There are a lot of things to learn when you are a homeowner, especially when you’re a new homeowner or if you’ve recently moved into a new house. While many things can be learned over time, knowing where your home’s circuit breaker is located should be high on your priority list. To find your circuit breaker, it may help to learn more about what a circuit breaker is and how to find a breaker box. 

A breaker box is a valuable section of your home and knowing where yours is can help in an emergency situation. Many emergency situations may require you to access your breaker box in the dark or at night, so knowing where it is ahead of time can help. Keep in mind that all homes are unique, so the answer to “Where is a circuit breaker in house?” may be different for your home than other homes.

What Is a Circuit Breaker?

Before you learn how to find your circuit breaker, it helps to know what a circuit breaker even does for your home. Circuit breakers are a helpful piece of your modern electrical system. They play a role in the electrical safety system to help keep your home safe from excess power moving through the wiring.

Essentially, your circuit breaker is contained within a metal box that holds several switches. These switches are usually labeled by room and they are designed as a safety net to keep your home’s electrical system safe. The switches in the breaker box will “trip” during power surges to prevent fires and excess electrical heat. That means that if too much electricity is present in a certain electrical line, a switch will flip, breaking the circuit and removing a fire hazard.

You can easily reset your home’s breaker box or the individual switches by flipping a tripped switch back to its original operation position. This will restore the circuit, allowing power to flow as usual. In some cases, you may end up with a circuit that gets tripped a lot. This means there’s been an excess of current over and over again on a particular switch which is a clear sign of a serious electrical problem that requires professional attention. You could have bad wiring, a bad fuse, or you may be overusing a power outlet.

How to Find Circuit Breaker

So, where are circuit breakers commonly used at home? Firstly, most homes are unique. That means if you’re wondering how to find a breaker box, you can follow general directions or common locations but you may need to look around a bit to locate your breaker box. In most modern homes, the circuit breaker is located in a low-traffic area to help keep it safe from bumping or prying.

Your breaker box will likely be a metal box, but they are often recessed into your wall so you may only see the doors and not the box itself. They are usually matte gray, but they can also be painted to match the surrounding walls of the home. 

If you’re unsure how to find a breaker box, start by looking for your circuit breaker in your home’s basement, utility closet, or garage. If you live in a small home or apartment, you can try looking in the laundry area of the home or even in a hallway. Keep in mind that while it’s most common for breaker boxes to be inside the home, some are outside. Check your home’s exterior walls if you are unable to find the breaker box indoors.

Trust the Experts

If you’re having difficulty locating your breaker box or dealing with issues with your home’s electrical system, CroppMetcalfe can help. Our team is full of experienced technicians who can help you locate your home’s important features and resolve any electrical issues that are present. Contact us today to schedule your service visit or set up regular maintenance visits.