My microwave, refrigerator and stove all stopped working at the same time. Why?

Question

Today, I was baking some chicken legs in my stove. When they were almost done, I took some mashed potatoes from the fridge and heated them up in a plastic bowl so that they would be done when the chicken was done.

However, while I was heating the potatoes, the microwave, stove, and fridge all turned off. I didn't see or hear anything strange, I just looked up and saw that the timers on my stove and oven were completely off (not blinking, totally off). When I went to check everything out, I found that the microwave had stopped heating the potatoes, the stove light had turned off, and the light i my fridge had turned off. All of these appliances are along the same wall of my apartment.

It's like somebody turned off the electricity, except the lights are still on in that part of the apartment and none of the other electric appliances in my apartment have stopped working. A/C, TV, fans etc all work.

What could have happened and how can I fix the problem? Should I call my landlord or maintenance guy?

Answer 1

look to see if you see a red and black button on one of your outlets. push the button and this will reset the electricity. one is usually in the bathroom or the kitchen.  if not its the breaker  

Answer 2

I would talk to the landlord.  He might know where the circuit breaker is if it is not inside the apartment.  Most apartments have the circuit breakers at the front building.  It's the landlord's responsibility to fix it.

Answer 3

check your breaker box for any blown circuits

Answer 4

It sounds like you tripped a circuit breaker or blew a fuse. if you have access to the basement or have a circuit breaker box in your apartment, go reset the breaker.  The big clue is that all are plugged in along the same wall. Now you know to hold off using the microwave until the other stuff is done, or move the microwave to another socket or wall. Ask one of the neighbors where the circuit breaker box is and yes you can call the landlord for advice.

Answer 5

Your kitchen outlets will all be on one or two circuits.

You had too much working at one time and the circuit 'tripped;.

Go to your electrical panel and find the breaker with it's handle out of place.

Turn it to 'Off' and then back to 'On'.

If there's a 'Reset" button press it.

That should solve you're problem.