What Should I Do If My Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping Repeatedly?

If a circuit breaker keeps tripping repeatedly, stop resetting it and have a licensed electrician inspect the circuit as soon as possible. The most common cause is an overloaded circuit, but frequent trips can also point to a short, a ground fault, or a failing breaker that needs professional testing.

In our experience, one more reset that “seems to work” can hide a loose connection that heats up under load; it’s safer to leave it off until checked. We serve the Lafayette area with 24/7 emergency response when a breaker won’t hold.

Before we arrive, you can safely try:

• Unplug or switch off devices on that circuit, then reset the breaker once.
• If it trips again immediately, keep it off and call—instant trips often mean a fault that needs repair.
• Press reset on any GFCI outlets on that run.
• Treat burning odors, a warm panel, visible sparks, or total power loss as an emergency and cut power.

If you’re unsure which outlets share the circuit, leave it off until a professional tests the load. <br/> Updated: 2026-04-02 <br/> Need help in Lafayette, LA? Call (337) 214-0010 or book online. “We were looking for someone to come check our bathroom outlets… in 2 hours everything was fixed to perfection.” — Nicholas L.