The circuit breaker might not look like much, but it’s one of the most important safety devices in your home. It’s designed to stop electrical issues before they turn into something dangerous, like shocks, overheating, or fires. But breakers don’t last forever. If one starts to fail and goes unchecked, it puts your whole system and your safety at risk. Here’s how to spot the warning signs that a circuit breaker needs to be replaced and why it’s critical not to ignore them.
How Do Circuit Breakers Work?
A circuit breaker detects electrical overloads and disconnects power when one occurs. In general, circuit breakers use one of two methods to do that. One is thermal overload detection. That involves passing the circuit's power through a heat-sensitive bimetallic strip. When there's too much current, that strip heats up and deforms to break the circuit. The other method relies on an electromagnet. Under normal load, the electromagnet inside a circuit breaker isn't very powerful. However, when there's an abnormally high current, the magnet becomes strong enough to trigger a spring-loaded switch. That switch interrupts the circuit, halting the flow of electricity. There are also circuit breakers with built-in ground fault or arc-fault protection. The former detects any imbalance in the outgoing and returning current. When there's a discrepancy, the breaker trips. That protects you from electrocution in the event of a short circuit. The latter can sense abnormal electrical arcs and disconnect when detecting one. That can help prevent fires when electricity flows where it shouldn't.
What Are the Common Signs of Circuit Breaker Trouble?
The simplicity of modern basic circuit breakers ensures their reliability and longevity. Still, circuit breakers can and do malfunction or wear out prematurely. Here are the signs to look for that you need a new circuit breaker.
Frequent Trips
One of the signs that you need a new circuit breaker is frequent tripping. That's especially true if you're not knowingly using high-power devices on a circuit. Since circuit breakers only trip in response to overloads, frequent tripping can only mean one of three things. One is that you've plugged too many things into the circuit's outlets. If you unplug some devices and the breaker stops tripping, you've found the problem. Then, you can decide if you want the circuit upgraded to support a higher amperage. Another potential cause of a frequently tripping breaker is a short circuit in a plugged-in device or your home's wiring. In that situation, your circuit breaker is working as intended to protect you and your home. The third potential cause is a fault in the circuit breaker itself. You need a professional electrician to identify and fix the problem in either situation.
Burning Smells
Another sign of a faulty circuit breaker is the presence of burning smells in and around your electrical panel. That can happen when a breaker fails and allows more current than a circuit can withstand. The excess heat caused by the additional current can begin melting wire insulation or the circuit breaker's housing. In either case, you need an electrician's assistance immediately.
Buzzing Noises
Buzzing sounds coming from a circuit breaker are another indication of trouble. The sound can result from a damaged wire allowing stray voltage to jump to a nearby metal surface. Or, it can happen inside a circuit breaker's mechanism itself. The buzzing might precede the previous sign of trouble as the breaker's housing melts from the sparks.
Breaker Hot to Touch
Finally, any breaker that feels hot to the touch will likely need replacement or upgrade. It's not necessarily unusual for a breaker to feel warm when under normal electrical loads. It's a natural result of the electrical resistance in the mechanism. However, breakers should never feel hot, much less too hot for you to touch. That may indicate a serious malfunction or that you're pushing your circuit to its maximum load for too long.
Frequently Asked Circuit Breaker Questions
What Can Happen if You Ignore a Failing Circuit Breaker?
At a minimum, ignoring a failing circuit breaker could result in an unreliable circuit. However, it can also create some significant safety concerns. The most important risk is that of an electrical fire. One of the reasons your home has circuit breakers is that overloaded circuits generate heat. That heat itself can cause fires if left unchecked for too long. It can also lead to damaged wiring that allows stray currents to start a fire. That risk isn't insignificant, either. The US has approximately 53,600 residential electrical fires annually, causing over $1.4 billion in damage.
Why Is It Dangerous to Delay a Circuit Breaker Upgrade?
Failing circuit breakers aren't the only reason you might need a breaker replacement. How you use a given circuit may occasionally change and call for a new breaker. For example, imagine you wanted to plug a chest freezer into an outlet in your kitchen. You can reasonably expect the circuit powering your countertop outlets to have a 20-amp capacity. However, that might not be true of your kitchen's wall outlets. Plugging a large appliance like a chest freezer into those outlets could stretch that circuit to its limits. To correct the problem, you'd need the circuit's wiring and circuit breaker upgraded. If you didn't, the excess electrical demand could lead to the degradation of the circuit's wiring and, eventually, a failure.
Can I Upgrade a Circuit Breaker Myself?
You should never try to replace or upgrade a circuit breaker yourself. Replacing circuit breakers is a dangerous job for someone without extensive training. If you perform the work incorrectly, you'll have a malfunctioning circuit. You also increase your fire risk, and your home insurer may refuse to cover the resulting damage. Also, you could damage your electrical panel, turning a relatively inexpensive task into an expensive repair.
Your Electrician for Circuit Breaker Replacement
If you believe one of your home's circuit breakers needs replacement, don't ignore it. Instead, turn to Mister Sparky® for help. Our trained, licensed, and insured electricians can quickly diagnose circuit breaker issues. Then, we can recommend the right solution to ensure your safety and your electrical system's functionality. We offer StraightForward Pricing®, so you never have to worry about surprise charges. And all our work comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. We even provide 24/7 emergency services for circuit breaker problems that can't wait. So, contact Mister Sparky® of New Haven today for all your home's circuit breaker upgrade and replacement needs!
