What steps should I take if a section of my electrical service is malfunctioning?

Start by inspecting your GFCI outlets, typically found in areas like the kitchen, bathroom, and exterior where they might come in contact with water. If a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) has been tripped due to moisture or a ground fault, press the "RESET" button to restore it. Note that one GFCI protects the entire circuit, so a ground fault at any outlet will disconnect the whole circuit. If the problem persists, examine your main service panel to see if any sub breakers have tripped. Even if a breaker doesn't look tripped, switch it off and on again to be sure. Tripped breakers could indicate an overloaded circuit. To avoid overloading, distribute your electrical loads across different circuits, minimize the use of power strips, and switch off any unused loads.