Electrical guides
Panels, wiring, outlets and whole-home power — what the warning signs mean and when a repair becomes a safety issue.
- How it works Why does my breaker keep tripping? A breaker trips to protect your wiring from too much current. If it keeps tripping, it's doing its job — the cause is an overloaded circuit, a short circuit, or a ground fault. Resetting it repeatedly without finding the cause is the one thing not to do.
- Repair or replace Do I need an electrical panel upgrade? Consider a panel upgrade when breakers trip often, the panel is an old fuse box or a known-problem brand, you're adding major loads (AC, EV charger, addition), or you're relying on power strips because you're out of circuits. It's about capacity and safety, not just age.
- How it works Why is my outlet not working? A dead outlet is often a tripped GFCI or breaker: press RESET on any GFCI outlet in the same area and check the panel. If those are fine, the cause can be a loose or failed connection inside the outlet or wiring — which needs an electrician, not a fix behind the plate.
- Terms & basics What are GFCI and AFCI outlets? A GFCI protects people from shock by cutting power when current leaks to ground — used near water (kitchens, baths, garages, outdoors). An AFCI protects the home from fire by detecting dangerous arcing in wiring — used in most living areas. Modern code requires both where specified.
- Compare options Does my home need whole-home surge protection? A power strip protects one device; whole-home surge protection installs at the panel and shields everything — HVAC, appliances, electronics — from voltage spikes. In a storm-prone area with sensitive equipment, the panel-level device is the meaningful protection.