If you're like most homeowners, you might not give much thought to your electrical system. At least, you don't until something goes wrong. One of the most common issues that homeowners experience is a tripped breaker. If you're wondering why your breaker keeps tripping, you're not alone. In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at the reasons why breakers trip, and what you can do to fix the problem.
One of the most common reasons why breakers trip is because of an overloaded circuit. That happens when too many devices draw power from the circuit. The reason why the breakers trip is to protect the circuit from damage. To fix this problem, you'll need to determine which devices use too much power. Then either unplug or move them.
Another common reason why breakers trip is because of a short circuit. A short circuit occurs when there is a direct connection between the hot and neutral wires in a circuit. This can happen because of damaged wiring, a loose wire, or a faulty device. When a short circuit does happen, you can end up with an overheating system and melted wires. In serious instances, a short circuit can cause a house fire.
A ground fault is the next common reason why breakers trip. That happens when an electrical current flows through a ground wire when it shouldn't. The ground wire makes sure there's another path for electricity to flow into the earth. That helps protect anyone working with the electricity nearby if a circuit shorts. Damaged wiring, a loose wire, or a faulty device can cause a ground fault. It's crucial to get a ground fault looked at as soon as you can to prevent fires.
The last reason we'll talk about is a corroded or loose breaker. Over time, the connection points on the breaker can corrode. That makes it hard for electricity to flow through the circuit. A loose breaker can cause arcing, which can lead to a tripped breaker. If your breaker fails, it can't do its job and protect your electrical system. That's why you should get it fixed as soon as possible.
