If your electrics keep tripping in the house, you’re not alone, and it’s often a sign of a deeper electrical issue that needs to be resolved. The most common reason your electrics keep tripping is because a safety device like a circuit breaker or RCD is detecting a fault- usually caused by an overloaded circuit, faulty appliance, or damaged wiring. Understanding the causes is the first step towards a safer and more reliable electrical setup. Read on to learn more!
Key Takeaways
Frequent tripping is often caused by overloaded circuits, faulty appliances, or damaged wiring.
Always find the root cause rather than repeatedly resetting the switch.
RCDs and circuit breakers trip to protect you from fire or electric shock.
Common causes include worn wiring, water damage, or loose connections.
Unplug unused items and avoid overloading sockets to reduce the risk.
Call a qualified electrician if the issue keeps happening.
Why Do My Electrics Keep Tripping?
When your fuse box is tripping frequently, it's not just an inconvenience, it’s your home’s way of telling you something’s wrong. Below are the most likely reasons for a tripped circuit breaker or RCD in UK homes.
1. Overloaded Circuits
This is the most common culprit of why your electrics keep tripping. An overloaded circuit occurs when too many devices or high-wattage appliances are drawing power from the same circuit. Plugging in a kettle, toaster, or microwave into the same kitchen ring, for example, may cause the circuit breaker to trip in order to prevent overheating or fire.
2. Short Circuits
A short circuit occurs when a live wire touches a neutral wire, creating a surge of current. This is highly dangerous and causes the fuse to blow instantly or the RCD to keep tripping. If you are experiencing this issue, the source may be damaged wiring, loose connections, or internal appliance faults.
3. Ground Faults
Similar to short circuits, ground faults occur when the live wire touches the earth wire or an earthed metal surface. These often cause RCDs to trip and are particularly common in areas with moisture such as kitchens, bathrooms, or outdoor sockets.
4. Faulty Appliances
Plugging in a faulty kettle, hairdryer or washing machine can cause the electrics to trip immediately. Old or damaged appliances can cause intermittent faults too, where the electrics keep tripping in the house without a clear cause until you unplug the right device.
5. Defective RCD or Circuit Breaker
Although this is relatively rare, sometimes the circuit breaker keeps tripping because the safety device itself is faulty. If you've ruled out all other causes and the issue persists, a faulty fuse box component could be to blame.
Stop the trips before they spark trouble.
Qualified electricians, ready to help.
How To Resolve Tripped Electrics
Once you've experienced a trip, it’s essential to find the source of the fault rather than simply resetting the power and hoping it doesn’t happen again. Ignoring the underlying issue could put your home and safety at risk, so follow these practical steps to reset your electrics safely and identify the root cause.
1. Find the Consumer Unit
Your consumer unit (often called the fuse box) is typically located in a hallway, garage, cupboard, or utility room. It contains all the circuit breakers and RCDs that monitor and protect each electrical circuit in your home.
Open the panel and observe the position of the switches.
A tripped breaker or RCD will usually sit midway between ‘on’ and ‘off’, or fully in the ‘off’ position.
Identify which circuits have tripped—some consumer units are labelled (e.g. "kitchen sockets", "upstairs lights") which will help you narrow it down.
2. Check the RCDs
If your RCD keeps tripping, it’s typically due to a neutral-to-earth fault—often caused by a faulty appliance or water ingress.
First, try to reset the RCD by switching it fully to the 'off' position, then back to 'on'.
If it trips again immediately, unplug every appliance connected to that circuit (kettles, washing machines, chargers, etc.).
With everything unplugged, reset the RCD again.
Plug each item back in one at a time, allowing a few seconds between each. If the electrics trip again, the last item plugged in is likely the fault.
3. Identify the Faulty Circuit
If a specific circuit breaker keeps tripping, it’s usually related to a certain area or function in your home, such as the kitchen sockets, outdoor lights, or boiler supply.
Check what part of the house is affected (are lights not working? Are sockets dead?).
Turn off or unplug all devices in that area.
Attempt to reset the breaker by flicking it fully off, then back on.
If the power stays on, reintroduce appliances or switch lights back on one at a time.
If it trips again during this process, you’ve likely found the faulty circuit or appliance.
4. Inspect or Replace Faulty Appliances
Once you’ve identified a suspect appliance, you’ll need to check it carefully:
Unplug it immediately and do not use it again until it’s been checked or replaced.
Look for clear signs of damage: burn marks, melting, scorch marks around the plug, frayed cords, or a smell of burning plastic.
If in doubt, have the appliance PAT tested by a qualified electrician- this is especially important for older or second-hand devices.
Never continue using an item that causes the fuse box to trip, even if it appears to work intermittently- this can be a fire hazard.
How to Stop Electrics Tripping
If your circuits are in good condition but the electrics keep tripping in your house, there are a few simple yet effective steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of future trips:
Unplug Appliances Not in Use
Many homes leave kettles, toasters, chargers and other items plugged in constantly. This not only risks wasted power but increases the load on your circuits unnecessarily.
Avoid Overloading Sockets
Don't plug five devices into one extension lead. Spread usage across different outlets. High-power items like kettles, air fryers, and washing machines should always have their own dedicated socket where possible.
Check for Damage Regularly
Inspect cords and plugs for frays, scorch marks or unusual heat. Replace anything showing signs of wear. Damaged appliances are a leading cause of RCDs tripping.
Be Cautious With Extension Leads
Avoid using extension cords to power high-wattage appliances like TVs, tumble dryers or heaters. These are designed to plug directly into wall sockets- overloaded extensions are a common cause of trips and even fires.
