How to Reset a Tripped Breaker
Find your main electrical panel — usually in a utility room, basement, or hallway closet. Open the panel door. Look for a breaker that's in the middle position (between On and Off) or fully flipped to Off. Push it firmly to Off first, then back to On. You should feel and hear a click.
Why Breakers Trip
Breakers trip to protect circuits from overcurrent — too many devices drawing too much power at once. Overloaded circuits are the most common cause. A single large appliance on an undersized circuit is another. Ground faults and arc faults also cause trips.
“Our kitchen breaker kept tripping. Infinite Electric found we had too many high-draw appliances on one circuit and added a dedicated circuit. Problem solved. — Zach P., Manassas VA”
When NOT to Reset — Call Us Instead
If the breaker trips immediately after resetting, stop and call. This means there's a persistent fault on the circuit — possibly a short circuit, ground fault, or failing device. Continuing to reset a faulty circuit risks overheating and fire.
If You Smell Burning, Don't Reset
If there's any burning smell near the panel or on the circuit that tripped, don't touch the breaker. Turn off the main breaker if you can do so safely, and call us immediately. Burning smell means something is overheating — resetting it makes it worse.