Usually, people don’t pay much attention to their in-home circuit breakers unless there is a problem. That’s not a problem. A circuit breaker should, after all, typically last several years. Unfortunately, you may need to replace your circuit breaker at some point, particularly if you recently moved into a house and aren’t sure of the breaker’s age. We walk you through replacing your circuit breaker with this short instruction, but we still advise getting in touch with a licensed electrician from West Lake Village Electricians.

The distinction between a circuit breaker that can be repaired and one that requires replacement is important to keep in mind. Overloading the circuit is the most frequent reason for circuit breakers to trip. This happens when a given circuit is asked to produce more electricity than it is capable of.

There are some situations where a circuit breaker needs to be replaced for your protection. For this job to be done completely, you need a qualified electrician, especially when you need circuit breakers repair/installation.

Any work with circuit breakers has definitely risks involved, so if you have doubts or safety concerns, you need to turn to professionals. Industrial circuit breakers should only be repaired or replaced by licensed electricians and power supply experts. It is a risky process, particularly if you don’t know what to do. Circuit breakers should only be repaired and replaced according to the proper procedures.

When Should A Circuit Breaker Be Replaced?

It’s crucial to be aware of some of the warning indications that indicate your circuit breaker needs to be replaced. You may even be putting yourself and your family in danger of an electrical fire if you put off replacing a defective breaker for too long.

These are the common signs that your breaker needs to be replaced include:

• A burning smell. If you start to sense something burning anywhere near the electrical panel, some of the wires have overheated. This can be extremely dangerous and puts you at risk of starting a fire. In that case, turn off the electricity right away. This should be seen as an emergency, and you should turn to an electrician right away.
• Sometimes, breakers will trip. If your breaker keeps tripping and it’s starting to bother you, it can be an indication of a more serious problem. It might just be worn out and might fail on you at any moment. It’s also a good indication that your breaker needs to be replaced if it cannot be left in the off position for an extended period of time.
• Replace your circuit breaker if you notice any visible damage in the area. This is especially true if the area around the electrical panel shows any evidence of melting or burning. Again, this could put you at risk of a fire, so if you see any of these symptoms, turn off the electricity immediately
• If it’s already old. Replace yours if you believe it has reached that point for your own piece of mind.

Why Trust Your Circuit Breaker Repair to Professional and Certified Electricians?

Everyone knows that mistakes while replacing a breaker at your electrical panel may cause serious harm or even death from shock. Instead, hire a licensed and qualified electrician to complete the replacement process so you may stay safe and get installation from someone who understands the right approach to handle this repair.

Here are some important reasons you need to entrust your circuit breaker replacement to a professional electrician:

• Improper circuit breaker installation might leave you and your family at risk of fire and in danger.
• A carelessly installed circuit breaker could cause electrical surges or a fire that results in property loss.
• For the sake of safety and insurance, circuit breakers must be installed according to the code.
• You should choose a highly recommended and licensed company like ours to install your new circuit breaker. Certified electricians have vast knowledge and expertise in doing electrical works, and finish the task correctly the first time.

Therefore, avoid taking any chances by trying to replace a damaged circuit breaker yourself. Call a trustworthy, registered electrician instead. With an appropriate circuit breaker replacement, professionals can get your electricity working again safely and efficiently. You can have confidence in their expertise in the field because they have more than decades of combined experience in the electrical industry.

Why It’s Important to Replace A Damaged Circuit Breaker As Soon As Possible?

Besides getting rid of the annoyance of electricity loss, there are numerous reasons to get a damaged breaker repaired by a pro sooner rather than later. Having a new installed, the functioning circuit will:

• Reduce the chance of lost data on your computers if there is an interruption of an electrical outage.
• Work to prevent any damage that electrical surges may create. Such damage might harm your expensive devices, as well as equipment like refrigerators, PCs, and game systems.
• Allows you to avoid the inconvenience of having to use a limited number of electrical gadgets or appliances at once to prevent a circuit breaker trip.
• If an older circuit breaker were to become overloaded, it reduces the fire risk

Can You Replace a Circuit Breaker Without Switching Off The Main Breaker?

When circuit breaker trips, it is often because of a problem in the wiring, such as a short circuit or ground fault problem—or because the circuit is overloaded for the amperage rating it carries. But from time to time, it could just wear out and get weak or stop working completely.

Sometimes a circuit issue causes a circuit breaker to trip too frequently, wearing down the internal switch linkage and leading to breaker failure. Or, if you have repeatedly turned on and off the power via the breaker switch, failure can result. Avoiding this bad habit is advised. Use the circuit breaker switches exclusively to shut off the electricity when servicing the circuit; do not repeatedly turn on and off circuits. Circuit breakers have also occasionally been harmed by power surges and lightning strikes.

How To Replace A Circuit Breaker?

You need a professional electrician if you can’t figure out the underlying issue or don’t feel knowledgeable or experienced enough to do the repair yourself. Working with electricity is risky, and it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Here’s how to replace your circuit breaker:

• Turn off each branch circuit breaker.
• The main circuit breaker must be shut off.
• Check all the wires with a voltage tester to ensure they’re dead before continuing.
• Remove the panel cover.
• As you remove the breaker, disconnect the wire from the load terminal.
• Pay close attention to how the old breaker is positioned as you carefully pry it out.
• Push the replacement breaker into place after inserting it.
• Connect the wire of the circuit to the load terminal. If required, remove some of the wires’ insulation.
• Check the panel for any more issues. 
• To make sure everything is in working order, test the breakers with a voltage tester.

Test each of your home’s electrical equipment to determine whether one of them is the source of the issue if you replace the circuit and the issue persists. You have to reach out to a licensed electrician if everything else fails.

If you try to do the job yourself alone, make sure you follow what you have learned from this blog, but if the problem still persists, call West Lake Village Electricians for efficient and safe service. You can also check our other blog articles for more information about your electrical systems and needs.