Understand Your Amp Usage
Take time to learn how much current your appliances use. If you’re using multiple devices that draw high current on one circuit, it's only a matter of time before the fuse box trips. Appliances such as ovens, electric showers, and tumble dryers can be especially demanding.
Top 5 Common Electrical Faults in UK Homes
UK homes, especially older properties, often have underlying electrical faults that contribute to frequent trips and power cuts. Ageing wiring, poor DIY installations, or outdated consumer units can all increase the risk of faults developing over time. Below is a breakdown of the most common electrical issues found in UK homes- and how you can spot and avoid them before they lead to further disruption or potential danger:
1. Worn-Out Wiring
Wiring degrades over time, especially in properties built over 30 years ago that may still rely on outdated electrical systems. The protective rubber or PVC insulation can become brittle, crack, or deteriorate, exposing live conductors. This degradation increases the risk of short circuits, overheating, and repeated tripping of your fuse box.
Did you know? More than 28,000 house fires in the UK each year are caused by electrical faults, accidents or misuse.
Solution: Schedule an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) every 5–10 years to assess the safety of your wiring. If the report highlights significant deterioration, rewiring your home may be necessary to bring it up to current safety standards.
2. Loose Connections
Loose terminals inside sockets, switches, or ceiling roses can lead to intermittent arcing, which not only trips your electrics but poses a serious fire hazard. These connections may loosen over time due to movement, vibration, or improper installation, especially in frequently used outlets.
Solution: Have a qualified electrician inspect and secure all suspect connections. This is not a job for DIY- incorrect tightening or tampering with live wires can be extremely dangerous and worsen the fault.
3. Water Ingress
Water and electricity are a dangerous combination. Damp or moisture entering external sockets, garden lighting, or bathroom fixtures can lead to earth leakage faults, which typically cause your RCD to trip for safety. Leaks from pipes or roofs can also affect internal wiring.
Solution: Use IP-rated fixtures designed for outdoor or damp environments, and regularly inspect them for signs of water damage or corrosion. If tripping occurs during or after rain, or in areas with plumbing, investigate for leaks and seal any gaps to prevent ingress.
4. Rodents or DIY Damage
Rodents like mice and rats often gnaw on electrical cables, stripping away insulation and creating live-to-earth or live-to-neutral faults that result in tripping or worse. Similarly, DIY accidents, like drilling into walls without checking for cables, can nick or sever wiring.
Solution: Pay attention to recurring tripping patterns that align with specific appliances or sockets. If you suspect hidden cable damage, avoid guessing—book a professional fault-finding inspection using specialist tools such as insulation testers or thermal imaging.
5. Old or Poorly Installed Fuse Boxes
Some homes still operate with outdated fuse boards lacking RCD protection, making them unsafe and non-compliant with current regulations. Even newer installations can be poorly configured, leading to overloaded circuits or incorrect breaker ratings, both of which contribute to tripping.
With recent figures from Electrical Safety First showing that around 53% of accidental domestic fires stem from electrical origins, the risks of ignoring an outdated or faulty consumer unit are too significant to overlook.
Solution: Upgrade to a modern consumer unit with individual MCBs (Miniature Circuit Breakers) and RCDs (Residual Current Devices) for each circuit. Always use a NICEIC-certified electrician to ensure it meets the latest IET Wiring Regulations (BS 7671).
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes the fuse box to trip repeatedly?
The most likely causes are overloaded circuits, faulty appliances, or moisture ingress causing earth leakage faults. These issues prompt your circuit breaker or RCD to disconnect the power as a safety measure. To diagnose the cause, systematically unplug appliances from the affected area and reset the tripped switch. If it continues to trip, further investigation will be needed, potentially involving damaged wiring or hidden faults.
Tripped electrics won’t reset—what should I do?
First, unplug all appliances connected to the tripped circuit to eliminate the possibility of a faulty device. Then, attempt to reset the breaker or RCD by switching it fully off and back on. If the electrics still won’t reset, it may point to a deeper issue such as damaged wiring, a short circuit, or a faulty breaker. In this case, it’s safest to stop troubleshooting and contact a qualified electrician.
My RCD keeps tripping but all appliances seem fine—why?
Even if appliances appear to function normally, some may leak small amounts of current to earth without showing any obvious signs. When multiple appliances with minor earth leakage are used on the same circuit, their combined effect can be enough to trigger the RCD. Try unplugging everything and plugging devices back in one at a time, leaving a short pause between each to identify the one that causes the trip.
Is it safe to keep resetting a tripped circuit breaker?
No- it’s not safe to repeatedly reset a circuit breaker without understanding why it tripped in the first place. Breakers are designed to protect you from serious electrical hazards, such as overheating, short circuits, or earth faults. Continuously resetting without identifying the issue can increase the risk of fire or electric shock, and may also cause further damage to your electrical system.
When to call an electrician?
You should call a qualified electrician if:
You’ve tried unplugging all appliances and the power still trips
You suspect damaged or exposed wiring
The same circuit trips repeatedly with no clear cause
Your fuse box or RCD won’t reset at all
You notice burning smells, flickering lights, or overheating sockets
A professional can carry out diagnostic testing with specialist equipment, trace hidden faults, and make your home safe and compliant with current regulations.
Sparks Out
If your electrics keep tripping, it’s usually down to overloaded circuits, faulty appliances, or hidden wiring faults. A few simple habits—like unplugging unused devices, avoiding overloaded sockets, and checking for signs of damage—can help prevent future disruptions.
But if the problem persists, don’t leave it to guesswork. Call in a qualified electrician and get it sorted before it becomes something more serious.
Don’t wait for the next trip- get your electrics checked by AC1 Electricals today.