How do you check the plugs in a home?

Use a readily available plug tester. You can get these at Home Depot or Lowe's. The plug tester will tell you if the plug operates properly, or if something is wrong with the wiring. It will also tell you what is wrong with the wiring. I would recommend having any issues repaired by a professional electrician. IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB

SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY

REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS. If you do this work yourself, always turn off the power at the breaker box/fuse panel BEFORE you attempt to do any work AND always use an electrician's test meter having metal-tipped probes (not a simple proximity voltage indicator) to insure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.