Why Does My Breaker Keep Tripping? 6 Causes and What To Do
A circuit breaker trips to protect you. When one keeps tripping, something downstream is wrong. Here are the six most common causes we find across North Carolina, in order of how often we see them.
1. Overloaded circuit
Too many devices on one circuit, common in kitchens, bathrooms and home offices. Fix: a dedicated circuit for the heavy appliance.
2. Short circuit
A hot wire touching neutral or ground, often in a damaged cord, a failing appliance or a chewed cable. Trips instantly with a loud snap. This is dangerous.
3. Ground fault
Current leaking to ground, frequently from moisture in outdoor or garage outlets. GFCI devices catch this. See GFCI installation.
4. Arc fault
AFCI breakers trip on arcing from loose connections or damaged wires, and sometimes nuisance-trip on certain motors. We test to tell the difference.
5. A failing breaker
Breakers wear out. If it trips with nothing plugged in or will not reset, it needs replacement.
6. A failing appliance
An aging AC compressor or fridge can draw too much current. Unplug suspects one at a time to isolate.
When to stop resetting and call
If the breaker trips immediately, feels hot, smells burnt, or you hear buzzing from the panel, stop and call an emergency electrician. For everything else, breaker tripping repair is a quick diagnostic visit in any city, from electrician in Durham to electrician in Hickory.
Call (888) 592-6466 and we will find the cause.