Breaker keeps tripping or outlets went dead: what to check and when to call
For Silicon Valley homes · Updated October 2026 · Sources below
A breaker that trips is usually doing its job - stopping an overloaded circuit or a fault before it causes a fire or shock. Try unplugging things on that circuit and resetting it once. If it trips again right away, trips often, or you notice heat, sparks or a burning smell, stop resetting it and call an electrician.
Sparks, smoke, a burning smell or a hot panel or outlet? If you can do it safely, switch off the main breaker and keep away. If there's fire or smoke, get everyone out and call 911. For a downed power line, call 911, then PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.
The short version
- Most breaker trips are the breaker working as intended
- Dead outlets in a kitchen, bathroom, garage or outside? Look for a tripped GFCI outlet first
- Reset a breaker once - if it trips again right away, leave it off
- Warm outlets, sparks, buzzing or a burning smell mean call an electrician
- Whole house dark? Check PG&E's outage map before calling anyone
Need an electrician?
Tell us about the job in 2 minutes - free. We send it to one local pro at a time, never a crowd.
What it costs
- Electrician (hourly)$50 - $130 an hour, plus a $100 - $200 service call
If anything is sparking, smoking or hot, turn off the breaker and keep away.
Typical ranges from published cost guides - mostly national figures. Bay Area prices usually run higher. Your actual price depends on your home and the job, and a pro gives you the real number. Source: HomeAdvisor cost guide (national) (Jun 2026). Have a quote? Check it with the Quote Explainer
Call an electrician if you notice
- Breakers that trip or fuses that blow again and again
- Outlets or switch plates that are warm or discolored
- A burning or rubbery smell from an outlet or appliance
- Sparks from an outlet
- Lights that flicker or dim
- A tingling feeling when you touch an appliance
What to check first
- Note what was running when it tripped. A space heater, hair dryer and microwave on one circuit is a common overload - move something to another circuit.
- Unplug everything on the circuit, then switch the breaker fully off and back on once.
- If outlets are dead but no breaker tripped, find the nearest GFCI outlet (the one with TEST and RESET buttons) and press RESET.
- If it trips again with nothing plugged in, or a GFCI won't reset, there's likely a fault in the wiring or the device - call an electrician.
In Silicon Valley
- In a 2024 survey of California electrical professionals by the Electrical Safety Foundation, 54% of electrician service calls involved tripped breakers or fuses, and most trips were the device working as intended.
- The same California survey found arc-fault (AFCI) and ground-fault (GFCI) breakers behind many calls, and only 56% of calls involved circuits with the right type of protection installed.
- Whole neighborhood dark? Check or report it on PG&E's outage map. If you see a downed power line, stay away, call 911, then PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.
Questions homeowners ask
Why does my breaker keep tripping?
The most common reasons are too many things running on one circuit, a short or ground fault in an appliance or the wiring, or an arc fault from damaged wiring. Most trips are the breaker doing its job. If it keeps happening, an electrician should find out why rather than you resetting it over and over.
Half my outlets stopped working but no breaker tripped. What happened?
Often a GFCI outlet has tripped. These are the outlets with TEST and RESET buttons, usually in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, laundry areas and outside. Find the nearest one and press RESET. If it won't reset, the GFCI may need to be replaced.
Is it dangerous if a breaker keeps tripping?
It can be. The breaker is protecting you from a problem, so frequent trips mean something needs fixing. Stop resetting it and call an electrician right away if you see sparks or scorch marks, smell burning, or the outlet or panel feels hot.
How do I reset a circuit breaker safely?
Unplug or turn off what's on that circuit, stand on a dry floor, and push the breaker handle firmly to OFF, then back to ON. Reset it only once. If it trips again right away, leave it off and call an electrician.
How do I test a GFCI outlet?
Press RESET, plug in a nightlight so it turns on, then press TEST - the light should go off. Press RESET again and it should come back on. If TEST or RESET doesn't work, the GFCI should be replaced.
When should I call an electrician instead of handling it myself?
Call when a breaker trips again and again, a GFCI won't reset, lights flicker or dim, outlets are warm or discolored, or you notice a burning smell, sparks or a tingle from an appliance. For fire or smoke, get out and call 911.
Questions to ask the pro
- What's causing the trips - overload, a short, or a bad breaker?
- Are my AFCI and GFCI protections the right type for each area?
- Do I need a new circuit for this room or appliance?
- Is my panel in safe condition?
- What's your service call fee, and is it applied to the repair?
Before you sign, check the contractor's license at cslb.ca.gov. How to hire a contractor in California
Need an electrician?
Tell us about the job in 2 minutes - free. We send it to one local pro at a time, never a crowd.
Related answers
Sources
- NFPA - Electrical safety tips (hosted by San Francisco Fire Department)
- ESFI - How to use GFCIs
- ESFI - 2024 AFCI and GFCI Performance Survey (California)
- PG&E - Report an electric issue or outage
General information for Silicon Valley homeowners, not professional advice for your home. Rules and programs change - check the source, and have a licensed pro look at your situation.