Breaker Keeps Tripping

You’re reheating leftovers or powering up your hairdryer when suddenly, click, everything goes dark.

Your breaker keeps tripping, and at this point, it feels like your house is either haunted or trying to teach you a lesson in electrical safety.

If you’re asking, “Why does my breaker keep tripping?” or wondering why your circuit breaker keeps tripping even after resetting it, you’re not alone.

In fact, tripping breakers are one of the most common home electrical issues, and they’re often your system’s way of waving a red flag.

Let’s walk through the top causes, DIY fixes, and when to call in a pro.

We’ll also touch on terms like circuit overload, neutral wire, electrical circuits, and more to make you sound like an electrician at your next dinner party.

What’s Happening When a Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping?

Your circuit breaker is like the bouncer for your electrical panel. If someone (like an overloaded appliance) tries to sneak in too much electricity, the breaker kicks them out. It does this by cutting power to a specific electrical circuit to prevent overheating, fires, or damaged appliances.

When a circuit breaker keeps tripping, it’s usually due to one of these troublemakers:

• Too much demand on one circuit (circuit overload)
• A wiring issue like a loose connection
• Moisture or a damaged neutral wire
• A misbehaving appliance

1. Circuit Overload: The Most Common Culprit

This is the electrical equivalent of trying to cram too many people into an elevator. When too many devices draw power on the same circuit, your breaker taps out.

Example:
Your microwave keeps tripping the breaker because it’s sharing a circuit with your toaster, blender, and maybe even the fridge.

What You Can Do:

• Unplug a few appliances and run them one at a time.
• Spread appliances across different electrical circuits.
• Use heavy-duty extension cords sparingly (and smartly).

Over time, recurring overloads can damage your breaker box or wiring, so don’t ignore them.

According to NEC Article 220, proper load calculations are required to prevent overloads. Just plugging things in and hoping for the best doesn’t cut it, especially in older homes.

2. Short Circuit: Sparks Aren’t Always Romantic

A short circuit happens when a hot wire touches a neutral wire or ground wire. This causes a sudden spike in electricity, which your breaker catches immediately.

Signs of a Short Circuit:

• Burn marks on outlets
• That distinctive burnt smell (never good)
• A pop or spark when plugging something in

Short circuits are dangerous and not DIY territory. If you suspect one, turn off the power and call an electrician.

3. Ground Fault: Water + Wires = Uh Oh

A ground fault happens when a hot wire comes into contact with a grounded part of a device or wall box, especially in areas with moisture, like bathrooms and kitchens.

That’s why your GFCI breaker keeps tripping in places like:

• Outdoor outlets
• Bathroom sockets
• Laundry room circuits

What to Do:

• Unplug everything from that circuit.
• Try resetting the breaker and plugging items in one at a time.
• If the breaker trips again instantly, call in the pros.

Ground faults are serious business, they can lead to electric shock.

4. Faulty Appliance: The Drama Queen of Your Outlets

Sometimes it’s not your wiring, it’s the appliance. If your microwave keeps tripping the breaker, but other devices don’t, it might be on its way to the great appliance graveyard in the sky.

How to Check:

• Try plugging it into a different outlet on a separate circuit.
• If it still trips the breaker, replace it.
• Still unsure? An electrician can test for internal faults.

5. Loose Connections and Wiring Errors

Over time, wiring connections inside outlets, switches, or your breaker box can loosen. Backstabbed receptacles, overtightened lugs, or creative (but unsafe) wiring like wrapping a ground wire around a neutral wire to spoof a return path can cause intermittent power flow and heat.

Watch for:

• Flickering lights
• Intermittent power loss
• Breakers that trip with no clear pattern

These aren’t just quirky annoyances, they can lead to arcing and fire hazards.

6. Breaker Failure: When the Breaker Is the Problem

Most people assume the breaker trips because something else is wrong. But sometimes the breaker itself is faulty. Components inside the breaker, like the bimetal strip, degrade over time, especially if it’s been tripped often.

Clues It Might Be the Breaker:

• It trips with no load or issue present
• It’s physically warm to the touch
• It fails to reset or resets inconsistently

Not all breakers are rated for frequent switching. If in doubt, have a professional inspect it. Contact The Electricians today.

7. Circuit Damage: The Hidden Threats

You can’t see inside your walls, but that’s where trouble might be lurking:

• Nails or screws puncturing wires
• Rodents chewing insulation
• Wires crushed behind walls or outlets

All of these increase resistance and can cause random breaker tripping.

8. Outdated or Unsafe Panels

Still rocking an old Federal Pacific or Zinsco panel? These legacy brands are known to fail under load and may not trip when they should. That’s worse than nuisance tripping, it’s a fire risk.

Warning Signs:

• Humming or buzzing panels
• Warm-to-the-touch breakers
• Tripping that seems random and increasing over time

If your panel is from the 70s or earlier, or has a brand with a bad reputation, it might be time for an upgrade.

9. Double-Tapped Breakers

We get it, you’re out of room in the panel. But tying two circuits into one breaker (unless it’s rated for it) is unsafe and a code violation.

What Can Happen:

• Overloaded breakers
• Heat buildup
• Improper disconnection during faults

NEC 110.3(B) states that devices must be installed in accordance with their listing and labeling. Most standard breakers are not rated for double taps.

AFCI & GFCI Tripping: Sensitive by Design

Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs) and Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) are meant to be cautious. That means sometimes they’ll trip over small electrical noise or minor inconsistencies.

Common Triggers:

• Vacuum cleaners
• Older hair dryers
• Motor-driven tools
• Power surges

Sometimes it’s a nuisance. Sometimes it’s a warning. If your GFCI breaker keeps tripping or your AFCI trips often, let an electrician evaluate it.

How to Reset a Tripped Breaker (Safely)

1. Find your electrical panel.
2. Identify the tripped breaker, it’ll be between ON and OFF.
3. Flip it OFF first, then back to ON.
4. If it trips again immediately, stop and investigate or call for help.

Never keep flipping breakers repeatedly. That’s not troubleshooting; it’s pushing your luck.

Is It Dangerous If Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping?

Yes. Always.

Repeated tripping signals a deeper issue: overheating, loose connections, damage, or overloads. Ignoring it could lead to:

• Electrical fires
• Appliance damage
• Shock hazards
• Panel failure

Your breaker is a safety device. Don’t ignore its warnings.

When to Call an Electrician

Call a licensed electrician if:

• Breakers trip more than once in a day
• You smell burning or see scorch marks
• You hear buzzing from your breaker box
• You’re unsure what’s causing the issue

We offer:

• Full electrical diagnostics
• Panel upgrades
• AFCI/GFCI troubleshooting
• Code-compliant repairs
• Load balancing and additional circuits

Final Thoughts: Don’t Just Live With It

If your breaker keeps tripping, your home is trying to protect itself, and you. Don’t keep flipping and hoping. Whether it’s a microwave tripping the breaker, a failing panel, or a hidden rodent-chewed wire, the solution starts with proper diagnosis.

In the Denver area?

Call The Electricians today and get it fixed right, before that click turns into a crackle.