What Should I Do If My Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping Repeatedly?

If your circuit breaker keeps tripping, pause and treat it as a warning of an overload, short circuit, or ground fault—not a nuisance to ignore. The most common cause is an overload from too many devices on one circuit; a trip that happens instantly often points to a short, while one after a few minutes suggests overheating from load. For urgent hazards, we prioritize emergency calls during business hours. We troubleshoot these problems for homeowners across the Knoxville area, including Farragut.

Do this before you reset again:

• Unplug or switch off devices on that circuit, especially high‑draw items like space heaters or hair dryers.
• Reset correctly: push the handle fully to OFF, then to ON once; avoid repeated flipping.
• If it trips instantly, suspect a short; if it holds then trips, suspect overload; if labeled GFCI/AFCI, a ground or arc fault may be involved.
• Stop and call a licensed electrician if you smell burning, feel heat at the panel, see scorch marks, or hear buzzing.

Label what was running when it tripped so diagnosis goes faster and with fewer visits. <br/> Updated: 2026-03-25 <br/> Need help in Farragut, TN? Call (865) 224-3898 or book online. "Sidney called me back within minutes and Owen showed up 20 minutes later!" — Mark M.