Most homeowners know very little about their electrical system. While you don’t need to be a professional electrician to be a responsible homeowner, it helps to know a few basic things. For example, it’s good to know that a GFCI outlet, or ground-fault circuit interrupter outlet, can be reset when it trips. This video provides a good introduction to GFCI outlets as well as a simple demonstration of how to reset a tripped outlet.
GFCI outlets are designed to automatically trip under potentially dangerous circumstances—for instance, when a blow dryer is dropped into a tub. When this occurs, the reset button (the top button) is in while the test button is out. To reset the outlet, simply press the reset button and power should be restored to the outlet. If it isn’t, you should call a San Jose electrician.