A breaker that trips occasionally is doing its job. A breaker that will not stay on is telling you something is still wrong on that circuit right now.
Reset it properly first
Most breakers do not reset from the middle position. Push the handle firmly all the way to OFF, then back to ON. If it holds, you had a simple overload. If it snaps straight back off, stop.
What it means when it will not hold
- An overload. Too much on one circuit. Unplug everything on it and try again. If it holds with nothing connected, add items back one at a time to find the culprit.
- A short circuit. A hot conductor touching a neutral or ground. The breaker trips instantly and hard, every time, with nothing plugged in. This is a real fault that needs tracing.
- A ground fault. Current escaping to ground, often through moisture. Common on exterior outlets, garages and basements, especially after heavy rain.
- A failed appliance. A motor that has shorted internally. Freezers, sump pumps, well pumps and window units are frequent causes.
- A worn-out breaker. Breakers are mechanical and they do fail, particularly after many trips.
- Damaged cable. A screw or nail driven through a wire during past work, or rodent damage.
Narrow it down before you call
Unplug everything on the dead circuit, including anything hardwired you can switch off. Reset the breaker. If it holds now, the fault is in something you unplugged. Plug items back one at a time, waiting a minute between each. If it trips with the circuit completely empty, the fault is in the wiring and it needs an electrician.
Either result is useful. Telling us which one it is saves diagnostic time and money.
What not to do
Do not hold the breaker in the ON position. It is designed to trip and forcing it defeats the only protection that circuit has.
Do not fit a larger breaker. The breaker is sized to protect the wire in your wall. Putting a 20-amp breaker on 14-gauge wire lets the wire overheat inside the wall before the breaker ever notices. This is one of the most common and most dangerous things we find in homes where someone tried to solve a nuisance trip themselves.
Do not ignore an AFCI or GFCI that keeps tripping. Those detect specific dangerous conditions, and nuisance trips are far rarer than people assume.
What it costs
A diagnostic visit starts at $225, which covers the trip and the first hour of labor, including small fixes finished on the spot. Additional time is $125 per hour. If the repair turns into something larger, we price it before we do it.
Who to call
Voltus Energy Solutions is a licensed and insured New Jersey electrical contractor based in Montclair, NJ license #34EI01906000. A licensed electrician handles your job start to finish, and we answer the phone at (973) 382-9995 around the clock.
We serve homeowners across Essex, Union, Passaic and Morris counties, including Montclair, Glen Ridge, Bloomfield, Belleville, Nutley, Verona, Cedar Grove, West Orange, Orange, South Orange, Maplewood, Livingston, Caldwell, Millburn, Short Hills and Springfield.