Appointment Lookup
213-596-2538
Discover the 3 factors that affect the cost to fix a garbage disposal with Sears Home Services.
Why Your Breaker Keeps Tripping
It’s frustrating. One minute, everything’s running smoothly, and the next, your lights flicker out, or your microwave shuts off mid-cycle.
If your breaker keeps tripping, it’s not just an annoyance; it’s a sign of an electrical issue that needs your attention. But what’s really causing this disruption?
From short circuits to overloaded circuits, several culprits could be to blame. Let’s explore the most common reasons behind a tripping breaker, how your appliances might be involved, and what you can do to keep your home running safely and efficiently.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Breakers often trip due to short circuits (when live wires make unintended contact, leading to surges), overloaded circuits (too many devices drawing power simultaneously), or ground faults (electricity deviating from its path, often due to damaged or wet wiring).
- Faulty appliances, such as those with damaged wiring, worn-out motors, or faulty heating elements, can contribute to breaker trips. Warning signs include unusual noises, flickering lights, or burning smells around devices or outlets.
- Regular maintenance, distributing appliance loads evenly across circuits, inspecting cords and plugs for damage, and upgrading your electrical panel can reduce the frequency of breaker trips and enhance the safety of your home’s electrical system.
Short Circuits: The Usual Suspect
When you hear "short circuit," you probably imagine sparks flying. While that’s possible, short circuits often happen quietly behind the scenes. This occurs when the hot (live) wire comes into contact with a neutral or ground wire, creating an unintended path for electricity. The result? An immediate surge of electrical current that your breaker cuts off to prevent overheating, electrocution or fire.
Home appliances can contribute to short circuits when their internal wiring is damaged. For instance:
- A broken heating element in your clothes dryer can short against metal inside the cabinet.
- The refrigerator’s compressor motor windings can short-circuit and trip the house circuit breaker.
If you suspect a short circuit when the house circuit breaker keeps tripping, unplug the appliance and inspect wiring and internal components. Look for scorch marks, melted plastic, or other signs of damage. If you find damaged wiring, repair the wires as shown in this DIY video:
If the breaker keeps tripping after repairing wires, leave the appliance unplugged and stop using it. Schedule appliance repair to have a technician examine and repair the appliance.
Overloaded Circuits: When You’re Asking for Too Much
Your breaker doesn’t just protect against shorts—it also monitors the total electrical load on each circuit. Overloading happens when you connect too many devices to the same circuit. Each one draws current, and when the combined load exceeds the breaker’s rating, it trips.
This scenario often happens in kitchens, where countertop appliances like blenders, toasters, and air fryers compete for limited outlets. Or in living rooms, where TVs, sound systems, and gaming consoles run simultaneously.
Distribute the current load more evenly across outlets. Avoid using power strips to connect multiple high-energy appliances to the same circuit. If you constantly experience overload issues, consider upgrading your electrical panel or adding dedicated circuits.
Ground Faults: A Hidden Danger
Similar to a short circuit, a ground fault happens when electricity strays from its intended path, often due to damaged or wet wiring. Ground faults are particularly dangerous because they can lead to electric shock. This risk increases in damp areas like bathrooms, kitchens, and outdoor spaces.
Modern homes use Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) to detect and immediately cut off electrical power in these situations.
If your breaker trips while running an appliance near water—say, a dishwasher or a washing machine—you might have a ground fault at play.
Inspect the appliance and nearby outlets for water damage or wear. If you can’t locate the issue, call an electrician to assess your home’s wiring and ensure everything’s safe.
Appliance-Specific Problems
Sometimes, the issue lies within the appliance itself. Older appliances, especially, can draw more power than the circuit can handle. A worn-out motor in your washing machine or a faulty heating element in your oven can also cause the breaker to trip.
Watch for these warning signs:
- Unusual noises like buzzing or humming.
- Flickering lights when the appliance starts.
- Burning smells around the device or outlet.
If you notice these issues, unplug the appliance and schedule appliance repair service to have a Sears Home Services technician examine and repair the problem.
How to Prevent Frequent Breaker Trips
To avoid repeated trips to the breaker box, follow these tips:
- Regularly inspect cords and plugs for damage. Replace anything frayed or scorched.
- Avoid overloading circuits by distributing your appliances across outlets and circuits.
- Schedule professional appliance maintenance for high-energy appliances like air conditioners and refrigerators.
- Upgrade your electrical panel if you frequently exceed your home’s power capacity.
Keeping your home’s electrical system in good shape ensures not only convenience but also safety. The next time your breaker trips, use these tips to pinpoint the issue and take action.
By staying proactive, you can keep your appliances running smoothly—and avoid unnecessary downtime.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you fix a breaker that keeps tripping?
