You’ve got your blow dryer going. Your space heater running. And a vacuum cleaning. Then, it suddenly shuts off. Yup, we’ve all done it. Your unexpected shutdown was triggered by the circuit breaker. In order to prevent house fires (created by an overload), your home service panel cuts it off.
But, the best way to stay safe is to prevent an overload to begin with.
Define “circuit overload”
We’ll make it easy for you – your electrical circuit is designed to handle a limited amount of electricity. Everything you plug into an outlet takes up electricity. When you exceed that limited amount, it causes the circuit breaker to trip and shut off power to that circuit. (Think of this like a defensive mechanism.)
To reduce your circuit load, try a few different things:
- Install new circuits for appropriate use.
- Use different circuits for appliances.
- Don’t turn on too many things at once.
- Switch to LED or fluorescent bulbs.
How to spot an overloaded circuit
Besides a tripping breaker, there’s other ways to know if you’re overloading your circuit.
- Outlets or switches making a buzzing noise
- Outlets or switches that are warm when touched
- Burning odors arising from those outlets or switches
- Dimming lights when using electricity
In any of the cases, please contact us to handle the problem immediately. It could also be a wiring issue, loose connection or short circuit. All of which is better when handled by a licensed professional.