How to Tell if a Circuit Breaker Is Bad (and What to Do About It)

As a homeowner, your circuit breaker may not be the first thing on your mind, but this is an essential part of your home. Typically found in an electrical service panel, circuit breakers essentially control all electrical appliances in the house. But how can you tell if your circuit breaker is bad?

1. The Circuit Breaker Has a Burning Odor

If you notice a burning scent coming from the electrical panel, the wires and insulation are likely overheating or something else is malfunctioning. This could mean your circuit breaker is not able to adequately protect your house from a fire, so this is a definite warning sign you should call a professional electrician in your area.

2. There Is Visible Physical Damage

Another sign your circuit breaker is not working correctly is visible marks around the breaker, such as scorch marks or tattered wires. This typically indicates that the wiring is melted and thus failing. 

Make sure you unplug anything from the circuit breaker to prevent incidents, and call a professional as soon as possible.

3. The Breaker Is Frequently Tripping

A circuit breaker that trips means that the circuit shuts itself off after recognizing a malfunction, consequently preventing dangerous problems. In fact, a circuit breaker that trips is actually protecting you by turning itself off to fend off potential fires.

There are a few issues that may cause a breaker to trip frequently, like an overloaded circuit or shorted circuit in the home, but it may also just be time for a replacement. Calling an electrician will help you determine whether you can fix the problem, if you should get a new circuit breaker, or if there is something more serious going on with the wiring in your home.

What To Do If You Have a Bad Circuit Breaker

1. Identify the Circuit the Breaker Is Protecting

The first thing to do after identifying a circuit breaker issue is to figure out which circuit the breaker is protecting. Your circuit breaker should have a label that clearly indicates this.

2. Unplug all Electric Devices

Next, switch the breaker into the “OFF” position and unplug or disconnect everything from that circuit. This is a preventative measure against electrical surges or other electrical issues occurring.

3. Reset the Circuit Breaker

Reset the circuit breaker by switching it back into the “ON” position. Note: You should hear a click when you do this. If the circuit breaker doesn’t immediately trip, the problem was probably an overloaded circuit, which means the circuit was being used for more electricity than it could handle.

In this case, you should move some of the plugs originally in that circuit to a different one, and then reset the breaker again. 

However, if the circuit breaker trips again, then the problem is either a short circuit or a bad breaker. A short circuit means there is some sort of fault in the wiring. If the circuit breaker trips immediately, this is a sign to call a professional electrician and diagnose the issue.

When to Upgrade Your Circuit Breaker

If you ignore bad circuit breaker warning signs, serious issues could arise. For instance, the circuit breaker could overheat and result in an electrical fire. Call in a professional as soon as possible to remove and replace your circuit breaker.

Older Homes Often Need Electric Panel Upgrades

Various electrical appliances can cause circuit breakers to trip. This is common in older homes, where the appliances are using too much electricity.

If your circuit breaker often trips while many appliances are running, the circuit breaker is likely overloaded, posing fire hazards and indicating the need for a circuit breaker upgrade.