Short answer
A circuit breaker trips to stop a circuit that is overloaded or faulted. Unplug what was in use and reset it once. If it trips immediately, or you notice heat, buzzing or a burning smell, leave the circuit off and ask an electrician. If there is fire or smoke, leave and call 911.
On this page
What a trip means
A circuit breaker is a safety device. It opens when the circuit is drawing more current than it is meant to, or when it detects a fault. Resetting it puts the circuit back in use. It does not repair the cause.
One reset, after you have unplugged the appliance that was running, is a reasonable check. A breaker that trips again straight away, or that will not stay on, should be left off.
Common reasons
- Too much load on one circuit, often a heater, kettle, hair dryer or several high-power appliances together.
- A damaged appliance or cord. Unplug it before you reset the breaker.
- A fault in the outlet, switch or cable, including a loose connection.
- An AFCI or GFCI breaker reacting to an arc or a ground fault. That can be a real fault or a failing device. Either way it needs a proper check if it keeps happening.
- A worn breaker. Replacing one is electrical work, not a DIY swap inside a live panel.
What you can check safely
Note which rooms went off and what was switched on. Unplug portable appliances on that circuit. Look, without touching a damaged device, for a warm wall plate, discoloration or a smell of hot plastic. Do not open the panel, and do not hold a breaker on if it wants to trip.
The National Fire Protection Association lists frequent blown fuses or tripping breakers, a tingling feeling from an appliance, discolored or warm outlets, a burning smell, flickering lights and sparks as reasons to call a qualified electrician.
When to leave and call 911
Leave the building and call 911 if you see fire or smoke, or if someone is injured. Do not try to find the fault first. A burning smell with no visible fire is still a reason to switch off the affected circuit, if you can do that safely, and to get an electrician.
What an electrician does
The visit starts with the symptom: which breaker, what was in use, and whether anything was hot or smelled of burning. Testing then separates an overloaded circuit, a faulty appliance and a fault in the wiring. The repair depends on that result.
For a trip that will not reset, or any sign of heat or burning, start with an emergency electrician. For a circuit that fails occasionally and is not hot or smelling, an electrical repair request is the better fit. This site does not carry out the work and does not set the price.
Sources
Questions
Should I keep resetting the breaker?
No. One reset is enough to see whether the circuit stays on. Repeated trips mean the circuit should stay off until it is checked.
Can a new appliance cause the trip?
Yes. Unplug it and see if the breaker stays on. If the trips continue with it unplugged, the fault is elsewhere.
Need this done? Read the Emergency electrician guide, or start a request.
Electrical problem? Find an electrician near you.
From tripping circuit breakers and faulty outlets to urgent electrical repairs, finding the right professional starts with explaining the problem.