Why Does My Fuse Box Keep Tripping?

Common Causes of Tripping Circuits & What You Can Do About It

If your fuse box keeps tripping, it’s a sign that something isn’t quite right with your electrical system. It might seem like a minor inconvenience, but regular tripping can be an early warning sign of a fault—and ignoring it could lead to bigger (and more expensive) problems later on.

At Smart Ohm, we help homeowners and landlords across Leeds diagnose and fix tripping circuits quickly and safely. Here’s a breakdown of what might be causing the issue—and what to do next.

First Things First: What Is Tripping?

Modern fuse boxes—also called consumer units—are fitted with circuit breakers (MCBs) and residual current devices (RCDs). These safety devices are designed to cut off power instantly when they detect:

• A short circuit
• Overcurrent (too much load on one circuit)
• A fault to earth (such as moisture or exposed wiring)

So while it’s annoying, tripping is actually your fuse box doing its job to protect you from electric shock or fire risk.

6 Common Reasons Your Fuse Box Keeps Tripping

1. A Faulty Appliance

The most common cause of RCD tripping is a faulty plug-in appliance. Kettles, toasters, washing machines, and even extension leads can develop faults that cause leakage to earth.

🔌 Try this: Unplug everything on the affected circuit and plug them back in one at a time. When it trips again, you've likely found the culprit.

2. Overloaded Circuits

Too many high-powered devices on one circuit can overload it—especially in kitchens or during colder months when heaters are in use.

🧯 The fix: A qualified electrician can split the load, upgrade the circuit, or move heavy-use appliances to a separate supply.

3. Lighting Faults

Old or poorly installed lighting can cause flickering, buzzing, or tripping—especially when switches are turned on.

💡 Common signs:

• Tripping when switching a light on
• Flickering or dimming
• Buzzing from fittings or switches

4. Wiring Damage or Wear

Rodents, DIY mishaps, or just age can cause damage to fixed wiring. If your wiring has degraded insulation or poor connections, the fuse box will shut off power to protect you.

⚠️ This needs professional investigation—call a qualified electrician.

5. Water Ingress

Damp areas like bathrooms, kitchens, or outdoor sockets can cause leakage to earth, tripping your RCD.

🌧️ We’ve seen this in garden lighting, poorly sealed outside sockets, or bathrooms with faulty extractor fans.

6. Faulty Consumer Unit or Outdated Protection

Sometimes the problem is in the fuse box itself—especially in older installations without RCBOs or with worn breakers.

🛠️ If your fuse box is over 20 years old, it may be time for an upgrade to modern safety standards.

Can You Fix a Tripping Fuse Box Yourself?

Basic checks you can do:

✅ Unplug all appliances and plug back in one at a time
✅ Check for signs of damp or recent leaks
✅ Reset breakers or RCDs carefully
✅ Try switching circuits off and on individually

But don’t:

❌ Open the consumer unit
❌ Attempt to rewire or bypass circuits
❌ Replace breakers or fuses yourself

Electrical safety is critical—if in doubt, always call a registered electrician.

Need Help with Tripping Circuits?

At Smart Ohm, we provide professional fault finding services across Leeds, Harrogate, Wetherby, Boston Spa and nearby areas.

✅ Fast, safe fault diagnosis
✅ Modern test equipment
✅ Minor repairs or full remedial quotes
✅ NAPIT Registered & fully insured
✅ Clear advice—no jargon, no upselling

📞 Call us today or
📩 Request a fault finding visit online – we’ll get your system back up and running, safely and quickly.