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True Trade Path

Diagnostic guide

Breaker Keeps Tripping

Understand why a circuit breaker trips repeatedly and which causes are safe to investigate yourself.

System
Electrical
Causes covered
7
You can check
3 without a technician

Stop and read this first

  • Never replace a breaker with a higher-rated one. The breaker protects the wire, and oversizing it turns an inconvenience into a fire.
  • A warm panel cover, a burning smell or buzzing means shut off the main and call an electrician immediately.
  • Do not reset a breaker more than twice. Repeated resetting of a faulted circuit is how electrical fires start.
  • Never bypass, tape or wedge a breaker to keep it closed.

Work through these in order

Ordered from most to least likely. Working top down means you rule out the cheap, common causes before paying anyone to look at the expensive, rare ones.

  1. Circuit overload

    CommonYou can check
    How to check
    Note what was running when it tripped. Space heaters, hair dryers, microwaves and window units each draw 1,200 to 1,500 watts.
    The fix
    Move high-draw appliances to different circuits. A 15A circuit handles about 1,440 watts continuously; a 20A circuit about 1,920.

  2. Failed appliance on the circuit

    CommonYou can check
    How to check
    Unplug everything on the circuit and reset. Add devices back one at a time until it trips.
    The fix
    Repair or discard the faulty appliance. A motor-driven appliance with failing windings is a frequent culprit.

  3. Ground fault on a GFCI-protected circuit

    CommonYou can check
    How to check
    Kitchens, bathrooms, garages and exterior outlets are GFCI protected. Moisture in an exterior receptacle is a common trigger.
    The fix
    Dry the receptacle and reset. Repeated tripping on a GFCI indicates a genuine ground fault and needs an electrician.

  4. Arc fault detected by an AFCI breaker

    PossibleNeeds a pro
    How to check
    AFCI breakers protect bedroom and living area circuits and trip on arcing signatures rather than overload.
    The fix
    An electrician locates the arcing connection. Loose terminations at devices are the usual cause and are a genuine fire risk.

  5. Short circuit in the wiring

    PossibleNeeds a pro
    How to check
    The breaker trips instantly on reset with nothing plugged in, sometimes with an audible snap.
    The fix
    Leave the breaker off and call an electrician. A short in concealed wiring must be located and repaired, not reset around.

  6. Failed breaker

    PossibleNeeds a pro
    How to check
    The breaker trips at loads well below its rating, or feels warm relative to its neighbors.
    The fix
    An electrician tests and replaces it. Breakers do wear out, particularly after repeated fault trips.

  7. Damaged or defective panel

    UncommonNeeds a pro
    How to check
    Check the panel label. Federal Pacific Stab-Lok and Zinsco panels have documented failure-to-trip histories.
    The fix
    Replace the panel. Many insurers will not write a policy on a home with one of these panels installed.

Once you know what it is

Step one

Know what it should cost

Get the range before you call, so the first number you hear is not the only number you have.

Step two

Decide repair or replace

On equipment near end of life, the repair is usually the first of several.

Step three

Check the quote

Compare against the typical range and confirm the terms before you sign.

Estimate the repair costAnalyze a quote

What the fix costs

Tools for this decision

Other symptoms