Is Your Circuit Breaker Faulty? These Simple Steps Can Help You Determine the Answer

A circuit breaker might fail for a variety of reasons. However, certain factors are more prevalent than others. Overloaded circuits, short circuits, and a breaker that has not been properly reset are some of the most prevalent. Circuit breakers are designed to safeguard you from faults and fires, therefore it’s critical to know whether yours is malfunctioning.

Continue reading to learn how to check whether your circuit breaker is faulty. You may also call Sonner Electric at 661-728-0126 to speak with a local electrician who can help you with your problem.

Figure out which circuit the breaker protects

As soon as you identify a problem, you should determine which circuit the breaker protects. You may accomplish this by glancing at the label next to the breaker that keeps tripping or the diagram on the circuit panel’s door that specifies which circuit is which on your electrical panel. One of them should be able to tell you what the circuit is, but if there aren’t any labels or a schematic, you’ll need to have one made.

Remove all of the circuit’s components

After you’ve established which circuit is being tripped by the circuit breaker, switch it off and disconnect any devices connected to that circuit. When you go on to step three, this helps prevent power surges or other possible difficulties.

Your circuit breaker must be reset

After you’ve disconnected everything, just turn the breaker back to the ON position to reset it. When you turn the breaker switch, you should hear (and feel) a distinct click. If you don’t, there might be a problem.

Keep an eye on what happens next

If the circuit breaker does not trip again after you have reset it, the original problem was most likely that it was overloaded. You may re-set the breaker by moving certain plugs to a different circuit. If the circuit trips right away, the problem is most likely a short circuit or a faulty breaker.

If you need assistance replacing a circuit breaker, you should contact an electrician

It’s time to call an electrician if you’re having trouble with a circuit breaker. While you may be able to move a few wires around on your own, you will want expert assistance if the situation is more serious. Not only can we do it faster and better, but if you do it yourself, it may not be up to code, which might cause a major hassle if you ever decide to sell your property. We can get started right immediately if you call Sonner Electric at 661-728-0126.