Breaker Tripping...? volume II

As Electricians who specialize in Maintenance and Repair, we here at Bolt Electric in San Antonio often receive calls from customers who are experiencing a Breaker tripping that controls one, or more of the appliances in their home. Often they will simply reset the breaker and sometimes it will stay working, other times the breaker will trip again, and sometimes it will not reset at all.

Let’s take a look at how appliances can or would trip the circuit breakers that control them.

·        Overloading of the Circuit:

Having multiple appliances running on the same circuit or plugged into the same outlet/ receptacle will often cause the breaker to trip. The culprits that cause this are usually higher powered small appliances. Items such as hairdryers, small microwaves or small space heaters. When these appliances are used in tandem on the same circuit, they will eventually overload the circuit and the breaker will trip.

Pro Tip: Often, simply relocating an appliance to another area or circuit will ease this issue and stop overloading the breaker.

·        Short Circuit:

A short Circuit can happen for a few reasons. Wiring can become loose over time, which can be problematic. There can also be loose wiring in the appliance itself, a switch, in an outlet/ receptacle; or possibly faulty wiring. Often times, rodents will chew on wiring in an attic space, under the home, or in the walls. All of the above mentioned issues will cause your breakers to trip as well.

Pro Tip: Inspecting your appliances cords/ cord ends every now and again; to ensure there are no chewed/ frayed or even loose wires; keeps the health of your appliances in check.

·        Ground Fault:

A Ground fault is caused when an electrical conductor; such as metal or water comes in contact with an exposed wire; or any metal components inside of an outlet or a switch-box. This would definitely cause issues and can be fairly common in older homes. Trying to simply reset the breaker will often end in frustration, as it will usually not reset until repairs are made.

Pro Tip: Hiring an experienced electrician for this type of repair can save you $ in the long run. We receive a lot of “Do over” calls on many DIY repairs. 

·        Faulty Appliance:

As we’ve shown by the examples above, circuit breakers trip for a reason, and most often it has little to do with the actual circuit breaker. Sometimes, it ends up being an appliance that has gone bad, or has faulty wiring that will cause a breaker to trip. Occasionally we have seen customers with brand new appliances that have tripped breakers for many customers, and it ended up being the appliance causing the problem. Sometimes, new appliances get jostled in delivery and can come damaged.

Pro Tip: If at all possible, try running an extension cord to an outlet on another circuit to see if that circuit trips also. If the second circuit does trip, it’s very telling that your appliance causing the tripping issue.

·        Bad/ Broken Breaker:

A bad breaker is exactly what it sounds like. Bad/ worn out/ Broken, and will require replacement. Often both an easy diagnosis and fix. We highly recommended for an experienced and licensed electrician to perform any circuit breaker replacements, as having a professional replace your breaker will give you peace of mind, save you time, and could save you money by protecting you from possible property damage.

Pro Tip: If you hear your breaker buzzing or it is warm to the touch, looks charred or is arcing – we recommend reaching out to a licensed and experienced electrician, like the ones at Bolt Electric; ASAP to make repairs!

We here at Bolt Electric in San Antonio hope this blog gives you a good idea of how an appliance can be causing circuit breakers to trip throughout your home. In the event you’re needing assistance with electrical repairs in San Antonio, Bolt Electric is here to help. We specialize in both Commercial and Residential Electrical Maintenance and Repair in San Antonio and we can’t wait to work with you!

Give us a Call!

BOLT ELECTRIC, LLC

18847 REDLAND ROAD, SUITE 105

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 78259

(210) 545-2658