Charm City Electric
Charm City Electric
Homeowner Tips & Guides

Electrical Tips

Practical guides from our licensed electricians to help you understand and safely handle common electrical situations.

How to Reset a Tripped Circuit Breaker

A tripped breaker is one of the most common electrical issues homeowners face. Learn the safe, step-by-step process to reset it — and when to call a professional.

Step 1: Identify the Tripped Breaker

Open your electrical panel (breaker box). A tripped breaker will be in the middle position — neither fully ON nor OFF. Some panels show a red or orange indicator when a breaker has tripped. Look for the breaker that's not fully in line with the others.

Step 2: Turn Off Appliances on That Circuit

Before resetting, unplug or turn off the appliances connected to that circuit. If you reset a breaker while an overloaded appliance is still drawing power, it will likely trip again immediately. This step also helps you identify what caused the trip in the first place.

Step 3: Reset the Breaker

Push the tripped breaker firmly all the way to the OFF position first — you'll feel it click. Then push it back to the ON position. You should hear and feel a solid click. The breaker should now be aligned with the others in the ON position.

Step 4: Test and Monitor

Restore power to your devices one at a time and monitor the breaker. If it holds, you're good. If it trips again immediately or within a short time, there's likely an underlying problem — a faulty appliance, an overloaded circuit, or a wiring issue — that needs professional attention.

⚡ If your breaker keeps tripping or won't reset, don't force it. That's your electrical system telling you something is wrong. Call Charm City Electric for a professional diagnosis.

Important Safety Reminders

  • Never reset a breaker that trips repeatedly — this is a warning sign
  • If you smell burning or see scorch marks near the panel, do not touch it — call an electrician immediately
  • GFCI outlets (with TEST/RESET buttons) trip independently — check those first before blaming the breaker
  • A breaker that won't stay reset likely has a short circuit or ground fault that needs diagnosis
  • If your panel feels warm or makes buzzing sounds, call a licensed electrician

Power Outage at Home? Call BGE First — Here's Why

Before you call an electrician, there's an important first step many homeowners skip: calling BGE. Their technicians will come to your home and test the incoming power lines and your meter for free — and often, the problem is on their side.

Step 1: Call BGE First

They will dispatch someone to your home to test the incoming power lines and your meter entirely for free. This is always the right first call when you have a partial or full power outage, because the problem may have nothing to do with your home's wiring.

Step 2: Let Them Diagnose

Often, the issue is a dropped leg of power on their side of the system, which they will fix at no cost to you. A 'dropped leg' means one of the two 120V legs supplying your home has failed, causing some circuits to go dead while others still work — a confusing situation that's actually BGE's responsibility.

Step 3: Get the Verdict

If BGE determines their equipment is working perfectly and the fault lies within your home's electrical panel or wiring, they will advise you to hire an electrician. This is an important step — it saves you money by confirming the problem is actually inside your home before you pay for a service call.

Step 4: Call the Pros

Once BGE confirms the issue is inside your house, that is exactly when you bring us in to diagnose and repair your panel safely. At that point, you know the utility side is fine and the problem is something our licensed electricians can find and fix.

⚡ If BGE tells you it's time to call an electrician, Charm City Electric is ready to get your home safely back up and running. We proudly serve Baltimore and the surrounding areas.

Important Safety Reminders

  • BGE's diagnostic visit to your home is completely free
  • A 'dropped leg' from BGE's transformer is a common cause of partial outages
  • Never attempt to open or work inside your electrical panel yourself
  • If BGE clears their equipment, an electrician is your next call
  • Charm City Electric serves Baltimore and all surrounding areas

Need a Professional?

When in doubt, call a licensed electrician. We're here to help with any electrical issue, big or small.

(443) 469-9371Request Free Estimate