Your Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping, Now What?

A tripped circuit breaker is one of the most common issues in a house. It can happen for many reasons, including failure to upgrade to a more reliable fuse box.

When a circuit breaker fails, your whole house can be left, and it can be really inconvenient for your entire family. The good news is, solving the issue is not as hard as you imagine.

What to do when your circuit breaker trips
When a circuit gets overloaded from a surge of energy coming from an outlet with too much current or a lightning strike, the best thing to do is to turn the circuit off. Getting the power back on is not that hard at all. Follow these three simple steps to get the power back:

1. Turn off all appliances affected by the power outage. For some cases, such as a TV that doesn't have a manual "off" switch, you should unplug them. Once the circuit breaker is reset, it is best that no electronics are drawing from it to avoid further damage. The surge of power can harm your computer, TV, and fans that is why keep them safe by unplugging them.
2. Look for the circuit box and find the breaker that is turned off. Typically, circuit breakers turn to a red or orange color when they are in off position.
3. Turn the breaker from off to on. You can turn on all the appliances you turned off or unplugged in step 1. This usually does the trick, but if your breaker keeps tripping, then it is time to call Dayton Electric to help you handle the situation.

Does your circuit breaker keep tripping
If you have done everything in your ability, but the circuit breaker still keeps tripping, there must be a serious reason that needs to be addressed immediately. This is usually caused by overusing and the usual wear and tear. If this is the case, installing may be the best way to resolve the problem.

The following are the most common reasons why your circuit breaker keeps tripping:

• Short circuit- This is something prevalent, yet dangerous reasons for tripping circuit breakers. Short circuits happen when there is an overload of current flowing through the circuit. Due to the heat, the circuit breaker automatically turns off to prevent an electrical fire.
• Overloaded circuit- If your electrical system can't handle the amps flowing through the circuit, it can damage appliances and start a fire.
• Ground fault- If a hot wire and bare ground touch the metal box where they're in. A ground fault can happen. It pushes more electricity through the circuit that it can hold which causes repeated circuit breaker tripping. A ground fault typically leads to a burned outlet.

When you need expert help when your circuit breaker keeps tripping, don't hesitate to call Dayton Electric. We conduct electrical safety inspections to help you determine the safety of your electrical items and wirings at home. You can rely on our electrical service and be confident the job is done fast and safe.

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