If you’re an electric fireplace owner, you may have experienced the frustrating issue of your fireplace tripping your breaker. While this can be a nuisance, there are a few reasons why this may happen.
No matter what can be the cause of the issue, addressing the issue is essential to prevent your heating element unit from potential damage.
We have compiled this blog post to help you, so please keep reading.
Why My Electric Fireplace keeps tripping Breaker?
The electric fireplace keeps tripping the breaker because of power issues such as overloaded circuits, Short or oversupply of electricity, faulty circuits, damaged wires, power plugs, or extension cords. Faulty internal components or short-circuited wires also lead to breaker issues.
#1. The overloaded circuit is tripping the breaker.
If your electric fireplace shutting off or is mysteriously tripping the breaker and the adjacent area feels hot, it may be due to an overloaded circuit.
Because a heater element runs on electricity, any additional appliances and lights plugged into the same circuit can overload it, causing it to become overworked and shut off.
Any other devices with electric fireplace (like an iron) tend to draw a significant amount of power, and will probably trip the breaker if used together.
If you are experiencing electric fireplace tripping breaker, try eliminating any additional items that might be on the same circuitry as your fireplace.
If this doesn’t solve the problem, it is best to call an experienced electrician who can provide a more permanent solution.
#2. Short or oversupply of electricity to the Fireplace heater.
The fireplace heater can come in handy on colder days and nights to keep your home warm. If your electric fireplace tripping breaker it is vital to ensure that you do not exceed the amount of electricity provided to only one outlet or heater. Otherwise, you might trip the breaker.
If there is an inadequately short supply or an overload of electricity to a single outlet or appliance. In that case, it will trip the breaker and cause your electric system to shut down.
This serves as a safety precaution against potential electrical fires within the home.
To avoid tripping the breaker and still have enough warmth for your home in colder times, you should consider investing in a higher-powered heater element if needed so that it does not put extra strain on your current electrical system when in use.
#3. Faulty circuits of the electric fireplace.
Faulty circuits in an electric fireplace can be extremely dangerous, potentially leading to serious consequences such as tripping the breaker.
If a electric fireplace keeps tripping breaker, this could cause a complete power outage in your home, leaving you and your family in the dark.
It is wise to stay alert for any strange signs or odors from your electric fireplace, as these can indicate problems with the wires and internal components of the appliance.
Annual inspections of your electric fireplace can help detect issues with its circuitry before they become serious, helping ensure that your family remains safe and warm during the cold weather season.
#4. Faulty Wiring, power plug or extension cord.
When checking your fireplace, it is important to watch for damaged wires, power plugs, and extension cords. Tripping the breaker can occur if even one of these components sustains damage.
When this happens, the electricity no longer flows through the house like normal, leaving you in disarray.
It can also cause your electric fireplace to shut off by itself.
To prevent tripping the breaker due to faulty components, you must regularly inspect each component of your fireplace setup to ensure everything is in working order.
If a wire looks frayed or a plug isn’t put together as well as you remember, do not be afraid to find another piece and replace it.
#5. The issue with the main source of your electric power supply.
The issue of an overloaded or malfunctioning electric power supply can cause serious problems for any home or business. The most dangerous aspect of this problem is that if there is an issue with the main source of your electric power, it can often cause the circuit breaker to trip and result in a complete power failure.
Having to manually reset the breaker or having it fixed by a qualified electrician is often time-consuming and expensive, so it’s important to be aware of how much electricity you are consuming to avoid this problem.
Monitoring our energy usage is a key part of keeping ourselves safe and ensuring we don’t have an unexpected disruption to our electrical system.
How to Fix Electric Fireplace Trips Circuit Breaker?
1) Check if the electric fireplace is plugged into a wall outlet that isn’t overloaded.
With electric fireplaces becoming increasingly popular, it’s important to ensure you take the necessary safety precautions. Suppose your electric fireplace turns off the breaker continuously.
The first step of this process is to check and verify that the electric fireplace is plugged into a wall outlet that isn’t overloaded. Overloaded outlets can potentially cause an excess of heat, leading to fires or other risks.
For best measure, please double-check that your chosen outlet has not been overused by unplugging any devices or appliances and keeping your electric fireplace dedicated to its outlet.
If it’s plugged into an extension cord, make sure the cord is rated for the power of the fireplace.
