posted 15th September 2026
The most common cause is a faulty appliance.
Unplug everything on the affected circuit, reset the breaker, then plug things back in one at a time. When it trips again, you have found the culprit.
Water is the next most common cause, particularly in bathrooms, kitchens and outdoor sockets after heavy rain.
Overloading happens when too many high draw appliances run on one circuit at once.
A kettle, a washing machine and an electric heater together will do it.
A genuine wiring fault is less common but more serious. Damaged cable, a failing junction box or a nail through a wire will trip a breaker repeatedly.
If the breaker resets and stays on, and you have found the appliance causing it, you are fine. If it trips immediately every time you reset it, stop resetting it and ring an electrician. A breaker that will not hold is telling you something.