So, why do sockets stop working?

Sockets can stop working for a number of reasons, including:

• Overloaded sockets- plugging too many things into one extension cord can overload the socket. This could make your socket stop working completely, but often it will cause the socket to noticeably heat up first. If your socket stopped working instantly, this might not be the problem for your circumstances.
• Short circuits- short circuits can be a common reason for socket failure. If you can hear sparks or a hissing sound from the socket, this may your problem. This occurs from wear and tear over time, which erodes the important wire insulation, allowing electricity to escape and short.
• Faulty appliance- sometimes plugging a faulty appliance into the socket can appear to have broken your socket completely. But usually this will just trigger a circuit breaker. Unplugging the item and then flicking the circuit breaker switch that has been effected should allow power to flow back through the socket.
• Loose connections or a break in the wire- if your socket has stopped working and the circuit breaker hasn't been tripped, this could indicate that power from the circuit board isn’t reaching the socket at all. Instead it may be shorting past due to a break in the wire, or it may not reach the socket due to a loose connection.