It is common for homeowners to run into a tripped breaker or blown fuse every once in a while. We often get calls to our service line asking how to reset one, and we are always happy to help! However, we want to give you a written step-by-step guide that you can come back to for future reference.

To begin, you will need to make sure all lights are off in the rooms where power was impacted. Now unplug any appliance (like a toaster) that was recently plugged in in these rooms, as it is likely this was the cause. Make sure this is completed first in order to ensure that you do not trip the breaker again after you fix it the first time!

Next, locate your electric panel. Open it and examine the safety of the situation before you begin. You should have dry hands and be standing on a dry surface the entire time. If at any point you feel unsafe or unsure about what you are doing, please give us a call at 314-441-5200. We do not want you to harm yourself during this process.

Blown Fuse: If you are working with an electrical panel with fuses, begin checking each fuse. You are trying to see if the piece of metal inside the fuse has melted or if the glass at the top of the fuse has become discolored. The glass at the top of a blown fuse will usually be purple or brown. Unscrew the fuse and replace it with a new one that is exactly the same as the old one in size, type, and amperage.

Tripped Breaker: If you are working with a tripped breaker, simply look for any breaker that has moved from the “on” to the “off” position, or that is somewhere in the middle. You have now identified the tripped breaker. Switch this breaker fully to the “off” position and then switch back over to “on”. Your power will now be restored!

To test, plug a few things back in and turn them on to test your new fuse or reset breaker. If everything comes back on, congratulations – you have successfully fixed the issue! If you lose power again while plugging things back in, try moving some appliances to other outlets in the room. It may be that you are using too many amps and the breaker cannot support them. If you do this and it still does not fix the problem, there may be a more serious issue at hand. Please call us at 314-441-5200 if that is the case!