Half My House Lost Power — What to Do (Partial Outage Guide)
When half your house has power and half doesn't, the problem is usually a tripped breaker, a lost phase from the utility, or a failed main breaker. Here's how to diagnose it.
This is one of the most disorienting electrical problems homeowners experience. Some rooms work fine; others are completely dead. Here's how to figure out what's happening.
How Your Home's Power Works
Your home receives two phases of 120-volt power from the utility. Combined, they provide 240 volts for large appliances (dryer, AC, range). Your breaker panel distributes these two phases across alternating breakers.
When half your house goes dark, it usually means one of those two phases has been interrupted.
Step 1: Check Your Breaker Panel
Go to your breaker panel and look for:
- A tripped breaker: It will be in the middle position (between ON and OFF). Push it fully to OFF, then back to ON.
- The main breaker: Check if it's fully in the ON position. If it looks partially tripped, turn it fully OFF, wait 10 seconds, then back ON.
If a breaker was tripped, monitor it. If it trips again, don't keep resetting — there's an underlying problem that needs diagnosis.
Step 2: Check Your Neighbors
If your breaker panel looks fine (nothing tripped), check with neighbors:
- Neighbors also have partial power? → The problem is with Evergy, not your home. A transformer or utility line has lost one phase. Call Evergy at 888-471-5275 to report.
- Neighbors have full power? → The problem is at your home — likely your meter, weatherhead, or main breaker.
Step 3: Look for a Utility Problem (Lost Phase)
A "lost phase" or "brownout" happens when one of the two utility legs feeding your home drops out. Signs:
- Exactly half your circuits are dead (alternating breakers in the panel)
- 240V appliances (AC, dryer, range) don't work at all or run very weakly
- Lights on working circuits may appear dimmer or brighter than normal
- Electronics may behave erratically
Important: A brownout can damage sensitive electronics and motors (including your HVAC compressor). If you suspect a lost phase, turn off your AC at the thermostat and unplug sensitive equipment until power is fully restored.
Step 4: Call for Help
If it's a utility problem: Call Evergy at 888-471-5275. They'll dispatch a crew to check the transformer and service lines.
If your panel looks fine and neighbors have full power: The problem may be a failed main breaker, a damaged meter socket, or a problem with the service entrance cable. Call a licensed electrician — this requires professional diagnosis.
If a breaker keeps tripping: Don't force it. There's a short circuit or ground fault on that circuit that needs to be found and fixed.
What NOT to Do
- Don't open your meter socket — it's utility property and contains live, unfused connections
- Don't keep resetting a breaker that trips repeatedly — the breaker is protecting you from something worse
- Don't ignore a partial outage that resolves on its own — a loose connection can cause intermittent partial outages and eventually start a fire
Call (913) 278-6049 for emergency electrical service or request an appointment online.
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