5 Reasons Why Your Appliances Trip Your Circuit Breakers

If you’ve ever experienced tripped circuit breakers in your home, you know how frustrating it can be. You may not realize it, but certain appliances can draw too much current from circuits and cause them to trip, leaving you without power until the problem is resolved. In this blog post, we will discuss several reasons appliance trip your circuit breakers so that you can prevent this problem.

There’s a Short Circuit

A short circuit is a common reason for tripped circuit breakers and malfunctioning appliances. Short circuits occur when two wires that are not supposed to touch come into contact with each other.

You may experience a short circuit due to damaged wire insulation, a loose connection, or an overload of current. When the two wires touch, a sudden surge of electricity flows through the system. This causes the circuit breaker to trip and interrupts the flow of electricity to the appliance.

You Overloaded a Circuit

When you plug too many appliances into a single circuit, the circuit can become overwhelmed and cause the safety switch to trip. Typically, a circuit overloads when you run several high-powered devices at once. For instance, running a toaster, microwave, and coffee maker at the same time is likely to trip a circuit breaker.

Don’t run several appliances simultaneously if their outlets go to the same circuit to avoid this issue. Continuously overloading a circuit is bad for your device and the outlet.

Worn Out Circuit Breakers

Worn-out circuit breakers can be a primary reason your appliance trips your circuit breakers. Circuit breakers quit working properly due to constant usage, leading to inefficiency. Once this occurs, the sensitivity of the breaker reduces, making it more prone to tripping even on minimal loads.

Furthermore, worn-out circuit breakers might not be as effective against electrical surges or other power-related issues, increasing the chances of damage to your appliances.

There’s a Ground Fault

A ground fault occurs when the electrical current from the live wire comes in contact with the grounded section of the circuit box or appliance, causing an overload in the circuit. The excess current flows down to the ground wire instead of completing the circuit, causing a short circuit. Ground faults can adversely affect the wiring and the appliances plugged into the system, causing damage or fire.

The Appliance Needs a Repair

Finally, a broken appliance can be the root cause of frequent circuit breaker trips. When an appliance malfunctions, it can overheat and work harder than its intended capacity, causing a surge of electricity that can trip your circuit breaker. This is especially true if the appliance’s vent gets blocked, as this will inhibit proper ventilation and lead to overheating.

It’s essential to keep your appliances in good working condition to prevent these breakdowns. Practice routine maintenance, such as cleaning your dryer’s lint trap or ensuring your refrigerator’s coils stay free of dust and debris that could inhibit functionality.

Contact Appliance Recovery

Contact Appliance Recovery For appliance repair in the Arlington, TX, area. We’ve worked on countless appliances and can get yours working again! Plus, our experts have the knowledge to repair a range of device types, brands, and models. Contact our team today to make the soonest possible appointment.