Is It Safe To Reset A Tripped Breaker Without An Electrician?

It’s the moment that every homeowner dreads: the television clicks off, the lights dim, and a hush sweeps through the house. Is it safe to reset a tripped breaker, or are you courting an electrical fire by lifting the cover on your circuit breaker panel? These are the questions you end up asking yourself.

So, what is a circuit breaker? It’s basically a built-in safety mechanism that protects electrical appliances and wiring from overloaded circuits, short circuits and ground faults. It’s all very safe. But when it does trip, many of us still find ourselves needlessly reluctant to flick the switch and reset a tripped circuit breaker.

Having a basic understanding of why a breaker trips provides insight into the general health of your electrical system. It also helps you to decide when a quick reset is fine and when a qualified electrician should step in.

As we’ve established, a circuit breaker acts like a vigilant bodyguard to your home’s electrical system. One that constantly checks that the current stays within safe limits. When a single circuit breaker trips, it usually points to one of three common reasons.

First, you could well be dealing with an overloaded circuit. This is when too many appliances draw power on the same line, which forces the breaker open before wires overheat. Second, a short circuit occurs when a live wire touches neutral or earth. It sends a sudden surge that a tripped circuit breaker immediately interrupts to prevent sparks. Third, a ground fault lets current escape to earth through damaged insulation or wet surfaces, creating a shock risk.

Ignoring these repeated circuit breaker trips can hide faulty wiring and increase the risks of costly electrical fires. And that is the last thing that you want.

Before touching your service panel or electrical switchboard, run through this checklist to avoid hidden electrical hazards and shocks.

• Stand on a dry rubber mat, wear rubber-soled shoes and keep the electrical panel area clear.
• Turn off high-power devices on the affected circuit so an overloaded circuit doesn’t instantly trip the breaker again.
• Keep one hand behind your back when flipping breaker switches to minimise shock if a live wire arcs.
• Use a torch, dry hands only, and feel the metal box for heat or burning smells.
• Confirm the handle is fully OFF, then firmly switch ON once. If it trips again, leave it alone and call an electrician.

These safety precautions keep the breaker’s safety mechanism working for you and show when to seek professional assistance.

Follow these simple steps to safely reset a tripped breaker and restore power without compromising your home’s electrical safety.

1. Identify the affected circuit by noting which rooms or electrical devices have lost power.
2. Unplug or switch off high-power appliances on that line to remove any temporary overload.
3. Open the breaker panel, locate the lever sitting midway or fully OFF, and feel for excessive heat.
4. Push the handle firmly to the OFF position, pause two seconds, then snap it decisively to ON.
5. Listen for a click, watch the lights return, and test one appliance to ensure the circuit holds.

If the breaker trips again or feels warm, stop immediately and call a licensed electrician to find the underlying cause. You don’t want to be dealing with a faulty circuit breaker yourself.

One-off circuit breaker trips are annoying, but manageable and resolvable. But a frequently tripped breaker? They’re a different kettle of fish; a cry for help from your electrical system.

If a circuit breaker repeatedly trips as soon as you reset it, you’re likely dealing with more significant electrical problems rather than mere coincidence. That tripped breaker is warning you that overloaded circuits, deteriorating electrical components or damaged insulation may be at play, allowing a live wire to touch the neutral wire and create a short circuit. Moisture in a damp utility room can also trigger ground faults that mimic overloads.

Each reset without fixing the underlying cause overheats conductors and increases the risk of an electrical fire. Stop the cycle and bring in a professional electrician to diagnose and remedy the issue safely.

Prevention is always better than cure, and avoiding overloaded circuits is the safest way to stop future circuit breaker trips from happening.

Start by mapping which power points belong to which circuit breaker inside the breaker panel, then spread high-power devices (e.g. heaters, microwaves, tumble dryers) across different circuits rather than piling them on one line.

Stagger your energy-hungry tasks throughout the day: run the dishwasher after the washing machine finishes, not at the same time. Replace daisy-chained power boards with a single surge-protected strip rated for the load, and never exceed the plug’s maximum wattage.

If your electrical system still strains, ask a licensed electrician to add new breakers or upgrade the electrical panel so everyday living won’t compromise long-term electrical safety.

Jobs You Must Leave to a Licensed Electrician

Did you know that, here in Australia, it’s illegal for an unlicensed person to DIY most electrical tasks? If this has you asking, “Well, is it safe to reset a tripped breaker from a legal standpoint?”, the answer is yes. You can do that, change a light bulb and not a great deal much more.

For more complex and involved tasks, you will need a licensed electrician. These tasks include:

• Full or partial rewiring when faulty wiring threatens shocks or electrical fires.
• Upgrading or relocating the circuit breaker panel to add capacity or replace ageing breakers.
• Installing new dedicated circuits for high-power devices such as EV chargers, spas or large air conditioners.
• Diagnosing repeated circuit breaker trips due to hidden ground faults, short circuits or overloaded circuits.
• Repairing heat-damaged bus bars or loose neutral wires inside the service panel’s metal box.
• Certifying work to Australian standards and lodging compliance paperwork with your energy distributor.

DIY electrical work is not just unlawful, it’s also unsafe and could jeopardise your home and contents insurance should things go awry. Leaving these tasks to a professional electrician keeps your circuits compliant and your family safe.

Know When to Flip the Switch (And When to Call the Pros)

So… is it safe to reset a tripped breaker without an electrician?

Thankfully, a single tripped circuit breaker after a storm or brief circuit overload is not a disaster. Once you’ve checked the safety boxes, it’s usually safe to reset the breaker, turn the power back on and carry on.

If the breaker trips repeatedly, feels warm, or the breaker panel smells burnt, your home is warning you of deeper electrical issues. Repeated trips mean faulty wiring, hidden ground faults or worn-out electrical components; all ingredients for an electrical fire.

Stop repeatedly resetting the switch and call a professional electrician. A professional will find the underlying cause, rebalance overloaded circuits and upgrade tired breaker switches, protecting your family and preventing future occurrences.

Please note: Thanks for reading our blog “Is It Safe To Reset A Tripped Breaker Without An Electrician?” This information is provided for advice purposes only. Regulations differ from state to state, so please consult your local authorities or an industry professional before proceeding with any work. See our Terms & Conditions here.