You ever have one of those days where you feel like the apartment electrician with how many times you’re running back and forth to the breaker box? Your circuit keeps tripping and you’re losing power every hour. After resetting it for the fourth time, you can’t help wondering – is this just an annoyance or could it be something more serious?
Look, we all deal with a tripped breaker now and then. It happens when you have too many devices plugged into the same circuit or if there’s a wiring issue somewhere. But when it keeps happening over and over, that could potentially be your home trying to tell you there’s a fire or shock hazard that needs addressing.
That’s why we wanted to take a closer look at this issue. In this post, we’re going to explore whether a circuit breaker that won’t stay reset is just a minor inconvenience or a sign of bigger electrical problems brewing. We’ll cover some of the most common reasons it can happen – like overloaded outlets, faulty appliances, aluminum wiring if you’ve got an older home, you name it.
More importantly, we’ll share some tips on troubleshooting it yourself to try to identify the culprit and whether it’s reached the point of needing an electrician to make sure it doesn’t turn into a safety hazard down the line.
So if you’re sick of feeling like you’re living in a 1920s Brooklyn tenement with how often you’re having to reset that breaker, keep reading! By the end you’ll know whether it’s something to stress over or just a temporary headache.
Understanding How Circuit Breakers Work
Okay, let’s talk about how circuit breakers actually work. Once you wrap your head around how they basically work, it becomes way easier to troubleshoot why yours won’t stop acting up.
The main job of a circuit breaker is to be like a safety guard for your home’s electrical system. It monitors the flow of electricity humming through the wiring. The breaker will automatically kick off and kill power to that circuit if it senses a problem, like an overload situation. This shut-off move prevents the wires from overheating and potentially causing an electrical fire or shock hazard.
So when one of these breakers trips, it’s actually doing its job – cutting things off before a dangerous situation can happen. It’s reacting because it senses a problem.
Here’s the thing though – the breaker cutting power is meant to be a one-and-done protective measure, not a constant looping nightmare. Once you’ve fixed whatever overload issue was happening, you’re supposed to just reset the breaker switch and have power restored. But if it keeps tripping right away, that tells you there’s an underlying issue that needs to be found and fixed before you risk something way worse happening.
With a basic understanding of how these safety switches are designed to operate, you’re better equipped to start getting to the bottom of why yours is being such a stubborn little jerk. Next up, we’ll go over some of the most common reasons breakers trip frequently and how to sniff out those culprits yourself.
The Top Reasons Your Circuit Breaker Won’t Stop Tripping
Okay, now that we’ve gone over how these circuit breaker things are supposed to work, let’s talk about some of the top reasons they might be tripping over and over again, driving you up the wall.
Too Many Things Plugged In
This is probably the number one issue. Having too many high-wattage appliances or electronics all plugged into the same circuit draws more power than the wiring can handle safely. The breaker detects this overload situation and cuts power before the wires potentially overheat and start an electrical fire.
You know when you’re in a hurry and run the microwave, toaster oven, and coffee maker all on the same kitchen circuit at the same time? Or when you’re charging all your devices in one outlet strip while watching TV and using your blow-dryer?
Wiring Issues
A short circuit is caused by a break or fault in the wiring that causes the electrical current to “short out” and travel along an unintended path. This excessive uncontrolled flow of electricity overloads the circuit, and the breaker trips as a protective measure. If a wiring issue like this is the problem, then you will probably notice a burnt, acrid smell coming from outlets or see some discoloration.
Ground Faults
A ground fault means the electric current is escaping the circuit entirely and traveling along an unintended grounding path, like through metal pipes or appliance casings. Breakers are designed to kill power immediately if they detect this happening. Ground faults usually happen in kitchens, bathrooms, or any area with a lot of plumbing and grounded metal fixtures/appliances.
Faulty Appliances
Sometimes, a malfunctioning appliance is the cause of a short circuit or grounding issue. The appliance could have faulty internal wiring or a frayed cord. So, you should keep an eye out for a particular device (like the AC unit or computer for example) that consistently causes the breaker to trip when it kicks on. Most likely, you will need to unplug or replace that appliance.
Old Wiring
This one tends to be more common in older homes with outdated or deteriorating wiring that just can’t handle modern electrical loads safely anymore. Wires also age over time and their insulation can break down. This becomes a legitimate fire hazard if they start overheating from too much current flow. Your breakers will keep tripping as a safeguard until that old wiring gets repaired or replaced.
So those are some of the top culprits that might be causing your breaker to keep tripping constantly. Figuring out which specific issue you’re dealing with is the first step to getting that circuit back in safe working order.
Is a Tripping Circuit Breaker Dangerous?
We already talked about some of the main culprits behind circuit breakers that keep tripping. But should you actually be stressing over it from a safety point of view?
Let’s look at the potential risks, both immediate dangers and longer-term issues.
Immediate Safety Hazards
Fire Risks – If that breaker is tripping frequently and you ignore it, you could potentially cause an electrical fire. Most electrical fires are caused by old or loose wires that causes shorts, or having way too many devices hogging power on one circuit, leading to dangerous heat buildup.
Shock Hazards – Those repeated trips might also be a sign of exposed wiring somewhere that you or a kid could accidentally touch, putting you at serious risk of getting zapped. Not fun. Even a minor shock can cause burns, muscle contractions that make you unable to let go of the wire, or throw you across the room in more severe cases. Shocks can also lead to falling injuries if they cause you to lose your balance. More serious electrical shocks can disrupt the heart’s rhythm or stop it entirely, potentially leading to cardiac arrest.
Long-Term Fallout
Wiring Damage – Even if the initial problem doesn’t instantly start a fire, that never-ending heating and cooling cycle from the breaker tripping and resetting can slowly but surely degrade wiring insulation over years. This increases the likelihood of shorts or wiring failures down the road.
Breaker Burnout – And it’s not just the wiring taking a beating. All that physical stress and wear-and-tear of repeatedly tripping and resetting can ultimately cause the breaker’s internal components to burn out or fail entirely, leaving those circuits unprotected.
The bottom line? Brushing off recurring trips is just asking for potential fire hazards, shock dangers, or overall system damage later on. It’s better to be proactive and get to the root cause sooner rather than later.
Dealing With That Constantly Tripping Breaker
Tired of a constantly tripping circuit? What are the right steps to take when it happens?
Here’s a quick rundown on properly handling one of these stubborn breaker situations:
Play Detective
First thing’s first, you gotta try figuring out what’s actually making that breaker trip its face off. Is it a case of having way too much stuff plugged into one circuit, overloading it? Or does it seem directly tied to using one particular appliance acting up? Eliminate the potential culprits one by one.
Unplug Stuff
Once you got a hunch on the potential culprit, start unplugging devices and appliances from the problem circuit to reduce the load. If the breaker stops tripping with less things plugged in, bingo – you probably found the overload issue right there. Leave those things unplugged for now.
Reset It (Carefully)
With the load lightened, you can try resetting the breaker itself – but do it safely, hear? First off, remove anything still plugged into that circuit. Then firmly switch the breaker to the full “Off” position before flipping it back “On” to reset it.
Call in a Pro
If that reset doesn’t do the trick, or you’re suspecting bigger issues like faulty wiring or an electrical problem beyond just an overload, it’s time to call in a qualified pro electrician. Trying any major DIY electrical repairs yourself can be seriously dangerous if you don’t know the deal.
The main takeaway? Troubleshoot basic causes, reduce loads, reset if possible, but know your limits. Don’t risk your safety trying to DIY something you’re not qualified for, okay?
Don’t Play Games With That Constantly Tripping Breaker
Remember, a constantly tripping breaker could be a sign of a serious electrical issue you can’t afford to ignore. And keep in mind that trying to DIY a fix on any major electrical issues is just asking for trouble if you don’t know exactly what you’re doing.
Call the seasoned pros at Bassett Services to properly diagnose and fix whatever underlying problem is causing those constant trips. We have been the go-to electrical experts around here for over 40 years. We’ve seen it all before! So, why risk it when you can get true professionals to make sure your system is 100% safe and reliable again?
Save yourself the potential hazards and future headaches – pick up that phone right now and dial (317) 360-0054 to get Bassett’s A-team on the job today.
