In short
- A breaker trips to protect the wires: overload, short circuit, ground fault (GFCI) or electrical arc (arc-fault).
- To reset it: unplug the appliances on the circuit, push the handle all the way to off, then back on. Once, not over and over.
- If it trips again right away, even with nothing plugged in, leave it off: there is a fault for an electrician to find.
- A 15 A, 120 V outlet circuit supplies at most 1,800 W: a space heater and a kettle of 1,500 W each, together, are too much.
- Never replace a breaker with a bigger one: it is chosen for the size of the wires it protects.
In this guide
Why a breaker trips
A breaker protects a circuit’s wires from overheating. When it trips, it is doing its job: it cuts the power because it detected something abnormal. According to Hydro-Québec, when only part of the house has no power, it is an overload or a short circuit in your installation.
| Type | What happens | The sign |
|---|---|---|
| Overload | Too many appliances on the same circuit: the wires heat up | It trips after a few minutes, when one more appliance starts |
| Short circuit | Direct contact between two wires, often in a damaged appliance or cord | It trips right away, sometimes with a snap |
| Ground fault | Part of the current leaks elsewhere, maybe through a person | The GFCI outlet or breaker cuts out, often because of moisture |
| Electrical arc | A small, lasting spark: pinched wire, crushed cord, loose connection | The arc-fault breaker trips, sometimes with a vacuum or a tool |
The last two have their own guide: the GFCI outlet and the arc-fault breaker.
Resetting it safely
- Find the tripped breaker in the panel: its handle stopped between the two positions, or it is no longer lined up with the others.
- Unplug or turn off the appliances on that circuit.
- Push the handle all the way to off, then back on. A handle simply pushed up from the middle doesn’t reset.
- Plug the appliances back in one at a time: the one that trips it again is often the culprit.
Opening the panel door to work a breaker is normal. Never remove the inner cover: the wires are behind it.
What the timing tells you
| When it trips | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| As soon as it is reset, with nothing plugged in | A fault in the circuit: wire, connection, outlet or box | Leave it off and call an electrician |
| As soon as a specific appliance is plugged in or started | The appliance or its cord | Stop using that appliance and have it checked or replaced |
| After a few minutes, with several appliances running | An overload | Spread the appliances out; for everyday use, add a circuit |
| In damp weather, on an outdoor outlet | Moisture in the outlet or box (GFCI) | Check the cover; if it continues, have it checked |
| With a vacuum or a tool, on an arc-fault breaker | The motor’s small arcs, or a damaged cord | Try another outlet; if it continues, have the circuit checked |
Overload, in numbers
An ordinary 15 A, 120 V outlet circuit supplies at most 1,800 W (15 A × 120 V). An appliance’s power is printed on its label. A portable space heater and a kettle often draw 1,500 W each: together, 3,000 W, well beyond what the circuit can supply.
- Plug powerful appliances into different circuits, and turn one off before starting another.
- Keep power bars for low-consumption appliances, as Québec.ca recommends.
- An extension cord is a temporary solution. If you need one every day, have an outlet or a circuit added instead.
When to call an electrician
- The breaker trips again, or for no apparent reason.
- The panel gives off unusual heat or an unusual smell.
- An outlet or switch is hot, discoloured or crackles: see also our guide Burning smell, hot outlet.
- The breaker won’t stay on, or it is damaged.
- You want to add a powerful appliance: heat pump, EV charger, hot tub.
The real fixes
- Add a circuit for the appliance that needs it: garage heater, microwave, freezer.
- Replace a worn outlet or breaker, and tighten the connections.
- A sub-panel when the panel is full: it adds room, not capacity.
- Check the service’s capacity with the load calculation before adding a big appliance, then, if needed, upgrade to 200 A.
Never a bigger breaker: it is chosen for the size of the wires it protects. Too high a rating would let the wires overheat without cutting out.
What you can do yourself
According to the RBQ, work on an electrical installation must be done by a contractor with the appropriate licence, even in your own home. Resetting a breaker once, testing your GFCI outlets and spreading out your appliances is up to you. Replacing a breaker or adding a circuit is up to the electrician. It is all explained in Electrical work: what can you do yourself?.
With LTE Électrique
We look for the cause: circuit tests, a check of the connections and the breaker, and a load calculation if the panel is short on space. The price is announced in advance, fixed or hourly depending on the project, and labour is guaranteed for 2 years. Send us a photo of the panel with the door open: the estimate is free, within 24 hours.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it dangerous to reset a breaker?
- Resetting it once, after unplugging the appliances on the circuit, is normal: Hydro-Québec recommends it when only part of the house has no power. Resetting it over and over while it keeps tripping is not: the problem has to be found.
- My breaker trips even with nothing plugged in: why?
- It is a sign of a fault in the circuit itself: a damaged wire, a loose connection, an outlet or box in poor condition. Leave it off and call an electrician: Québec.ca recommends an inspection by a master electrician when it trips for no apparent reason.
- Can I install a bigger breaker so it stops tripping?
- No. The breaker protects the circuit’s wires; too high a rating can let the wires overheat. The fix is to spread the load or add a circuit.
- The space heater trips the breaker: what should I do?
- A portable space heater often draws 1,500 W, almost everything a 15 A outlet circuit can supply. Plug it in alone on its circuit, without an extension cord, and turn off the other appliances on the circuit. If you need it every winter, a dedicated circuit or permanent heating is the real fix.
- The breaker trips when I vacuum: why?
- If it is an arc-fault breaker, the motor of some vacuums or tools makes small, normal arcs that it can mistake for danger. Try another outlet; if it keeps happening with several appliances, have the circuit checked: it may be seeing a real fault.
- A bathroom outlet stopped working, but the panel looks normal
- It is often a GFCI outlet that cut out: press “reset.” It can also cut other outlets wired after it, even outdoors. If it won’t reset or cuts out again, unplug what is plugged into it and have it checked.
- The main breaker tripped: what should I do?
- Turn off the big appliances (range, dryer, space heating), then reset it once. If it trips again, leave it off and call a master electrician: the problem affects the whole installation.
- How can I tell whether it is a Hydro-Québec outage?
- According to Hydro-Québec, if only part of the house has no power, it is an overload or short circuit in your home: look for the tripped breaker. If the whole house, or the street, has no power, check the outage map.
- Can I replace a breaker myself?
- No. According to the RBQ, work on an electrical installation must be done by a contractor with the appropriate licence, even in your own home. You can reset a breaker; replacing it means working on the installation.
- The panel is hot or smells like burning: what should I do?
- Québec.ca recommends calling a master electrician when the panel gives off unusual heat or an unusual smell. Don’t open the inner cover. If there is smoke or flames, get out and call 911.
Sources
- En cas de panne, Hydro-Québec, checked on October 21, 2026
- Prévenir les risques d’incendie liés à l’électricité, Gouvernement du Québec, checked on October 21, 2026
- Travaux que vous pouvez faire vous-même, Régie du bâtiment du Québec, checked on October 21, 2026
About this guide
Written by LTE Électrique, a master electrician’s business in Sherbrooke (RBQ licence 5874-5597-01, CMEQ member). Every rule comes from Québec’s Construction Code or an official source, listed above with the date it was checked. French version reviewed by William Letendre, master electrician, on October 21, 2026.
About usCite this guide
To cite this guide, use its title, author and address:
“Breaker keeps tripping: the causes, what to check and when to call an electrician”, LTE Électrique, https://www.lteelectrique.com/en/guides/breaker-keeps-tripping, French version reviewed by William Letendre, master electrician, on October 21, 2026.