Why Does My Breaker Keep Tripping?
by the Berry team · Updated
A breaker that keeps tripping is usually doing its job: the circuit is overloaded, often from a space heater, hair dryer, or several appliances on one circuit, or there is a short or ground fault in a device or wire. Unplug things and spread the load first, and if it trips with almost nothing running, trips instantly, or you smell burning, leave it off and call an electrician.
Likely causes and what they cost to fix
Ordered roughly from most to least common. How it trips is the best clue to which row you are in. Electrician prices include a typical service call fee.
| Cause | How to recognize it | DIY cost | Pro cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overloaded circuit | Trips after a few seconds or minutes when a high-draw appliance runs, like a space heater, hair dryer, microwave, or window AC. | DIY$0 to move appliances to another circuit | Pro$300-$1,000+ for a new dedicated circuit |
| Faulty appliance or cord | Trips the moment one particular device is plugged in or switched on, on any circuit. | DIY$0 to unplug it and test elsewhere | ProRepair or replace the appliance |
| Ground fault | Trips in wet conditions or on outdoor, bathroom, kitchen, or garage circuits. Often a GFCI breaker or outlet. | DIY$0 to find a wet outlet or device | Pro$150-$400 to find and repair |
| AFCI nuisance or real arc fault | If you have AFCI breakers, usually ones with a test button in bedroom and living areas: trips with certain devices or for no clear reason. | DIY$0 to note what was running | Pro$150-$400 to diagnose, $50-$80 for a new AFCI breaker |
| Short circuit in wiring, an outlet, or a fixture | Trips instantly, often with a pop, sometimes with scorch marks or a burning smell at an outlet or switch. | DIYNot a DIY job | Pro$150-$500, more if a wire inside a wall is damaged |
| Worn or failing breaker | Trips under a light load, feels warm, or will not stay reset. Less common than people expect. | DIYNot a DIY job | Pro$150-$350 to replace |
Ranges are typical US prices and vary with your region, your home, and the season. A pro quote for your exact job beats any range.
Read how it trips
Trips after running a while. Usually an overload. The breaker is reacting to too much current over time, the way it is designed to. Look at what is running on that circuit.
Trips the instant you reset it. Usually a short circuit or a ground fault somewhere on the circuit. Unplug everything on it and try once more. If it still trips instantly, the problem is in the wiring or a fixture, and it is a job for an electrician.
Trips when one device turns on. Usually that device. Try it on a different circuit. If it trips there too, the device is the problem.
Trips in rain or when something gets wet. Usually a ground fault, often from an outdoor outlet, a fountain or holiday lights, or water in a fixture.
What you can safely check
- Unplug or switch off everything on the tripped circuit. If you do not know what is on it, note which outlets and lights went dead.
- Reset the breaker by pushing it firmly to off, then back to on. A tripped breaker often sits in a middle position.
- Plug things back in one at a time, starting with lights and small devices. If it trips when a particular appliance turns on, you have found the problem or an overload.
- Spread out the high-draw appliances. Space heaters, hair dryers, microwaves, toaster ovens, and window ACs each use a large share of a typical circuit on their own.
- Label the circuit once you know what it powers. A labeled panel makes the next problem faster to solve.
How much a circuit can handle
A typical 15 amp household circuit can supply about 1,800 watts, and a 20 amp circuit about 2,400 watts. For loads that run for hours, like a space heater, a good practice is to stay at or below about 80 percent of that. A single 1,500 watt space heater uses most of a 15 amp circuit by itself, so add a lamp, a TV, and a phone charger, and the breaker may trip. The wattage is usually printed on the appliance label.
When it is more than an overload
Stop resetting the breaker and call an electrician if you see scorch marks, smell burning plastic, hear buzzing or crackling at the panel, an outlet, or a switch, or if the breaker trips with nothing plugged in. Those point to a short, a loose connection, or damaged wiring, and resetting it repeatedly can make the damage worse.
If the outlets are dead but the breaker is not tripped, the cause is often a tripped GFCI outlet elsewhere on the circuit. See why an outlet is not working and why a GFCI will not reset. If breakers trip often because the house simply needs more circuits, see what to do when your panel is full.
When to call a pro
- The breaker trips instantly with everything unplugged.
- You smell burning, see scorch marks, or hear buzzing or crackling at the panel, an outlet, or a switch.
- The breaker is hot to the touch, will not reset, or will not stay on.
- The same circuit trips repeatedly and you cannot find an overload or a faulty device.
- You need a new dedicated circuit for a space heater, window AC, or other high-draw appliance.
What makes it worse if you wait
- A loose or damaged connection that trips the breaker can overheat each time it is reset, and it can damage outlets, switches, and wires.
- Living with an overloaded circuit tempts people into extension cords and power strips, which add fire risk.
- A worn breaker that trips under light load may also fail to trip when it should.
- Water-related ground faults usually get worse as the moisture or corrosion spreads.
Common questions
Is it dangerous if a breaker keeps tripping?
The breaker itself is a safety device doing its job, but the cause can be dangerous. Overloads are fixed by spreading out the load. Instant trips, burning smells, scorch marks, or buzzing point to a short or loose connection, so leave the breaker off and call an electrician.
Why does my breaker trip when I use a space heater?
A typical space heater uses about 1,500 watts, most of what a 15 amp circuit can safely supply. Anything else on the circuit can push it over. Plug the heater directly into a wall outlet on a circuit with little else running, and never use an extension cord or power strip.
How much does it cost to fix a breaker that keeps tripping?
Often nothing if it is an overload. An electrician typically charges about $150-$500 to find and repair a short or faulty outlet, about $150-$350 to replace a breaker, and roughly $300-$1,000 or more to add a dedicated circuit.
Can a breaker go bad?
Yes, though it is less common than an overload or wiring problem. A breaker that trips under very light load, feels hot, or will not stay reset may have failed. Breaker replacement should be done by an electrician.
Not sure that's your problem? Snap a photo and Berry will tell you what it is and what it should cost.
Keep reading
- Why Is My Outlet Not Working?Why an outlet suddenly stops working, how to find the tripped GFCI or breaker behind it, when a switch controls it, and what outlet repairs cost.
- Why Won't My GFCI Outlet Reset?Why a GFCI outlet will not reset or keeps tripping, how to check for power and moisture, when the GFCI has worn out, and what replacement costs.
- Is My Electrical Panel Full, and What Are My Options?What it means when an electrical panel has no open slots, the options from tandem breakers to subpanels and panel upgrades, and what each one costs.
- Home Electrical Maintenance: What to Do, How Often, and What It CostsThe full electrical guide hub.