A blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker is a signal that you may have either a short circuit or an overload in the electrical system.

• Look for black smudge marks on switch or receptacle cover plates, or for frayed or damaged cords or damaged plugs on lamps and appliances connected to the dead circuit.
• Replace a damaged cord or plug.
• Then replace the fuse or reset the breaker.
• If the circuit goes dead after an appliance has been in use for a short time, you probably have an overloaded circuit.
• Move some of the lamps and appliances to another circuit and replace the fuse or reset the circuit breaker for the first circuit.