Circuit Breaker Replacement in Fairfax County

What Is a Circuit Breaker?

Put simply, a circuit breaker is an electrical switch designed to protect your Fairfax County home’s circuits from damage. Sources of damage include:

• Overloading. Too much amperage flowing into your circuit (for example: a 15 amp breaker would automatically kill power to a circuit that became charged with power exceeding 15 amps). This is commonly caused by plugging too many appliances into a power source, or lightning strikes.
• Short-circuiting. Sudden, unanticipated electric flow through materials that are conductive. Often this is related to unintended wires touching or damage to power lines.

When these situations occur, your breakers are designed to automatically “flip,” shutting off power to that particular circuit. Breakers are primarily a safety mechanism, designed to protect both you and your home’s wiring. Additionally, they serve as a means to control power in your Fairfax County home, in case of an emergency.

Signs You May Need Circuit Breaker Replacement in Fairfax County

Breakers are rather hardy, but they aren’t impervious to aging, wearing down, or simply breaking. Warning signs for breakers that need to be replaced in Fairfax County include:

• Breakers are flipping too often. When a breaker gets too old or worn down, it may begin flipping erratically. This does not mean there are no other issues in your home’s electricity, but if all other aspects are as usual, and you’ve done nothing different or new, the breaker may be at fault.
• Breakers do not remain reset. When your breaker flips, the first impulse is to, of course, reset it. Sometimes the breaker will flip again mere moments after being reset, and this behavior is a likely indication that there is an issue with the breaker itself.
• Acrid or burning smells. Electrical fires are very dangerous. If you note odd smells, hot or excessively warm breakers, or charring in your breaker box, contact a professional immediately. This situation is highly dangerous and requires professional help right away.