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[Laura14]

In my new place recently constructed and finished in August, my microwave stopped last night after a minute and my teapot turned off.   

I have flipped breakers and there is no outlet with a reset button which floors me that they didn't do that somewhere in the kitchen.  The outlets around it work which is good that at least it's not the refrigerator outlet that went.  

So frustrating that you have brand new and it breaks after three months.  We'll see what the contractor has to say for himself.  

[BirkiLady]

@Laura14  It's something simple. Happened to us in a new hotel in SF once. Took a couple of hours, but my husband finally figured it out . . . then felt really foolish because it was so simple. Now, I've completely forgotten what it was. Call the contractor. He'll tell you what to do. You'll laugh! Not a biggie. Good luck. 

[Laura14]

I hope so @BirkiLady.  I don't drink although I threaten to all the time.  I may be buying my first bottle in I can't even remember when.  Either that or I am going to run naked through Times Square while that ball drops to say bye bye to 2018.  All done with you!

[aroc3435]

@Laura14 Yes, it will likely turn out to be something simple.  The outlets are probably GFI type, which I think is now standard building code.  I'm no electrician, but I think the circuit breaker is right in the outlet.  It has something to do with safety for plugging things in near water--i.e. kitchens and bathrooms.  On the GFI type there is usually a red "reset" button you can push to restore power.  Seems weird you don't have that.

For other outlets sometimes flipping the toggle switches  for lights that also have plug in outlets sharing the same faceplate at the same site can kill the circuit on those. Toggling the switch the other way can restore your "juice" and this has happened to me when trying to charge my phone.

Also the relay on switches for up and down staircases can be flukey if they are not set up properly--not dangerous--just annoying.

If you search GFI there might be a simple tutorial video tha tmight help you resolve this.

Otherwise good luck with the contractor.  Bet you the electrician that did the work either wasn't that knowledgeable or took "shortcuts" that result in what you are experiencing.  I can hear your "Aaargh" now.

[Misplaced Parisian]

@Laura14 I vote for some bubbles...you need bubbles....champagne, bubble bath, etc.  Darling, you need bubbles!  Hang in there!  You've got this.

[Laura14]

@aroc3435  I thought so too!  This happened in the upstairs kitchen and I just pushed the reset button and voila!  Toaster works again.  

I did flip the lights and disposal on to see if they were still working and they were.  I'll try again when I go back home for lunch to see if I'm not toggling enough.  None of the dead outlets have a light switch attached to them.

And don't get me started on people not doing their job.  I work hard and do my best every day and when you're talking about basic necessities people rely on, you need to do better.  I'm half thinking about borrowing a shotgun and waiting for the contractor to come walking up the driveway on the porch.        

[Laura14]

@Misplaced Parisian  I need bubbly is right!  Either that or this electrician better be so good looking it was worth the aggravation to see him work.  

[Misplaced Parisian]

@Laura14 Oh la la, I hope he's super handsome!  Most of all I hope he is skilled and kind.  Smiles.  Keep us posted.  I hope you were able to make some tea (I think you said your tea pot stopped working).  I'd make you tea & snacks, but I'm a long ways from you.  Hope things are resolved very soon.

[Venezia]

@Laura14- This problem rings a very recent bell for me.  We've been in our house for 17 years now (built new).  Last month we had the same issue.  The circuit the microwave, toaster and teakettle were on flipped.  Went to the basement, switched the breaker on and off.  Nothing.

Couldn't see a reset outlet either, so I called our electrician (not the one who worked on the house) and he finally located the reset switch - at the other end of the kitchen area in the breakfast room, behind a small desk I have there!  He said it made no sense at all; he had to follow the wiring to locate it.

So in the near future, we're having him resite that, along with some other electrical work.

My point is, there is likely a reset outlet somewhere - just not where you might expect it to be!  (And I'll join you in that drink.)

[Eileen in Virginia]

Something like this happened in our (not new) kitchen recently. Four outlets in the kitchen are on the same circuit. The refrigerator and microwave are plugged into 2 of them. While making BLT’s one night, those 2 were in use, as well as one for the toaster oven, which I was using to make toast. Once DH turned on the electric tea kettle in the 4th GFI outlet by the sink, it overloaded the circuit and all 4 outlets died. Resetting the GFI outlet didn’t work, so we checked the circuit in  the electrical panel - still nothing. We called the electrician and got on his schedule for the next day. This is where it gets really embarrassing. The electrician said when DH was checking the circuit breaker, he didn’t push the button down hard enough (you have to hear it click), so he didn’t really reset it. How humiliating! As long as he was here, and to avoid totally wasting the “walk in the door fee”, we had him replace the microwave outlet, which had been acting up. 

When you talk to the person who built your home, ask which outlets share a circuit. There may be other rooms besides your kitchen where you have shared circuits with features that draw a lot of power when in use (like a nice spa-style bathroom). If they haven’t already done it, get them to label each circuit with its corresponding outlet/appliance. And remember, you haven’t reset it until you hear the circuit click!