Reasons Your Circuits Keep Tripping
A circuit breaker has an extremely important job; it is a safeguard to prevent damage and electrical fires. It does this by shutting off the electrical flow, or tripping, to protect the circuit from overheating. It can be operated automatically or manually.
A circuit breaker trips when too much electricity flows through it or when it cannot handle the excess current load. This is a safety design, and although it is very important in preventing overheating or further damage, it can still be very frustrating to be constantly experiencing your circuit breaker tripping.
Let’s explore the most common reasons why your circuit breaking keeps tripping.
Why Does My Circuit Breaker Trip?
There are many reasons for your circuit breaker to trip, but let’s explore the three most common causes.
Overloaded circuit
Short circuit
Ground fault
1. Overloaded Circuit
An overloaded circuit is the most common cause of a tripped breaker. As the name implies, it usually happens when there are too many power-consuming devices running on the same circuit at the same time. The breaker will trip to prevent overheating.
You probably have noticed this before when you turn on something that uses a lot of amps, or power, such as a hairdryer, space heater, yard tool, or kitchen appliance.
Solution: You may need to turn off or move some of the power-heavy devices off the overloaded circuit to another circuit. If this does not fix the issue, you will need to call an electrician at Axiom Power to install a dedicated circuit and outlet that will handle the load.
2. Short Circuit
A short circuit is more serious and more dangerous and a potential fire hazard. It is caused when a “hot” or active wire touches another hot wire or a “neutral” wire in one of your outlets. This results in a large current flow creating more heat than the circuit can handle.
You will know when this has occurred because you may hear popping noises, notice sparks or smoke, and you may even see black “burns” along the outlet along with a burning smell.
Solution: Call an electrician immediately. Our Tampa electricians know short circuits can be a fire hazard and we can make sure to get the job done fast. Call our electrical contractors now and we can fix your shorting circuit breakers!
3. Ground Fault
Similar to a short circuit, a ground fault occurs when the hot wire comes in contact with a ground wire or the side of a metal box that is connected to the ground wire. This causes more electricity to pass through, which is too much for the circuit to handle.
A ground fault is particularly dangerous when there are high levels of moisture, such as in kitchens or bathrooms, or outside. This can cause shock.
As with the short circuit, you may notice black “burns” and discoloration around the outlet as well as a burning smell.
Solution: It’s best to prevent a ground fault from occurring in the first place by having an electrician install outlets that are protected with GFCIs (ground-fault circuit interrupters). Home and building codes may already require this in places that come in direct contact with the ground or water. If you have an older home, a home inspector or residential electrician can point out outlets that need upgrading.
Remember: you do not want to attempt to handle this type of electrical issue on your own due to the possibility of shock or fire. Contact a professional electrician to assess and repair the ground fault.
Can I fix the Electrical Myself?
While there are many household issues that you can fix with some DIY knowledge, you should be extremely careful when it comes to working with electricity. This is especially true when you may not know the exact root of the problem.
Electrical problems may be hidden in between the walls. Before you end up with a DIY job gone awry and potentially burn your house down, call in a licensed electrical contractor to do the job right and enjoy your free time!
Call Axiom Power
If you are experiencing your circuit breaker tripping more than normal, let an experienced and professional electrician at Axiom Power do the job for you! You do not want to risk the safety of you, your family, or your house if you make any mistakes.
At Axiom Power, we are trained to work on residential or commercial properties in the greater Tampa Bay area. Contact us online or call us at 813-308-9328 or 727-687-4452.