It’s important to keep in mind the wattage of your electric fireplace when using an extension cord. An extension cord not rated for the fireplace’s power can be extremely dangerous, leading to overheating and even possible fires.
Before plugging your fireplace into any extension cord, make sure it has a rating higher than your electric fireplace’s wattage.
2) Check to see any loose wires around the fireplace or in the wall outlet.
Making sure your home is free of any potential fire hazards. When it comes to your fireplace, you should always keep an eye out for exposed wiring. If you notice any wires that appear disconnected or leading away from the fireplace without a secure connection, you should take the next step and check your wall outlets.
Sometimes when a wiring connection is not secured properly, it can lead to an overload of current in the outlet, which may present an increased risk of fire or devastating electrical shock.
3) Unplug Other Appliances connected to the same power outlet.
One way to prevent this hazard is to unplug other appliances connected to the same power outlet as your fireplace. However, it may seem like a minor inconvenience, but taking the time to unplug these other devices can help your system run more smoothly throughout the winter months while avoiding costly repairs due to unexpected electricity shutoffs.
Also, make sure to clean the dirty heater element.
4) If everything looks fine, reset the breaker and try again.
If a device isn’t working and you’re stumped, it may just be that the circuit breaker needs to be reset. Before calling an electrician or troubleshooting further, check the circuit breaker box.
If all switches are in the “on” position and nothing appears to be off or malfunctioning, resetting the breaker is a logical next step. Switch it off, switch it back on again, allowing 10-15 seconds between each switch, and see if this remedies the issue.
5) If the problem persists, contact a professional electrician for help.
Suppose you are dealing with an electrical issue in your home or business that continues despite your efforts to repair it. In that case, the best course of action is to call a professional electrician.
Having the skills, training, and experience necessary to safely diagnose and resolve any particular problem, a licensed electrician can often have it sorted out quickly.
They will also be able to look for potential safety issues and help prevent future problems. Be sure to select a trustworthy electrician with valid credentials and good reviews from past customers, so you can rest assured that the job is done correctly.
Conclusion:
Why Electric Fireplace Keeps Tripping Breaker? Overall, electric fireplaces are relatively simple pieces of equipment but require specialized care when it comes to troubleshooting. Checking the wall outlet and ensuring that no wires have come loose should be the first step when encountering any problems.
Sometimes a reset is all needed to get things going again, and consulting an electrician, if necessary, can help ensure maximum fireplace performance in the future. It’s also important to note that professional inspection and maintenance are essential to safely use an electric fireplace over the long term.
With these safety considerations in place and a little bit of regular maintenance, you’ll be able to enjoy your cozy fire for years to come.
Ultimately, it’s worth doing whatever you can to increase the lifespan and reliability of your unit, as a well-maintained electric fireplace can offer years of warmth and comfort.
FAQs
Why does my electric keep tripping at night?
Your electric might be tripping at night due to several reasons, including faulty or loose connections at the breaker that heat up under load, moisture or water coming into contact with electrical components or high usage of electrical appliances such as washing machines, tumble dryers, or kettles during the evening hours, which can overload the circuit.
Why does my stove keep tripping the breaker?
A stove may keep tripping the breaker due to a short circuit or ground fault within the stove’s wiring.
Overloading the circuit if the stove is drawing more current than the breaker can handle. Also, loose or corroded connections at the breaker or within the stove itself, which can cause intermittent tripping
Why electric fireplace keeps shutting off?
An electric fireplace may keep shutting off due to overheating protection mechanisms kicking in if the fireplace gets too hot. A faulty thermostat or sensor within the fireplace can also shut off your electric fireplace.
Why electric heater keeps tripping breaker?
An electric heater may keep tripping the breaker because, it is drawing more current than the circuit is designed to handle, leading to an overload.
Can you plug electric fireplace and tv on same outlet?
It is generally not recommended to plug an electric fireplace and a TV into the same outlet because, electric fireplaces typically draw a significant amount of current, which can easily overload a standard household outlet when combined with other devices like a TV.
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Hello!! I am Jamal Khan. I often fix my home electric heaters and gas stove problems and research the common issues in the heating units to improve my knowledge and expertise. The aim of establishing fireplaceadviser.com is to share my expertise and knowledge with my audience.