How do I reset my breaker when it has tripped off?
Locate your home's electrical panel, find the breaker labeled for your AC or furnace, switch it fully to OFF, then firmly back to ON. If it trips again immediately, stop and call a technician instead of continuing to reset it.
Written by Paul Coen, Owner
Resetting a tripped breaker is simple, but only try it once
Open your home's electrical panel, find the breaker labeled for your AC or furnace (it will usually sit in a middle position rather than fully ON or OFF), switch it firmly all the way to OFF, then back to ON. If it holds, your system should restart normally within a few minutes.
How to do it safely
- Make sure your hands are dry and you're standing on a dry surface before touching the panel
- Locate the correct breaker using the labels inside the panel door
- Push it fully to OFF first — don't just nudge it from the tripped middle position straight to ON
- Flip it firmly back to ON and step back
When to stop and call a professional
A breaker is designed to trip for a reason — it's protecting your home from an electrical overload or fault. If it trips again immediately or trips repeatedly after you reset it, stop resetting it. Repeatedly forcing a breaker back on doesn't fix whatever is causing it to trip, and it risks damaging your equipment or creating a fire hazard. The same goes if you smell anything burning, see scorch marks near the panel, or just aren't comfortable working at the panel at all — call a licensed technician or electrician instead of continuing to try it yourself.
What usually causes repeat trips
A breaker that won't stay reset is often a sign of a failing capacitor, a dirty condenser coil making the compressor work too hard, a wiring issue, or a breaker itself that's worn out. Figuring out which one takes a diagnostic, not another reset.
If your breaker keeps tripping, don't keep resetting it — call LJ Refrigeration Co. at (480) 948-5004 and we'll find out why.