Breaker keeps tripping?

A breaker that trips is doing its job: it shuts a circuit off before the wiring overheats. Most often the circuit is overloaded, or one appliance or cord on it is faulty. A breaker that trips again right after you reset it is a different matter, and it needs an electrician.

Not sure which one it is? Snap your electrical panel and we’ll narrow it down.

Is part of the house without power, rather than a breaker tripping again and again?

Lost power in some rooms has its own set of causes. Part of the house has no power

Likely causes

  1. Overloaded circuit

    Most commonModerate DIY

    It trips after a few minutes when several big loads run at once, such as space heaters, hair dryers and kitchen appliances on the same circuit. It holds fine when only one is on. The fix is moving a load to another circuit, or having an electrician add a circuit.

  2. Faulty appliance or cord

    Most commonEasy DIY

    It trips when one particular thing is plugged in or switched on. Unplug everything on the circuit, reset the breaker once, then add items back one at a time. The one that trips it is the culprit, so stop using it.

  3. Short circuit

    CommonCall a pro

    It trips instantly when you reset it, often with a pop, or you see a burn mark or melted plastic at an outlet, switch or plug. Leave the breaker off and call an electrician.

  4. Ground fault

    CommonCall a pro

    It trips when something is wet or damp, or a damaged cord or device lets current leak. It may trip on a kitchen, bathroom, garage or outdoor circuit, especially after rain. Unplug everything on the circuit and see whether it still trips.

  5. AFCI or GFCI breaker doing its job

    Less commonCall a pro

    The breaker has a small test button on it. These breakers trip on arcing or leaking current that an ordinary breaker would miss, which can come from a damaged cord or a loose connection. Treat the trip as a real warning, not a nuisance.

  6. Worn breaker

    Less commonCall a pro

    It trips with little or nothing plugged in, or it feels loose or hot. Only an electrician can tell a worn breaker from a wiring problem, so don't swap it yourself.

Quick checks

Reset a breaker once. If it trips again right away, leave it off and call an electrician. Never replace a breaker with a bigger one, and never hold, tape or jam a breaker on: the breaker is what stops the wiring from overheating. Never remove the panel cover. Parts inside stay live even with the main breaker off. A burning smell, scorch marks, buzzing or a warm panel means call an electrician now. If you see smoke or fire, get everyone out and call 911.

  1. Note which breaker tripped and what was running on that circuit when it did.
  2. Unplug or switch off everything on that circuit, including space heaters, hair dryers and kitchen appliances.
  3. Reset the breaker once: push the handle fully to off, then back to on.
  4. If it stays on, add items back one at a time. If one of them trips it, stop using that item.
  5. If the circuit trips only when several big loads run together, move one to a different circuit.
  6. If it trips again right away, leave the breaker off and call an electrician. Photograph the breaker and its label, with the panel cover left on.
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Snap one of these:

  • the open panel door showing the breakers (cover left on)
  • the breaker that keeps tripping and its label
  • what's plugged into that circuit
  • any scorch marks or melted plastic

Add a note or more photos next. Nobody calls you.

When to call a pro

A breaker that trips again right after you reset it, a pop, a burn mark or melted plastic, a breaker or panel that feels warm, buzzing, or a circuit that trips with nothing on it. Also call one if a circuit is overloaded and you need a new one. Moving a load or unplugging a faulty appliance is a DIY job, but nothing inside the panel is. For the panel itself, see the electrical panel guide. If only part of the house is out, see part of the house has no power.

Typical cost: Mostly free if the fix is unplugging a faulty appliance or moving a load. An electrician charges $50–130 an hour, and a service call runs $100–200 for the first hour, with an after-hours trip charge of $100 or more. Replacing a breaker switch runs about $200–250. Adding a circuit averages about $700 ($570–1,000).

Sources: HomeAdvisor: How much does an electrician cost? (updated June 19, 2026), HomeAdvisor: Cost to install a dedicated circuit (updated June 19, 2026), Fixr: Cost to replace or upgrade an electrical panel (updated January 31, 2025)

After a scan, Fixology can also help you find pros near you.

Related problems

  • Part of the house has no power?

    Electrical panel

    Some rooms or outlets dead while the rest work, usually a tripped breaker or GFCI outlet, sometimes a lost leg of the utility service.

  • Furnace won't heat?

    FurnaceFall

    The furnace runs but the house stays cold, which is usually a clogged filter, a thermostat setting, or an ignition fault.

  • Heat pump not heating?

    Heat pumpFall

    The heat pump runs but the house stays cold, which is usually thermostat settings, a clogged filter, or an iced-over outdoor unit.

  • Washer won't drain?

    Washer

    Water is left in the drum after the cycle, which is usually a clogged pump filter or a kinked drain hose.

Fixology helps you understand your home — it isn't a substitute for a licensed pro on serious gas, electrical, or structural work.