Why Is My Circuit Breaker Tripping: Explained

It can be extremely frustrating when the power randomly shuts off in your home. If your circuit breaker trips frequently, you could reset it every time, but you may prefer to fix the issue once and for all.

It’s essential to understand why your circuit breaker keeps tripping and the potential risks to determine whether there’s an easy fix or if you need a professional electrician. Frasier’s Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical explains why your circuit breaker trips and what you can do about it.

5 Reasons Your Circuit Breaker Is Tripping

There are many potential reasons why your circuit breaker trips. Some reasons are simple enough to deal with on your own, while others require an electrician to fix them safely. It’s important to remember that electricity can be very dangerous, so if you’re unsure, do the safe thing and call a professional.

Overloaded Circuit

The circuit breakers in your home serve as a safety measure. They will trip if there’s too much electrical current running through them. If your breaker doesn’t trip and shut off the power, an overloaded circuit can cause fires or electrocution.

Overloaded circuits usually happen when too much is plugged into a single circuit. Flickering or temporarily dim lights when you plug something in can be a warning sign that the circuit is overloaded.

Short Circuit

Short circuits occur when a hot wire touches a neutral wire, increasing the electrical flow and making the circuit much hotter than average. This excess heat causes the circuit breaker to trip to prevent damage to the electrical system & fires.

Short circuits can occur when you plug in specific appliances, so you must stop using this appliance as soon as you notice an issue. Warning signs include burning smells from the outlet or breaker & discoloration around the plug socket. Call a professional right away so they can locate & repair the short circuit.

Faulty Connections

Over time, the electrical components in your appliances and outlets can loosen or corrode. Using faulty fixtures can cause the circuit to overheat, causing the breaker to trip. This issue is hazardous and difficult to diagnose or fix yourself, so it’s best to call an electrician.

Ground-Fault Surges

This occurs when electricity travels to the ground in an expected way, causing the energy moving through your circuit to increase dramatically, tripping the circuit breaker. Ground-fault surges can be caused by water seeping inside an electrical box or outlet or worn-out wires/components. This issue is extremely dangerous and should be fixed by a professional immediately. Often, a professional must replace faulty wiring or components so the fixture is safe to use.

Worn-Out Circuit Breaker

A straightforward cause could be that your circuit breaker is at the end of its lifespan. Older circuit breakers are very sensitive and can trip for no apparent reason. An electrician can safely install a new circuit breaker to fix this issue.

What You Can Do About It as a Homeowner: Prevention Tips

As a homeowner, you can take steps to prevent your circuit breaker from tripping. These include:

• Be aware of how much you’re plugging into a single circuit
• Upgrade your electrical panel to be able to handle more power
• Get suspected electrical issues diagnosed and fixed by a professional right away
• Replace your old circuit breaker

When in doubt, always call a professional.

Schedule Circuit Breaker Repair With Frasier’s Today

Constantly tripped circuit breakers can be inconvenient, but if left unchecked, they can also be dangerous. Any time you work with electricity, there’s risk involved, so trying to DIY your circuit breaker isn’t a good idea. Turn to Frasier’s for expert circuit breaker repair services. Our electricians have the experience required to troubleshoot and fix any issues quickly and will ensure the job is done right.

Contact Frasier’s to learn about common electrical issues that could impact your circuit breaker.