If the power cuts out in a specific room in your home, you likely have a tripped breaker, which is usually a quick fix. Simply flip the breaker switch — it should be labeled for that particular room.
However, if your circuit breaker keeps tripping, you likely need professional electrical repair. The Penguin Air, Plumbing & Electrical team has put together this guide to help you determine why your circuit breaker keeps tripping and how to prevent it from happening again.
Circuit Overload
This is the most common reason for a tripped circuit breaker. Circuit breakers have a safety feature that automatically shuts off overloaded circuits when too many devices require electricity so that they don’t overheat and start a fire.
Prevention tip: Spread out devices and appliances to outlets throughout your home. If this doesn’t work well with your interior home design, an electrician can rewire your home to meet your needs.
Short-Circuiting
Short-circuiting occurs when wires become loose and unintentionally connect with other wires. This usually causes tremendous heat to build up — which automatically trips your circuit breaker to prevent an electrical fire.
Prevention tip: While you may be able to isolate the circuit and identify the affected devices, it’s difficult to prevent short-circuiting without professional help. Wires naturally loosen as they age. Mice or other critters can chew or disturb your home’s wiring inside the walls.
You’ll know that an outlet in your home has a short when an appliance functions normally when it’s plugged in elsewhere. A device that has a short should be plugged into its own outlet so that it’s less of a fire risk. Otherwise, you’ll need to repair or discard the device.
Outdated or Damaged Breaker
If your circuit breaker is over 30 years old, your circuit breaker might often trip because of its age.
It is important to inspect your circuit box and outlets for visible damage, such as scorch marks, as this is a major fire risk, and you should call an electrician immediately.
Whichever is the cause of your tripped circuit breaker, a professional electrician can confirm if a replacement is needed.
Prevention tip: Keep track of how old your circuit breaker is and if it’s been replaced since your home was built. Proactively replacing or upgrading your electrical panel or circuit breaker as needed will reduce your risk of an electrical fire.
Ground Fault
Electricity is always naturally attracted to the ground unless we place conductors and wiring to redirect its path. Modern homes direct electricity through wiring in the walls out to our lamps, computers, hairdryers, etc.
Ground faults usually happen when water drips onto live wires or when a metal pipe bumps into the wiring inside your walls. Your circuit breaker detects another conductor has disturbed the flow of electricity throughout your home and trips to prevent electric shock or fire.
Prevention tip: Ground faults are usually caused by weather phenomena out of your control — flooding, earthquakes, etc. — but you can make your home safer with ground fault circuit interrupter installation. If your circuit breaker keeps tripping after any environmental disaster, call an electrician immediately to find the problem within your walls and repair it.
Reliable Panel and Circuit Breaker Repairs & Replacements in Phoenix, AZ
For panel and circuit breaker services from a team of electricians that you can depend on, choose Penguin Air, Plumbing & Electrical.
We’re proud to provide electrical services that Phoenix, AZ, homeowners trust. Our team provides same-day service on electrical panel repairs, and we offer a 100% money-back guarantee on our work.
Discover the Penguin difference! Schedule an appointment today to repair your home’s panel. Call us at (480) 550-9943 or contact us online.