Tripped circuit breaker: many of us have experienced them at some point in our homes, yet instead of asking ourselves, “Why Do Breakers Trip?”, we reset the breaker without much thought. Before flipping the switch back over to the “ON” position, however, it’s important to understand why the breaker tripped in the first place, and what can be done to keep it from happening again.

As a Top Dallas Electrician, ElectricMan Inc. understands the danger of ignoring the warning signs of a tripped circuit breaker. But first, you need to know what a breaker does and how it works.

The Job of the Circuit Breaker

Simply put, a home or business circuit breaker is a safety device that monitors the amount of electrical current going through the electrical wires in your home and shuts off the circuit if too much electricity is being pulled through it, or if there is any disturbance in the current that could result in a fire.

Whereas a fuse performs the same task but can only be used once, a circuit breaker can perform over and over with the use of a switch that trips to indicate when it has effectively cut off current to a particular area.

What Makes a Breaker Trip?

So, Why Do Breakers Trip and what kind of things could cause a circuit breaker to trip? Some of the most common causes of a tripped breaker include:

For example, in some homes, running a microwave, a toaster oven and a refrigerator all on the same circuit may cause your wires to overheat, tripping the breaker. In this instance, making the load a little lighter, or splitting the circuit, may do the trick in keeping it from tripping the breaker.

Ignoring a Tripped Breaker is Not a Good Idea

Because of the many reasons why your circuit breaker could be tripping, and because of the purpose of the circuit breaker, you should never take a tripped breaker lightly. It’s important to understand that the circuit breaker is a safety device; simply switching the circuit back on without investigating the culprit can become costly in the long run and, in many cases, extremely dangerous.

If your breaker trips consistently, chances are there is a potentially dangerous electrical issue that needs to be looked at. ElectricMan Inc. is a Top Dallas Electrician with over 27 years of residential and commercial experience in the electrical field. Call ElectricMan Inc. at 972-792-7270 to make sure that your home is safe and free from the risk of a short or a fire.

If you’re looking for something that will yield a good ROI for your home, then why not schedule an electrical safety inspection in Fairfax, VA?

Why Investing in an Electrical Safety Inspection in Fairfax, VA Is Wise

When the subject of investing in your home comes up, a lot of people think about living room makeovers, installing a hot tub, or upgrading to a smart kitchen. However, what too many homeowners overlook is a relatively small investment that can both help keep you and your family safe while simultaneously increasing the value of your home.

Interesting, right?

The investment we’re referring to is an electrical safety inspection. This is a careful, methodical, and comprehensive inspection of your home’s complete electrical system by our Master Electricians. It includes:

Once the entire electrical system has been inspected, we prepare a report for you with our findings. This can include things that need to be upgraded or repaired, as well as recommendations for increasing the capacity of your system to meet the demands of a modern lifestyle.

Of course, you’re probably wondering why all of this is so important? There are a number of reasons: