equipment can become damaged.
• Loose Connections: Following power cycling and storm vibration, your electrical connections can become loose. 
• Damaged Meter Base, Mast, or Service Entrance: If branches fall or there is severe wind, these components can become damaged.

How To Describe the Problem When Calling Elkhorn

After a storm electrical problem in Denver, our team can provide same-day services. To make diagnosing your storm damage easier, make sure to relay the following information when you call us for help.

• Note which rooms or circuits are out.
• Pay attention to whether your lights are dim, flickering, or unusually bright.
• Tell us if your major appliances are working.
• Check to see if your breakers or GFCIs trip after you reset them once.
• Let us know if the issue started following lightning, hail, wind, heavy rain, or a utility outage.
• Immediately tell us if you notice any buzzing noises, burning odors, heat, or water present.

What Elkhorn Will Inspect

If half the house lost power after a storm, you need fast, reliable electrical services to detect and resolve the underlying problem. At Elkhorn, our Comfort Specialists can help by performing a thorough inspection. We’ll first check your electrical panel, affected outlets and switches, visible wiring, and outdoor devices for signs of an issue.

Our team will also inspect your breakers and GFCI/AFCI protection for signs of a problem. We’ll note any signs of surge-related damage and the best options for dealing with it. 

Sometimes, the problem is a meter-side issue. If this is the case, we will coordinate with the utility provider. 

Before we replace any parts, we’ll first identify the affected circuit or service issue. Then, we’ll carefully walk you through our recommended repairs. Our team provides upfront pricing, honest recommendations, and no hidden fees, so you can make a decision without any pressure. Plus, our same-day electrical services mean you can get a fast response when a breakdown occurs.

Prevention and Planning After the Repair

Once we’ve resolved your current issue, we can also discuss the best options for preventing similar problems in the future. For example, if you’re dealing with lights out in part of your house because of a power outage, a whole-home generator installation may be a good option. Our team can also help with panel maintenance, outdoor outlet covers, and installing appropriate GFCI and AFCI protection for applicable outlets and circuits. Plus, our whole-home surge protection can help protect your devices from surge-related damage.

Besides performing generator repairs or upgrading outlets, our team can help through routine inspections. Our Whole Home Comfort Plan includes a complimentary 25-point electrical inspection each year as well as priority services and a discount on repairs.

If a larger panel replacement, wiring upgrade, or generator installation is needed, our 100% no-interest financing can help. Budgeting for larger repairs can be challenging, which is why we offer multiple plans through our financing partner.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did only half my house lose power after a storm? 

This can occur due to a tripped breaker, damaged circuit, GFCI or AFCI trip, wet exterior devices, surge damage, or utility-side service problem. After inspecting your electrical panel for storm damage, our team can test your wiring and outlets to determine the source of the problem.

Should I reset the breaker if part of my house has no power? 

You should only reset your breaker once. Repeated trips are a sign of an underlying electrical problem that requires professional help. You should also call our team immediately if it feels hot, produces a buzzing sound, or creates a burning odor. Additionally, reach out for help if the problem won’t go away.

Can a storm cause partial power without tripping a breaker? 

Absolutely. If your breaker is not tripped but there is no power, you may be experiencing surge damage, a failed GFCI device, utility service issues, damaged wiring, or a loose connection.

When should I call the utility instead of an electrician? 

You should call the utility provider instead of an electrician if your service lines are down, neighbors are also affected, the meter or service mast appears damaged, or you think there is a utility-side outage. Our team can help if you have panel, breaker, wiring, outlet, or device problems.

Resolve Your Electrical Issues

If half the house lost power after a storm in Denver, Elkhorn Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical can inspect your outlets, breakers, panel, wiring, and circuits for issues and deliver same-day electrical service.

Our licensed electricians will carefully explain what electrical components are safe, what needs to be repaired, and when utility coordination is needed. Before any work begins, we’ll provide upfront pricing so that you know exactly what to expect.