How to avoid tripped breakers from using appliances during the holidays

The holiday season can bring plenty of cooking, cleaning, and family gatherings, which means your appliances work overtime, putting extra strain on your home’s electrical system. This can lead to tripped breakers, causing disruptions just when you need your appliances the most.

The good news is that with a little preparation and maintenance, you can avoid tripped breakers and keep everything running smoothly. We’ll cover tips for managing your appliances to prevent electrical overload.

Note: The information provided in this article may not apply to your specific appliance model. While we strive to offer helpful advice for DIY appliance repairs, variations in models and configurations can lead to differences. For the most accurate guidance, we strongly recommend consulting the technical sheet for your specific appliance model.

Why breakers trip

Breakers are designed to protect your home by shutting off power when there’s too much demand on a circuit. It’s a safety feature, but it can be frustrating when it happens during the holidays. Here are some common reasons why breakers trip when using major appliances:

• High power usage: Appliances like stoves, microwaves, washers, dryers, dishwashers, and refrigerators use a lot of energy. Running several of these at the same time on the same circuit can overload it and trip the breaker.
• Damaged cords or plugs: If an appliance’s cord or plug is worn, frayed, or bent, it can cause a short circuit or ground fault, which the breaker will detect and shut off power to prevent further damage.
• Overworked appliances: Appliances that haven’t been properly maintained can draw more power than they should. For example, a refrigerator with dirty coils or a dryer with a clogged vent has to work harder, which can strain the circuit.
• Extra holiday decorations: Plugging holiday lights or other decorations into the same circuit as your appliances adds to the load, increasing the risk of tripping the breaker.

Read more: 8 Ways To Keep Your Kitchen Safe This Holiday Season

Preparing for the holidays

Before the festivities get into full swing, it’s a good idea to make sure your appliances and electrical system are ready to handle the extra workload. Here are a few simple steps to get everything in shape:

Inspect cords and plugs

• Check the cords and plugs on your stove, microwave, refrigerator, washer, dryer, and dishwasher for any signs of damage. Look for frayed wires, bent prongs, or anything that seems off. Replace any cords or plugs that look worn to avoid problems.

Clean and appliances

• Refrigerator: Give the condenser coils a good cleaning to help the fridge run efficiently and use less power.
• Dryer: Clear out the lint trap and clean the vent hose to improve airflow and reduce energy use.
• Dishwasher: Remove and clean the filter and spray arms to ensure water flows properly and the dishwasher runs efficiently.

Test your outlets

• Use an outlet tester to check that all the outlets your appliances use are safe and properly grounded. If you notice any issues, avoid using that outlet until it’s fixed.

Map out your circuits

• Locate your breaker box and figure out which appliances are on each circuit. Try to avoid running multiple heavy-duty appliances (like the microwave and dishwasher) on the same circuit at the same time.

Read more: How to maintain your home appliances during the holiday season

Using appliances safely

The way you use your appliances during the holidays can make a big difference in preventing breaker trips. With just a little planning, you can keep everything running smoothly without overloading your circuits.

Stove

• Don’t use all the burners and the oven at the same time, especially if they share a circuit. Spread out your cooking tasks to avoid overloading.
• Avoid running small appliances while the stove or oven is on if the outlet is on the same circuit.
• Use the right-sized cookware on your burners to ensure efficient heating and reduce energy use.

Microwave

• The microwave is perfect for quick jobs like reheating leftovers. Using the microwave instead of the oven for these tasks can save energy and reduce strain on your circuits.
• Stagger your appliance use. Use the microwave after you’ve turned off the oven or stovetop burners. This prevents overlapping power usage that could trip the breaker.
• Always use microwave-safe dishes. Non-microwave-safe materials can absorb or reflect microwave energy, making the appliance work harder and potentially leading to overheating.

Refrigerator

• Keep the door closed as much as possible to avoid making the compressor work harder.
• Check that the door seals are tight and not letting cold air escape. Replace them if they’re worn.
• Don’t overload the fridge with food. It blocks airflow, forcing the fridge to use more energy to maintain the right temperature.

Dishwasher

• Only run the dishwasher when it’s full to reduce how often you need to use it.
• Switch to air-dry mode instead of heated drying to cut down on power usage.
• Keep the filter clean so the dishwasher doesn’t have to work harder than necessary.

Washer and dryer

• Stagger your laundry loads, don’t run the washer and dryer at the same time.
• Clean the dryer’s lint trap and vent hose regularly to improve efficiency and prevent overheating.
• Avoid overloading either appliance, as this can strain the motor and increase energy use.

Read more: 8 Tips to Prep Your Fridge for the Holidays

More information

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