Tripped Breaker

The circuit breaker is designed to be the weak link in your electrical system—when an issue arises with a circuit, the breaker will “trip,” or cut power to the circuit. This protects the wires and fixtures within your electrical panel and prevents the system from overheating and starting fires.

A tripped breaker looks like it is between the ON and OFF positions. Most breakers can be reset simply by flipping the switch OFF and then ON. In some cases, however, a breaker will continue to trip after it has been reset. This could be a sign that appliances are simply overloading the circuit, but it could also indicate a more serious problem like a short circuit or a ground fault. If your breaker continues to trip even after you have unplugged appliances, contact a licensed electrician to diagnose and repair the problem.