What should I do first when a circuit breaker trips in my home?

The first thing to do when a circuit breaker trips is to turn it fully to OFF, unplug or switch off the devices on that circuit, then reset it to ON. Most trips happen from an overloaded circuit, not a bad breaker. If it trips again right away, stop and have a licensed electrician check for a short or ground fault. A half-moved handle isn’t reset; you need a firm click to OFF before ON. Our team regularly supports homeowners in Leo, IN with safe electrical troubleshooting as part of our generator and home power work.

Try these quick checks before calling for service:

• Identify which rooms lost power and what was running (heaters, hair dryers, vacuums).
• Look for tripped GFCI outlets (test/reset buttons) in kitchens, baths, garages, and reset them.
• Spread high-draw devices across different outlets or wait before restarting them.
• Never tape or hold a breaker on; heat, odor, or sparking means stop and call a pro.

If you’re unsure which devices share a circuit, label them during the next reset so troubleshooting is faster next time.

Updated: 2026-02-11

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