Your home’s circuit breaker is like a heart, but instead of pumping blood through your veins it fires electricity throughout your home. It is the central hub of electricity, where the ability to turn your lights on originates. Circuit breakers are also an essential safety feature. They safely direct electricity through the home, shutting off only when too much power goes through it. This is referred to as the circuit breaker “tripping.”
If your circuit breaker keeps tripping, however, this can pose a substantial risk of harm and property damage. They become worn out just like anything else, after all. You need to address the cause behind the frequent tripping before this possibility becomes a frightening reality.
Here are three reasons why your circuit breaker could be having this problem, and what you can do about it.
Circuits are Overloaded
Overloaded circuits are the singularly most common cause behind unexpected tripping of circuit breakers. When a circuit has too much electricity flowing through it, the breaker will trip to prevent potential dangers. If this happens very often, the circuit breaker will quickly become worn out.
To keep this from happening, you should avoid overloading any of your circuits. Spread out your electronics so that no single circuit is supporting too many devices at once. It also helps to unplug anything that is not currently in use.
Circuits are Shorting Out
This is an even scarier possibility, because when a circuit shorts out it produces a lot of heat. Circuits that are shorted out present a greater risk of electrical fires than overloaded circuits. When a circuit generates this kind of heat, the circuit breaker will trip.
Shorted circuits are best handled by an experienced and licensed professional. The typical causes behind this problem are loose connections and bad wiring. An electrician will be able to identify exactly what the problem is and work toward a solution.
Ground Fault Surges are Occurring
A ground fault surge occurs when an active wire touches a ground wire. The effect is a lot like a shorted circuit, generating a lot of heat. Even with a circuit breaker, this presents a very real possibility of destruction and physical harm.
It’s Time to Call in the Pros
Professional help is the best resource you have available when your circuit breaker is frequently tripping. An electrician will be able to diagnose the problem and get it fixed before harm comes to you, your family or your home.
