Why is my Circuit Breaker Not Working?

If you have ever been the victim of a circuit breaker not working, you are not alone. Many people experience this problem and there are a variety of reasons that this can occur. It is important to first know why the problem is occurring. If you are ever unsure about any kind of electrical issue, such as a malfunctioning or overloaded electrical breaker, you should always call a licensed residential electrician!

Troubleshoot the Circuit

When a tripped breaker won’t reset or repeatedly trips after resetting, there could be too many appliances or lights on the circuit. This means the circuit breaker is likely serving its purpose. However, the problem could be from a damaged cord, plug,  from a short circuit in a receptacle or faulty wiring.

Proper Procedure for Resetting a Breaker

There is a right way and a wrong way to reset a breaker. The wrong way is to simply flip it to the on position. If you do that, it won’t reset. The right way is to turn the breaker all the way off – until you hear it click – then flip it on until you hear it click again. That may be all you need to do. If it trips again, though, the next thing to do is to look for problems in the circuit.

Check the GFCI Reset Button

Another easy solution that might apply when your circuit breaker is on but there is no power to its corresponding outlets is to check the GFCI reset button. Ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI, but sometimes called GFIs) are designed to act like mini circuit breakers that can cut off power.

Contact the Professionals

Working on electrical issues yourself can be dangerous. Our first priority is to keep you, your family, and your home safe. Call us at 724-266-7177.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]