Unplug all the appliances and/or items plugged in to outlets in the circuit. If the breaker trips with nothing plugged in, then the circuit breaker is itself is bad or internal house wiring has shorted. With the breaker shut off, check the electrical outlets for burn marks or damage. Replace any faulty outlets. If you find no faulty outlets, you’ll need to have an electrician check the circuit and replace shorted wiring or a faulty circuit breaker.
How do I find out what's tripping my breaker?
Unplug every item and turn off every light and ceiling fan switch in the circuit for the tripping breaker. Reset the circuit breaker. If the breaker still trips with nothing plugged in or turned on, then the circuit breaker itself of internal house wiring is likely causing the trip. Have an electrician fix this type of problem. If the circuit breaker stays on with everything unplugged and turned off, plug in items and power them up one at a time until you find the appliance or item that is causing the breaker to trip. Unplug the appliance or item that is causing the breaker to trip and repair or replace that item or appliance.
How many times can a breaker trip before it goes bad?
By design, a breaker trip should be an extremely rare occurrence. Excessive current running through a circuit breaker and the wiring connected to it can damage the breaker and the wiring. Although circuit breakers are designed to withstand multiple trips, a breaker that trips because of a short circuit and excessive current flowing through the wiring will likely begin to wear out after tripping more than 10 times (sometimes less). To avoid having to replace a circuit breaker, immediately address short circuits that cause a breaker to trip so that you don’t begin wearing out the circuit breaker.
How do I know if a circuit breaker is bad?
If a circuit breaker is frequently tripping, it could be bad. Check the circuit breaker for visible damage such as melting or burn marks. If you see these signs, then the breaker is likely bad and will need to be replaced. If it’s hard to move the switch to reset the breaker, this is another sign the breaker is likely bad. If the breaker is hot to the touch or you small a burning smell when you reset the breaker, you’ll likely need to replace the circuit breaker. If you use an ammeter and measure the amp draw of all items and appliances connected to the circuit and find no excessive current draw, then the circuit breaker is likely bad. Most of the time, you’ll need to have an electrician test the circuit breaker and replace it if it’s bad.
Schedule your kitchen appliance repair now!
From refrigerators to dishwashers, our experienced technicians are equipped to repair all your kitchen appliances, providing fast and reliable service.
Chat
Loading scheduler options...
Repair Kitchen Appliances Resources
Knowing the potential appliance repair costs can be crucial for yearly planning and budgeting.
Find out how to get the most out of your appliance repair service appointment with these technician tips from Sears Home Services.
Master garbage disposal repair with our expert tips and step-by-step troubleshooting guide.
Glossary Terms
ENERGY STAR appliances are energy-efficient products that meet the strict energy efficiency specifications set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or the U.S. Department of Energy. These appliances are designed to use less energy and water, leading to cost savings and a reduced environmental impact.
Wattage is the measure of electrical power expressed in watts (W), indicating the rate at which a device consumes energy.
Natural gas is a fossil fuel used primarily for heating, cooking, and electricity generation. It's a hydrocarbon gas mixture consisting mainly of methane, but it also contains smaller amounts of other hydrocarbons and sometimes sulfur compounds.
A washer screw is a fastening device that combines a screw and a washer, designed to distribute the load of a screwed fastening more evenly and to prevent the screw from loosening under vibration.
Recent Appliance Symptoms
When your Payne central air conditioner won’t turn on or isn’t cooling, check for power problems, a failed capacitor, or a clogged condensate drain. This guide covers quick, safe troubleshooting steps and explains when to call Sears Home Services for expert central AC repair.
When your ICP central air conditioner won’t turn on or isn’t cooling, check for power problems, a failed capacitor, or a clogged condensate drain. This guide covers quick, safe troubleshooting steps and explains when to call Sears Home Services for expert central AC repair.
When your Heil central air conditioner won’t turn on or isn’t cooling, check for power problems, a failed capacitor, or a clogged condensate drain. This guide covers quick, safe troubleshooting steps and explains when to call Sears Home Services for expert central AC repair.
When your Carrier central air conditioner won’t turn on or isn’t cooling, check for power problems, a failed capacitor, or a clogged condensate drain. This guide covers quick, safe troubleshooting steps and explains when to call Sears Home Services for expert central AC repair.
When your Comfortmaker central air conditioner won’t turn on or isn’t cooling, check for power problems, a failed capacitor, or a clogged condensate drain. This guide covers quick, safe troubleshooting steps and explains when to call Sears Home Services for expert central AC repair.
When your Ruud central air conditioner won’t turn on or isn’t cooling, check for power problems, a failed capacitor, or a clogged condensate drain. This guide covers quick, safe troubleshooting steps and explains when to call Sears Home Services for expert central AC repair.