You’ve probably felt the frustration of settling in to watch TV, blow-dry your hair, or use your home exercise equipment and then…poof! All the lights go out and everything shuts down. This is typically caused by a tripped circuit, and it’s something that a professional Emmitburg electrician can help you with.
What is a Tripped Circuit?
The electrical system in your house is comprised of circuits that cycle the electricity. For safety, there are circuit breakers that prevent short circuits and overloading of the wiring. When a circuit is tripped, the circuit breaker turns on and shuts off the energy flow through the affected wires.
Common Causes of Tripped Circuits
- An electrical overload is one of the most common causes of a tripped circuit. This means that the power demands for an outlet are higher than it’s made to handle, causing the breaker to trip. You may be able to prevent this by purchasing a power strip thus more evenly distributing the power supply.
- Another cause is a short circuit, where two wires in the electrical system touch. This can happen anywhere along the wiring and typically requires the electrician to trace the length of the wires from beginning to end.
- Ground fault surges occur when two or more wires cross in the ground or near the electrical box. They’re similar to short circuits, but they occur outside the home and will require a professional to find and fix.
Do You Need to Call a Professional?
If your problem is not solved by throwing the reset switch on your electrical panel, then it’s time to call a professional. Don’t attempt to take apart your electrical box yourself, and don’t try to find the short circuit or ground fault surge yourself, either. Electrical work isn’t something that a causal DIYer should tackle on his or her own. Working with electrical devices if you aren’t professionally trained can be dangerous. Contact Tim Kyle Electric your local Emmitsburg electrician today to schedule a repair.