If part of your home suddenly loses power, a tripped breaker is the most common cause. Breakers shut off automatically to protect your electrical system from overloads, short circuits, or faulty appliances.
Resetting a breaker is simple — but there’s a right and wrong way to do it. Here’s how to reset it safely and what to do if it keeps tripping.
1. Find Your Electrical Panel
Your breaker panel is usually located in one of these spots:
- Basement
- Garage
- Utility room
- Laundry room
- Closet
- Sometimes outside near the meter
Open the panel door to view all the breaker switches.
2. Identify the Tripped Breaker
A tripped breaker looks different from the ON or OFF switches. Look for:
- A switch that sits in the middle
- A switch that looks slightly misaligned
- A switch with an orange or red window showing (on some brands)
Tip: Most panels label their circuits:
- “Kitchen”
- “Bathroom outlets”
- “Microwave”
- “AC”
- “Lights”
- “Garage”
This helps you know what lost power.
3. Reset the Breaker the Right Way
Most people try to flip the breaker ON — but that won’t work.
You MUST reset it properly:
Correct reset method:
- Push the breaker firmly to the OFF position
- Then push it back to ON
You should feel a click both times.
If you don’t turn it fully OFF first, the breaker won’t reset.
4. Test the Circuit
Go back to the area that lost power and check:
- Lights
- Outlets
- Appliances
- Switches
If everything works, you’re good.
If the breaker instantly trips again — there’s a problem on that circuit.
5. What Causes a Breaker to Trip?
Here are the most common causes:
A. Overloaded Circuit (#1 cause)
Too many high-power devices on one circuit:
- Space heaters
- Microwaves
- Vacuums
- Hair dryers
- Air fryers
- Toasters
Older homes are very prone to this.
Fix: Unplug something → reset breaker → try again.
B. Short Circuit
A hot wire touches another wire or metal surface.
Signs:
- Burning smell
- Sparks
- Breaker trips instantly
- Scorch marks on outlet or plug
Fix: Stop using that outlet or device immediately.
Call an electrician.
C. Faulty Appliance
Sometimes the device itself is the problem.
Common offenders:
- Microwaves
- Coffee makers
- Vacuums
- Portable heaters
Fix:
Unplug everything on the circuit → reset breaker → plug items in one at a time to find the bad appliance.
D. Ground Fault
Happens when a hot wire contacts a grounded surface.
Often occurs in:
- Bathrooms
- Kitchens
- Garages
- Outdoor outlets
You may need to reset the GFCI outlet instead of the breaker.
6. When NOT to Reset the Breaker Again
Stop resetting and call an electrician if:
- You smell burning
- You see scorch marks
- The breaker trips instantly every time
- Lights flicker when devices turn on
- Outlets feel hot
- The breaker is buzzing
These can indicate a dangerous electrical issue.
7. Prevent Future Breaker Trips
Here’s how to reduce trips:
- Don’t run multiple high-watt appliances on one circuit
- Replace damaged cords/outlets
- Avoid daisy-chaining power strips
- Keep appliances on their own circuits when possible
- Upgrade old wiring in older homes
Summary
Resetting a breaker is simple:
- Find the tripped breaker
- Flip it fully OFF
- Flip it back ON
But if a breaker keeps tripping, don’t ignore it — it’s your home’s way of telling you something’s wrong.