ELECTRICAL

WHY YOUR BREAKER KEEPS TRIPPING

03/15/2023

ELECTRICAL

WHY YOUR BREAKER KEEPS TRIPPING

03/15/2023

We’ve heard your frustrated voices, readers and callers! One of the common phone calls we get is “my circuit breaker keeps tripping. What do I do?” In today’s blog post, you’ll learn about some potential causes and what you can do to troubleshoot your problem. It’s tough to identify exactly what could be causing it without seeing your electrical system in person. You may have a simple fix or possibly a deep-rooted problem that needs professional expertise.

What Does a Circuit Breaker Do?

Your circuit breaker is a device that’s designed to control and protect the circuits that flow through your entire house. Every single device, appliance, and equipment is connected to your breaker which is located in your electrical panel. To clarify, if you’re frequently overloading your circuits, you’re going beyond the capacity that your breaker can handle.

Think of it this way: Remember the last time you drank too much coffee? Your body most likely started to jitter and your heart rate increased to uncomfortable levels. Quite possibly, your nervous system got overloaded by the amount of caffeine that was running sprints through your veins. Your circuit breaker is much like a human’s nervous system. The circuit breaker helps regulate all of the electricity that runs through your home.

Similarly, your circuit breaker can get overwhelmed by the number of devices and appliances that you have actively operating. In order to best protect you, it went into safe mode by tripping to reduce a possible house fire.

“My Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping! What Do I Do?”

First of all, manually reset your breaker by switching it off for about 10 seconds. Then switch it back on. If you’ve been experiencing consistent tripping, we suggest that you call an electrician to prevent a house fire!

Secondly, it’s beneficial to know what could be tripping your breaker.

Possible causes include:

Overloaded circuit: Too many devices, appliances, and equipment plugged in and turned on at the same time. You can try unplugging some unused devices or relocate your plugs to a different location.
Short circuit: You may have wires touching where they shouldn’t be. This can cause a surge of electricity which may result in a fire.
Faulty or loose wires: The best way to find the culprit, we highly advise you to contact your go-to electrician for assistance.
Ground fault: Nowadays, since GFCI breakers and outlets are affordable, this is the safest way to protect yourself and your home from electrical currents flowing improperly. Contact your electrician to have your outlets investigated for damaged wiring.

Contact an electrician to help you troubleshoot your electrical problems.

It can be dangerous for you and your home if you don’t have the expertise when examining wiring and circuit breakers.

Avoid Ignoring Your Persistent Problem

You may have a bigger problem on your hands. If your circuit is constantly overloaded and tripping, it may be that you need to upgrade your breaker completely to keep up with your electrical usage. Not to mention, when you continue to overwhelm your electrical systems, you may potentially cause a devastating house fire. Don’t ignore the problem!

Call High Mark's professional technicians to schedule your appointment for your your carbon monoxide maintenance and installations done today at 604-945-8060.

Wrap it up

In summary, remember that troubleshooting electrical wiring and circuits can be dangerous. If you notice that your breaker keeps tripping regularly, we highly suggest that you consult a professional for help to prevent injuries or a house fire. It may be a simple fix of moving your devices or unplugging them. But there’s also a possibility that you’re overloading your breaker beyond its capacity and require an upgrade. All-in-all, if manually resetting your breaker isn’t helping, it’s best to leave it to expert electricians to figure out what’s going on in your circuitry.