The occasional tripped circuit breaker box is common for most households. However, when it becomes a weekly or daily issue, there is an underlying problem with your electrical system. While your breaker might be stopping any imminent damage from occurring, you must discover the cause of the excess electricity flow so you can prevent a house fire.

Why Does Your Breaker Box Keeps Tripping?

1. Circuit Overload

When the devices plugged into a circuit require a higher current than what is available, it will cause the circuit breaker box to trip. For example, if a circuit can only produce 15 amps, but the electrical device you’ve plugged into requires 20 amps, the circuit will overload, and the breaker will shut off electrical flow to that area; this will prevent it from overheating and possibly starting a fire.

You can test for circuit overloading by redistributing electrical devices to different circuits. If the breaker continues to trip, examine the appliance’s wiring for damage that might be causing a surge or talk to a contractor about updating your electrical wiring to allow for more current flow.

2. Short Circuit

Electrical wiring is designed to force electrical flow to follow a specific journey from the transformer, then to the meter box, breaker box, and individual circuits. If wiring loosens or breaks, the flowing current will seek a shorter and less resistant path to the ground.

A short circuit usually refers to a hot wire touching a neutral wire and sending a large and unexpected current flow through it. This causes the wire and nearby connections to overheat, spark, and potentially go up in flames.

3. Ground Fault

A ground fault is a type of short circuit that occurs when the hot wire touches a grounded part of the electrical system, such as the junction box, ground wire, or a grounded area of an appliance. This is a very serious problem because you could walk into it and become the closest path for the current to travel to the ground if you are not aware of the ground fault. Regularly have your home wiring and appliance wiring inspected for damage to avoid damaging shocks and fires.

When you require wiring repairs or upgrades, contact the professionals at Steve Hester & Sons, LLC. For over 25 years, this family-owned business has provided heating, cooling, and electrical work to the Little Rock, AR, metro area. Their electrical technicians specialize in meter reading, breaker box repairs, and new home wiring. Call them today at (501) 941-5119 to schedule a service call, and visit their website to learn more about their services.