Losing power in one part of your home can be frustrating, especially when it interrupts your morning coffee or a movie night. In many cases, however, the fix is as simple as resetting a tripped circuit breaker.
At Universe Home Services, we help Long Island homeowners stay safe and informed, so here’s a beginner-friendly guide to safely reset your breaker and know when it’s time to contact our expert team for an electrical panel upgrade.
Step 1: Figure Out What Caused the Trip
Circuit breakers are safety devices that shut off power when a circuit becomes overloaded or shorted.
Some common reasons for a trip include:
- Running too many appliances at once
- A faulty or old appliance
- Power surges during storms
- Moisture in outlets or wiring
If the same breaker keeps tripping, that’s usually a sign of a deeper issue.
Step 2: Find Your Electrical Panel
Your breaker box is often located in the basement, garage or utility area. In some homes, it may even be tucked inside a closet or hallway cabinet. Open the door and scan the switches. You’re looking for one that’s not aligned with the others—typically sitting between the ON and OFF positions. Some breakers may also show a small red or orange indicator to signal that they’ve been tripped.
Step 3: Stay Safe Before You Touch Anything
Before resetting, take these basic precautions:
- Make sure your hands are dry
- Stand on a dry floor, especially in basements
- Use a flashlight if visibility is low
- Turn off or unplug devices on the tripped circuit
These steps help prevent accidental shocks or further overloads.
Step 4: Reset the Breaker
To reset the breaker, push it all the way to the OFF position first, then firmly switch it back to ON. You’ll often hear or feel a click as it snaps into place. If the breaker stays in position and your power returns, you’ve successfully restored the circuit. Avoid flipping it repeatedly if it doesn’t stay on. Doing so can damage the breaker or wiring and may increase the risk of a more serious electrical issue.
Step 5: Watch for Any Issues
After a reset, the circuit should stay on without further issues. But if it trips again within minutes, or later the same day under normal use, that’s a sign of an underlying problem. Watch for patterns—does it always happen when you run the vacuum or turn on the toaster? Are specific outlets losing power more often than others? Frequent trips could point to outdated wiring, an overloaded circuit, or a failing breaker. Document when and where it happens, so you can give your electrician helpful details if the issue continues.
When to Call Universe Home Services
Contact our highly trained team if:
- The same breaker keeps tripping
- You smell burning or see scorch marks
- The panel feels warm or makes buzzing sounds
- You’re unsure which breaker to reset
We’ve been serving Long Island homeowners since 1954 with dependable electrical repairs, inspections, and upgrades. Whether it’s a faulty appliance or an outdated breaker panel, Universe Home Services can diagnose the issue and keep your home safe.
Resetting a breaker is usually a simple task, but don’t ignore warning signs. When in doubt, let the experts step in. We’re just a call away when you need safe, reliable help.