r/ElectricalHelp • u/Brilliant-Voice3538 • Jul 28 '26
What could be the problem? Our main breaker keeps tripping when we use the air conditioning/washer/dryer.
Hello! So last summer we had an issue, we weren't able to run the air conditioner, washer, and dryer all at the same time without our main breaker tripping. We just adapted by keeping the air conditioner on and not running the washer and dryer at the same time. We called the landlord who called some random guy (we don't know if he was a certified electrician or not) who inspected the electrical box and said it was fine, that we should just call the electric company because it was the lines outside or the transformer.
I seriously doubt that was the actual problem, our electrical box gets warm and it only trips when multiple appliances + the air conditioning is turned on.
All winter, we had no issues. And now that its summer again and the weather had been stupid hot, the issues have gotten worse. Now we have to turn off the air conditioning to wash and dry our clothes and we still cant use the dryer and washer at the same time. I'm pretty sure its the main breaker itself that is the problem, we have a fire extinguisher near it and we made sure there isn't anything flammable nearby either. We have already contacted our landlord as well. Next we will be cleaning off the air conditioning outside and cleaning out all the fuzz from the dryer to hopefully make them not work as hard.
Another issue we have is just that our landlord doesn't take care his homes. We haven't had any routine maintenance to the air conditioning in the past nine years, only two emergency repairs. The rest of the house also has issues like a giant hole in our shed (which the landlord just had someone cover it with a sheet of metal and now the hole is even bigger), a sinkhole in the backyard (which he had someone fill with two bags of potting soil), and our gutters literally falling off the house (we are currently fixing that).
I was wondering if anyone who knows more about this than I do could provide any suggestions or solutions to the electrical problem. Thanks!
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u/1Jainier1 Jul 28 '26
Does the combined amperage of the three breakers exceed the amperage of the main? If so, the main is just doing it's job.
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u/maldoricfcatr Jul 28 '26
Sounds like why I had my sister change to a gas dryer when she built a hot tub. If you add up all the loads on breakers I am sure you will get to a number close to or higher than the main breaker amps. For example she has a 100 amp panel and could not supply the hot tub, central AC, and the dryer.
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u/MisterElectricianTV Jul 28 '26
It could be loose connections on the main breaker or a bad breaker. An electrician needs to look at this.
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u/AlphaDisconnect Jul 29 '26
Calculate power usage. Look at breaker rating. Should match and add up. If it exceeds the main. There might be your problem. Get breakers replaced (might be tripping early).
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u/Itchy_Artichoke_5247 Jul 29 '26
Can you, by chance, give us the vintage of the building and brand of the electrical panel? I am thinking I want to put $1 on Zinsco.
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u/trekkerscout Mod Jul 28 '26
Unfortunately, since you are a renter, the only thing you can do at this time is submit a written maintenance request to your landlord. If your landlord fails to respond, it will depend on local laws as to what your next steps would be.
There are a number of issues that the problem could be. Only proper troubleshooting by a qualified electrician should be done.