From flickering lights to lack of power in your kitchen or bathroom, a circuit breaker tripping could be the culprit. And if your home’s circuit breakers keep tripping, you will struggle to have the consistent power necessary to power everyday appliances. There are only a handful of reasons why your circuit breaker keeps tripping, and we’re going to cover each one.

At Monkey Wrench, we believe in doing things right the first time, whether updating a home’s electrical wiring or replacing a bad outlet. Our electricians are trained to never cut corners when it comes to electrical work and have been able to help homeowners throughout Los Angeles with electrical issues at their homes. 

Circuit breakers that constantly tripped are a major inconvenience to any homeowner. In this article, we’ll talk about the five most common reasons why circuit breakers trip. With this information, you can feel more at ease knowing that an electrician can easily identify the cause and solve your tripped circuit breaker.

Let’s jump right in!

 

Common Causes of a Tripped Circuit Breaker

Before we go any further, if you’ve already determined what caused your circuit breaker to trip and you’re looking for further information, feel free to skip ahead to the section that applies to your situation. 

If you’re still wondering what caused it to trip, there’s a good chance it may have been one of these factors.

  • Overloaded circuit
  • Short circuit
  • Grounded circuit
  • Faulty circuit
  • Aging circuit 

These causes are common, but most electricians will agree that overloaded circuits are the number one cause of why a circuit breaker is tripping.

 

Overloaded Circuit Breaker

Overloaded circuits happen when too many appliances or devices are running at the same time on the same circuit. 

The average amperage of a circuit breaker in homes throughout Los Angeles County, Orange County, and the Inland Empire is between 15-20 amps for lights and outlets and 30 to 40 amps for appliances. So when too many appliances are connected, that specific circuit breaker cannot handle all the energy required to power the appliances. 

Think of your circuit as a weightlift; there’s only so much it can handle before it gets overwhelmed. For example, running your microwave, dishwasher, and toaster oven simultaneously on the same circuit can easily lead to an overload. It’s like asking one weightlifter to lift multiple heavy dumbbells—eventually, they’ll need to take a break. 

Overloading can occur even if you don’t have many devices connected—if the few that are connected draw a lot of power, your circuit will trip to prevent damage.

Besides overloaded circuits, short circuits are another reason why your breakers tripped.

 

Short Circuit

Short-circuiting is a bit more serious and occurs when an active or “hot” wire comes into contact with a neutral wire. Circuits have three wires: an active, grounded, and neutral wire. The touching of the active and neutral wires increases the electrical current, which can overload the circuit and trigger the circuit breaker to trip. 

The circuit breaker is a safety mechanism that shuts off electricity flowing into the affected circuit. Without it tripping, it can cause the short circuit to start an electrical fire in some cases.

Signs of a short circuit include a burning smell, sparks, and sometimes even smoke. This is definitely a situation where you’d want to call in a professional, as it can pose a significant safety risk.

Even if your circuit didn’t short, it may have become grounded and caused the circuit breaker to trip.

 

Grounded Circuit

Ground faults are similar to short circuits except the active wire comes into contact with a ground wire instead of the neutral wire. The circuit breaker detects this sudden surge of electricity, which could be harmful and indicate a fault in the system and trips. Tripping shuts off the electrical supply to the circuit, preventing the risk of electric shock or fire and stopping further damage to the electrical panel of a home.

The grounded wire doesn’t actively carry electricity under normal circumstances. Instead, it serves as a safety backup by providing a path for electrical current if a fault occurs, such as a short circuit or any other instance where electricity might escape its intended route.

Often, ground faults indicate underlying issues like faulty wiring, which might require replacing the breaker and addressing the wiring problems. Circuit breakers are necessary for safety, so if they’re faulty, they may be more likely to trip.

 

Faulty Circuits

If your circuit breaker trips repeatedly without any actual overload, it might be worn out or defective. A worn-out breaker may accidentally think normal electrical flows are abnormal, leading to frequent, unnecessary trips.

Faulty circuit breakers can come with various signs and symptoms, such as.

  • Buzzing noises from the breaker
  • Flickering lights
  • The circuit breaker panel or areas around outlets feel hot 
  • Visible damage, such as rusted circuit breakers
  • Burning plastic smell from defective circuit breakers

In most cases, faulty circuit breakers are easily detected since they immediately show signs of malfunctioning. An electrician can use their tools to measure the amp of the circuit breaker and the outlets connected to it to make sure it has power. 

The final reason why your circuit breaker is tripping is tied to the negative impact of aging.

 

Aging Circuits

Sometimes, the breaker itself is to blame. Breakers are designed to last a long time—typically around 30 years—but they don’t last forever. An aging circuit breaker may become too sensitive or might fail to trip when it should due to mechanical wear or corrosion. 

If you can’t remember the last time an electrician inspected your home’s electrical layout, it may be best to schedule an appointment. Besides faulty circuit breakers, an electrician may find other underlying problems with your home’s electrical layout.

 

How Do You Fix a Breaker That Keeps Tripping? 

Understanding why a circuit breaker trips is essential for maintaining a safe and functional home environment. Remember, these devices are built to protect your home by preventing potential electrical fires and damage to your appliances. By keeping an eye on what your circuits are telling you and not overloading them, you can help ensure that your electrical system runs smoothly and safely.

Whatever the cause is, our electricians at Monkey Wrench have been able to fix and replace bad circuit breakers throughout the area. Every home’s electrical layout may be different, but our licensed and experienced electricians can address why your circuit breaker is tripping in the first place and find the best solution to move forward. 

If you’re dealing with a circuit breaker constantly tripping and live in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas, contact us using the button below. You can also book an appointment directly through our online electrical repair scheduler.

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