Why Do My Breakers Keep Tripping?

If you’ve Googled “why do my breakers keep tripping,” there’s a good chance you’re standing in front of your electrical panel right now, flipping the same switch back on for the third time and thinking, “Yep… this is annoying.”

This is a common occurrence! While it’s frustrating, it’s good to remember that it’s your electrical system doing exactly what it’s supposed to do.

Kinda.

Let me explain.

What a Breaker Is Actually Doing

A circuit breaker is a safety device. Its job is to shut off power when something isn’t right like when a circuit is overloaded, overheating, or if something’s going on with the wiring. So, when a breaker trips, it’s not “broken.” Think of it like it’s trying to protect your home (as inconvenient as it can feel sometimes).

The problem isn’t that it tripped. The problem is when it keeps tripping and you don’t know why…which is probably why you’re reading this!

The Most Common Reason: Too Much on One Circuit

This is hands down the most common cause: too much on one circuit. Modern homes use a lot of electricity. Older Maine homes especially weren’t built for today’s loads! When too many things are running on the same circuit, the breaker shuts it down to prevent overheating.

This might look like:

• Trying to run electric space heaters

• Laundry machines and other high-draw devices

• High motor loads on the same circuit

  
  

An overloaded circuit is one of the first things a licensed Maine electrician will check when a breaker keeps tripping. Plug something into an already busy circuit, and the breaker doesn’t stand a chance (queue funeral procession music for your breaker).

Another Possibility: Something Isn’t Wired Right

If a breaker trips immediately and won’t stay on, even with everything unplugged, that can point to a short circuit or ground fault.

This can be caused by:

• Damaged wiring

• Loose wiring

• A bad outlet or switch

• Moisture (common in basements, garages, and older homes)

  
  

This is where you want to stop resetting the breaker and call a Master electrician (like Kyle at Genesis Electric). These issues can become safety hazards if ignored.

Sometimes… It’s Just an Old Breaker

This is a really non-exciting reason, but it is often a reason. Breakers wear out, especially in older electrical panels. If a breaker trips easily, feels loose, or won’t reset properly, it may simply be failing. Unfortunately, we see this a lot in older homes. Sometimes replacing the breaker solves the problem, but it could be a sign that the panel itself is outdated. A residential electrician can tell the difference for you pretty quickly.

Is It Dangerous If a Breaker Keeps Tripping?

Maybe. An occasional trip with a clear reason isn’t usually a big deal. Repeated or unexplained tripping is different, and it shouldn’t be ignored.

Pay attention if:

• A breaker trips daily or weekly

• It won’t stay on

• You notice burning smells or humming noises

• Outlets, breakers, or switches that feel warm

  
  

In our opinion, those are all solid reasons to call a local electrician.

What You Can (and Shouldn’t) Do Yourself

Listen, I’m all for DIY. If it saves me money and costs a reasonable amount of time, I’m all about it (ask Kyle how frugal I can be). There are some things you can do, and other things you shouldn’t.

You can:

• Unplug space heaters if you have them running

• Spread appliances across different circuits

• Avoid running multiple high draw devices at once

  
  

What you shouldn’t do is keep resetting a breaker over and over and hope for the best. Electrical systems don’t just fix themselves; they tend to warn you when something isn’t right.

When to Call an Electrical Contractor Near You

If your breakers keep tripping and you’re not sure why, or winter heating seems to be pushing your system too hard, it’s worth having it looked at by a licensed electrician. If you smell something off, or it keeps making humming noises, you should reach out.

At Genesis Electric, we help homeowners across Maine figure out what’s normal and what needs fixing. We’re happy to give you a free electrical estimate before we do the job, too. Sometimes it’s just a simple adjustment, and other times it’s a bigger issue. Either way, it’s better to know than to not do anything about it.

If your breaker keeps tripping, your home is trying to tell you something, and we’re a message or call away to help you interpret what it’s trying to say.