Why does my breaker keep tripping?

A breaker trips when current exceeds its rated amperage (15A or 20A for most household circuits) or when the breaker detects a fault. Repeated tripping means one of three things is happening on that circuit — and continuing to reset the breaker only masks the underlying problem.

Cause 1 — Overload. You have too much wattage running on one circuit. Typical example: a space heater + microwave + hair dryer on the same bedroom circuit. Solution: redistribute loads across different circuits, or have an electrician add a dedicated circuit for the high-draw appliance.

Cause 2 — Short circuit. A hot (black or red) wire is touching either a neutral (white) wire or a ground (bare copper) wire somewhere in the circuit. This produces a momentary surge of current that trips the breaker instantly. Common locations: damaged extension cords, failing appliances, mouse-chewed wiring, loose backstab connections in outlets.

Cause 3 — Ground fault. Current is escaping the intended path and flowing to ground — often through water, a damp appliance, or a person. GFCI breakers and GFCI outlets are designed to trip in milliseconds to prevent electrocution. Frequent trips in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, or outdoors point to a moisture issue or a failing appliance.

What to do: identify what was running on the circuit when it tripped, unplug everything from that circuit, then reset the breaker. If it holds, plug appliances back in one at a time until you find the culprit. If the breaker trips with everything unplugged, the problem is in the wiring — call a licensed electrician.