I am in a severe state of PANIC here!! See, I moved into the third floor of my mother's house, where I now have my own furnished apartment over three years ago. So far, everything has been great. However, yesterday, I took a break from housecleaning to sit and have a cup of coffee and watch TV. So, I'm sitting on my sofa, watching TV, and I had my electric heater on because it got really cold. Several minutes later, I'm right in the middle of watching my show, when all of a sudden, the electricity goes out in my TV, my cable box, my heater, my stereo, my VCR, my coffeemaker....then in my toaster/oven, my phone chargers...and then I went out into my hallway and the hall light was out, my bathroom light's out...the only things I have electricity in are my fridge, my kitchen lights, my kitchen wall-phone and the light in the stairway leading up to my apartment. My mom's been away on a business trip and she can't get back until Wednesday, and I can't seem to get through to her. I don't want to do anything rash without her being around. So, I went to look in the fusebox and saw all the switches were switched on, but I know sometimes even if a switch is on, the breaker could still be off, or something...so, I didn't do anything. What's even worse...I can't seem to get through to my electrician. So, I am currently without television, DVD's, lights in the bathroom and hallway, heat, stereo and coffee....WAHHHH!!!!! :( However, I dread telling my mom when she comes back from her trip, or when I finally do get through to her, because she's having a really rough time at work (she's been supporting us since my father was killed in a car accident many years ago). So, I have NO IDEA what to do!! I'm LOST!!!!

unplug the heater, flip the main breaker off then back on again, then flip all the other breakers.

if it still won't go back on you've either got another sub-panel somewhere else or a wiring problem and you should call an electrician

unplug the heater, flip the main breaker off then back on again, then flip all the other breakers.

if it still won't go back on you've either got another sub-panel somewhere else or a wiring problem and you should call an electrician

I guess I'll just either have to wait until my mom gets back from her trip, or just keep trying to reach the electrician.

I guess I'll just either have to wait until my mom gets back from her trip, or just keep trying to reach the electrician.

Get an electrician because you need heat.

I've been trying to reach one, but I can't. And what I'm freaking out over is that if someone does come over here to fix the electricity, are they going to have to rip out my walls, or anything in my walls? I'm in the middle of some major cleaning in my apartment, not to mention I do not want anyone ripping into my walls.

I've been trying to reach one, but I can't. And what I'm freaking out over is that if someone does come over here to fix the electricity, are they going to have to rip out my walls, or anything in my walls? I'm in the middle of some major cleaning in my apartment, not to mention I do not want anyone ripping into my walls.
what's worse - someone putting a hole in your wall or a burnt or damaged wire causing your whole house to burn down?

it's more likely to be just a bad circuit breaker.

Woah! Hope you get things fixed soon.

Yeah, it just sounds like a case of a tripped breaker. Don't be scared to try it out! You HAVE to try for your sake, okay?

Okay...I talked to my mom, FINALLY, and she said to try fixing the breaker myself. I'll have to do it tomorrow.

You'll all be happy to know (well, at least I am anyway) that GOD BLESS MY MOTHER I have all the power back in my apartment!! WOOOOOOPIIIII!!!!!

You'll all be happy to know (well, at least I am anyway) that GOD BLESS MY MOTHER I have all the power back in my apartment!! WOOOOOOPIIIII!!!!!


Just don't plug that heater into the same outlet again. That's why the breaker tripped in the first place - the heater takes a LOT of power so it's overloading the circuit. If you really need it, try putting it on a circuit that doesn't have other large items in it (like the t.v., refridgerator, etc.). If it keeps tripping then your mom should get an electrician in to check it out. Don't worry - no walls will be ripped out for it.

Just don't plug that heater into the same outlet again. That's why the breaker tripped in the first place - the heater takes a LOT of power so it's overloading the circuit. If you really need it, try putting it on a circuit that doesn't have other large items in it (like the t.v., refridgerator, etc.). If it keeps tripping then your mom should get an electrician in to check it out. Don't worry - no walls will be ripped out for it.
That's what I was going to say. These guys are little, but DAMN! Holy power-sucking boxes, batman. It's why you should only use them when it's really freaking cold outside and the actual heater isn't helping.

And, yay for having electricity back. :)

Actually, it's an electric radiator that's been in the family since 1999. But, I won't be needing it anymore, because my mom just got me a new heater that doesn't plug in anywhere. Thanks to everyone.

I remember that blackout we had here in New York in 2003. I was 12, so I was pretty scared. It was hot as hell and I was without TV, or computer for a couple of days. No AC either. Thank god it was only a circuit-breaker, but in the future, don't wait too long to fix it.

I remember that blackout we had here in New York in 2003. I was 12, so I was pretty scared. It was hot as hell and I was without TV, or computer for a couple of days. No AC either. Thank god it was only a circuit-breaker, but in the future, don't wait too long to fix it.

Just be glad that happened in August and not the winter! I was without power for 2 full days!!! I remember having to "BBQ water" in order to have a cup of tea. You haven't lived until you've tasted BBQ'd tea! :lol:

I was living in the country then too and had no gas in the car. I was trapped all by myself (with just my pets).



Yah, and as Allison says, baseboard heaters are one of the biggest draws on electricity.

Unlucky :(