How to Reset a Tripped Breaker ⚡

Ever had the lights go out in just one room of your house, or an outlet suddenly stop working? Chances are, you’ve got a tripped breaker. Don’t worry — it’s usually an easy fix, and you can handle it yourself without calling an electrician. Here’s how:

1. Find your breaker box.

Your breaker box (also called the electrical panel) is usually in a basement, garage, utility room, or sometimes even outside. Open the panel door and you’ll see a row of switches — those are your breakers.

2. Look for the labels.

Most panels have labels next to the switches, telling you what each breaker controls (kitchen, living room, lights, etc.). If your box isn’t labeled, you might need to test later to see which breaker belongs where, but for now just look over the list.

3. Spot the tripped breaker.

A breaker that’s tripped usually looks slightly out of line compared to the others. It won’t be all the way “off,” but it won’t be fully “on” either. Scan the switches until you see one that’s not sitting like the rest.

4. Reset the breaker.

To fix it, flip the tripped breaker all the way to the “off” position first. Then push it back to “on.” That should restore power to the area it controls.

And that’s it! 🎉 If the breaker trips again right away, that usually means there’s a bigger electrical issue (like an overloaded circuit or a bad appliance). In that case, it’s a good idea to unplug a few things or call Just Right Home Repairs to set up an appointment.