Learning how to reset a tripped breaker — and doing so safely — is something many homeowners can manage on their own. As a top electrician in Poway, CA, we’re here to break down the steps so you can return power to your property.
Steps for Resetting a Tripped Breaker in Poway, CA
Although resetting a tripped circuit breaker at your Poway, CA, home is not difficult, it does require following specific steps to do the job safely.
Find the Breaker Panel
Your circuit breaker panel will have a series of breakers in horizontal or vertical rows, usually inside a metal box. In your Southern California home, it’s common to find circuit breaker panels in areas like the:
- Basement
- Garage
- Utility closet
- Exterior wall
- Pantry
It should be at least four feet off the ground and easily reachable without needing a stepladder.
Inspect the Breakers
Look at the rows inside the panel. They should look a little bit like oversized light switches. All the switches in a row or column should be facing the same direction.
If you see a single breaker that is in a neutral position or is pointing in the opposite direction of the others, this is the tripped breaker. Some will show an orange or red tab when they trip. Note that you might need a flashlight to see the breakers clearly.
Reset the Breaker
To reset the tripped breaker, flip it to the opposite position of the others. After a couple of seconds, flip it back to the normal position.
If you take these steps and it won’t remain in the proper position, call us for help.
Keep Safety in Mind
If you simply don’t feel comfortable working around your circuit breaker panel, our licensed electricians are happy to help. Call us if you ever see exposed wiring, damaged metal, or damaged plastic around this area. Your home’s entire electrical current moves through this panel, and a damaged one could expose you to a deadly shock.
Why Your Circuit Breaker Is Tripping
Figuring out how to reset a tripped breaker is just the first step. If the circuit breaker is tripping repeatedly, you will want to determine the underlying cause. Should you want our licensed electricians to help you identify the problem, we are happy to help.
Most of the time, frequent trips are due to the following issues:
- Short circuit: You may have a problem with an outlet’s wiring. Perhaps hot wires are touching neutral wires, for example, causing a short circuit. Our licensed technicians can track down the issue for you.
- Ground fault: A similar wiring problem occurs when a ground wire is touching a live wire. This ground fault causes the circuit breaker to trip.
- Damaged breaker: Your breaker could be tripping constantly because it has some damage. Our expert electricians can test the breaker’s performance and replace it if necessary.
- Overloaded circuit breaker: Temperatures routinely reach the 80s — and sometimes higher — during summer days in Poway, CA. You don’t want your air conditioner to malfunction because of a circuit breaker that keeps tripping. Our team can visit the property and determine whether the air conditioner kicking on is overloading a particular breaker. We can potentially add new breakers or increase the capacity on a certain breaker to alleviate the issue.
Let Point Loma Electric and Plumbing Help With All Your Electrical Needs in Poway, CA
Although figuring out how to reset a tripped breaker is a simple process for most people, the cause behind the electrical overload might not be. Let our professionals figure out the underlying cause for the breaker trip.
We are proud to serve our neighbors in Poway, CA. Whether you live near Potato Chip Rock, Maderas Golf Club, or Interstate 15, we serve your neighborhood. Our technicians are familiar with the entire San Diego metro area, and we know how to navigate traffic to arrive on time to help with your electrical issue.
At Point Loma Electric and Plumbing, we can help with installing a new outlet, rewiring a house, and everything in between. You can trust us to provide you with outstanding service, no matter what issue you’re dealing with.
Have you been wondering how to reset a tripped breaker? Do you need help dealing with an unexpected electrical issue? Don’t struggle with this problem alone. To learn more about how Point Loma Electric and Plumbing can serve you in Poway, CA, or the surrounding area, reach out to us today.
