Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping? Causes and Fixes
Chameera Sampath · 10/18/2026
Why a breaker keeps tripping: telling an overload from a short circuit, ground fault, arc fault or worn breaker, a step-by-step check, and what never to do.
A circuit breaker that keeps tripping is doing its job: it opens the circuit when current exceeds a safe level or when it detects a fault. The pattern of the trip, immediately, after a delay, or only when a particular appliance runs, usually identifies the cause. Four causes account for almost all cases: overload, short circuit, ground fault and arc fault.
Quick answer. A breaker that trips after running for a while is usually overloaded. One that trips instantly when reset or when something is switched on points to a short circuit or ground fault. A GFCI or AFCI breaker that trips points to leakage or arcing. Resetting once is reasonable; resetting repeatedly, or replacing the breaker with a larger one, is not.
Identify the pattern
| What happens | Most likely cause |
|---|---|
| Trips after minutes or hours of normal use | Overload |
| Trips the moment it is reset, with everything unplugged | Short circuit or ground fault in the wiring |
| Trips the moment one appliance is switched on | Fault in that appliance or its cord |
| GFCI breaker or receptacle trips, often in wet weather | Ground fault or moisture |
| AFCI breaker trips, sometimes with no obvious load | Arcing, a loose connection, or a shared neutral |
| Trips at random with very light load, breaker warm | Worn or failing breaker |
Overload
An overload is more current than the circuit is rated for, flowing through the normal path. A 15 A circuit at 120 V can supply 1,800 W in total, and about 1,440 W for loads left running for hours. A space heater (1,500 W) and a hair dryer (1,800 W) on the same circuit exceed it on their own.
Overloads trip on a delay because the breaker's thermal element must heat up. The fix is to move loads to other circuits or to add a circuit. The breaker size calculator shows how load and breaker rating relate, and the Christmas lights guide works through a seasonal example.
Short circuit
A short circuit is a hot conductor touching a neutral or another hot conductor, producing a very high current that trips the breaker almost instantly. Causes include damaged insulation, loose connections, pierced cables and faulty appliances. See what a short circuit is.
Ground fault
A ground fault is current flowing from a hot conductor to ground: through a metal box, a damp connection, or a person. A large ground fault trips a standard breaker like a short circuit. A small one, a few milliamperes, trips a GFCI device and nothing else. Recurring GFCI trips usually trace to moisture outdoors or to an appliance with internal leakage.
Arc fault
AFCI breakers trip when they detect the electrical signature of arcing: a loose terminal screw, a damaged cord, a nail through a cable. They can also trip when two circuits share a neutral, or with some motors and older electronics. Because the arc itself may draw little current, an AFCI trip is worth investigating even when nothing looks wrong. See GFCI vs AFCI.
Worn breaker
Breakers wear, especially ones that have tripped many times or have been used as switches. A breaker that trips under light load, feels hot, or will not stay latched may need replacing with one of the same type and rating listed for the panel, which is work for a licensed electrician.
Step-by-step check
- Note what was running when the breaker tripped.
- Switch off and unplug everything on that circuit.
- Reset the breaker by pushing it fully off, then on.
- If it trips immediately with nothing connected, the fault is in the fixed wiring. Leave it off and call an electrician.
- If it holds, plug devices back in one at a time. If one trips it at once, that device is faulty.
- If it only trips after time with several loads running, the circuit is overloaded: move loads to other circuits.
- For GFCI trips, check outdoor receptacles, covers and cord connections for moisture.
What not to do
- Do not replace the breaker with a larger one. The rating protects the wire. A 20 A breaker on 14 AWG wire lets the wire overheat before the breaker trips.
- Do not hold a breaker on or tape it in the on position.
- Do not keep resetting a breaker that trips instantly; each reset into a fault stresses the wiring and the breaker.
- Do not replace a GFCI or AFCI breaker with a standard one to stop nuisance trips.
When to call an electrician
- The breaker trips instantly with nothing plugged in.
- There is a burning smell, scorch marks, warm switch plates or receptacles, or buzzing.
- The breaker or panel is hot to the touch.
- Trips continue after loads have been redistributed.
- The panel is an older model known for defects, or shows rust or water damage.
Frequently asked questions
Is it dangerous if a circuit breaker keeps tripping? The tripping itself is the protection working. The cause, an overload, short or arc, can be dangerous if ignored.
Why does my breaker trip at night? Heating loads such as space heaters and electric blankets often run together in the evening and overload a shared circuit.
Can a breaker go bad? Yes. Breakers wear with age and repeated tripping. A breaker that trips under light load or will not reset may need replacement.
Why does the breaker trip when the microwave and kettle run together? Each draws well over 1,000 W; together they exceed a 15 A or 20 A circuit. Kitchens have dedicated 20 A circuits for this reason.
Scope
This guide covers 120/240 V residential circuits in the United States. Diagnosing faults in fixed wiring and replacing breakers should be carried out by a licensed electrician.
Written by Chameera Sampath. Not yet reviewed by a licensed electrician — see the methodology page. To report an error, use the contact page.