Does your circuit breaker keep tripping? Do not just reset it and forget about it after. Circuit breakers safeguard your family and home. Therefore, you should fix that issue with these helpful tips.

Click. Darkness. Where is the flashlight?

We've all dealt with circuit breakers that have tripped. They're a nuisance and occur at unavoidable moments.

Circuit breakers check the flow of electric current through circuits. If the flow exceeds a predetermined quantity, it will open the circuit, thereby stopping the flow of current. They're an essential part of the electrical system in your home. When they go off, they're trying to inform you of something.

The occasional trips aren't something to worry about. If an electrical circuit breaker in your home is constantly tripping, it could indicate that something is not right.

Know if Your Circuit Breaker Is Tripping

If your breaker goes out, then go to the electrical panel and open the cover on the front. There will be two circuit breakers as well as, hopefully, nice labels that indicate which circuits they control. The majority of breakers are in the on position, so be sure to look for one with the handle in a different place than the others.

Every breaker have an "On" and "Off" position. In the event of a breaker that has been tripped, the handle will be in the middle, not off nor on. To reset it, switch the handle off first, and then switch it to On. Stand on the other side of the panel, and then turn your back to avoid looking at breakers. If you experience an arc flash, it could be life-saving.

Why Does My Circuit Breaker Keep Tripping?

Circuit breakers fail when they have too much electric current flow through the breakers. Circuit breakers are rated on the amount of power that can flow safely through the circuit that they are protecting. If that's not enough, breakers will trip. A 20-amp breaker is activated when greater than 20 amps of current are in the circuit.

Circuit breakers fail to function due to three reasons.

• Overloads
• Short circuits
• Ground faults

Fixing a Circuit Breaker That Keeps Tripping

If the breaker continues to trip, then it's time to investigate and resolve the issue. Here are some suggestions to pinpoint the possible causes. Always consult an electrician who is licensed in the event that the issue becomes complex.

Verify that there is no overload.

Find out which part of the home the breaker that tripped is controlled Then, turn it off and disconnect everything from the zone: lights, microwaves, computers, everything. Turn on the circuit breaker. If the breaker goes off immediately, even with nothing plugged in, you've got a short but not an overload.

If the breaker holds, head back into the room and start plugging things into and turning them on one at a time. After each one, stop and then proceed to the next. If the breaker trips once more, you'll know that you've hit the limit of the circuit. Distribute loads more evenly among circuits when feasible.

Find a short in an appliance.

Shorts and ground faults may occur in appliances or another electrical device when hot wires touch the housing.

Take note of the last device that you plugged into when the circuit breaker went off while you were checking to see if there was an overload. If you plug the appliance or device into another circuit, did this circuit also trigger? If so, disconnect the device as soon as you can, and don't utilize it until it's replaced or repaired.

Contact an electrician to report ground faults or shorts in wiring.

If the breaker goes off immediately after resetting and even without anything connected or switched on, it's most likely that something within your wiring is the cause. It could be an unconnected connection in an outlet or some other device or even something more complex or even worn-out insulation inside the walls.

If you're knowledgeable and know which device is the cause of the short, either replace the device or repair the problem with the loose wire. If you're not an expert or you notice burnt or burn spots on the walls, contact a professional. Also, in case you've had repeated issues with flickering lights or trip breakers.

Electric shocks and electrical fires are risky, while shorts as well as ground faults are hard to locate. An expert can identify and resolve the issue and provide peace of assurance.