What do I do if my fridge keeps tripping the breaker?

What do I do if my fridge keeps tripping the breaker?

If the breaker tripped immediately after plugging in the fridge, then you should consider unplugging it, resetting the breaker, and plugging in a second appliance. If the second appliance works, the short circuit is inside the refrigerator. If the second appliance doesn’t work, you’ll have to examine the outlet itself.

Why does my fridge keep tripping the outlet?

This is usually caused by multiple appliances being plugged into the same circuit. To avoid this happening, make sure that your refrigerator has a dedicated circuit, which you can do by plugging your refrigerator into an alternative power outlet and seeing if it still trips.

How do I stop my fridge from tripping the GFCI?

If you want to keep the fridge on a GFCI outlet, you can try replacing the breaker in the box with a GFCI breaker. Also, if you’re dealing with a dedicated circuit that just operates the refrigerator in the kitchen, you can simply remove the GFCI outlet and replace with a standard outlet.

Can a faulty appliance trip a circuit breaker?

Plug Defects The appliance may keep tripping the circuit breaker in case a defect, such as a loose connection, is affecting the performance of the appliance’s plug. This problem can deteriorate in case it is not resolved quickly because the loose connection can cause the plug to overheat and sustain irreparable damage.

Can a bad fridge trip a breaker?

A tripped circuit means there is an electrical problem somewhere. From improper grounding to overloaded circuits, a refrigerator can cause an electrical circuit to be tripped in plenty of ways. Keep in mind that the fridge itself might not actually be causing the circuit breaker problem.

Does a refrigerator need to be on an arc fault breaker?

A modern refrigerator requires a dedicated 20-amp circuit. This circuit usually does not require GFCI protection unless the outlet is within 6 feet of a sink or located in a garage or basement, but it generally does require AFCI protection.

Can a fridge be plugged into a GFCI?

A refrigerator shouldn’t be plugged into a GFCI outlet. GFCI outlets are used in areas of the home with water or moisture. These include bathrooms, basements, and kitchens. The problem with refrigerators is that they can cause unneeded trips in GFCI outlets.

Should a refrigerator be on a GFCI outlet?

Should a refrigerator be plugged into a GFCI outlet? A refrigerator shouldn’t be plugged into a GFCI outlet. GFCI outlets are used in areas of the home with water or moisture. These include bathrooms, basements, and kitchens.

Should a refrigerator be plugged into a GFCI?

A. That “protector outlet” you’re referring to is a GFCI, or “Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter” receptacle, and GFCI’s are required by building code in garages, kitchens, bathrooms, and on the exterior of new homes. So freezers and refrigerators should never be plugged into GFCI’s.

Can a fridge trip the electricity?

From improper grounding to overloaded circuits, a refrigerator can cause an electrical circuit to be tripped in plenty of ways. Keep in mind that a tripped circuit is actually a good thing. It keeps more serious problems like fire or electrocution from developing.

Where are arc fault breakers not required 2020?

As long as branch circuits are not extended more than 6 feet, AFCI protection is not required. In the 2020 NEC, a public input (code change proposal) was accepted to clarify “6 feet”.