How to Flip a Breaker

Locate the service panel for the electric in your home. It may be outside, in a utility room or garage, for example. Keep a flashlight on hand if you need to locate and examine the panel in the dark.

Pull the handle to open up the panel and examine the inside to find the tripped breaker. Often, a little area next to a switch is red to flag the tripped breaker. There could also be a label next to each breaker listing the rooms it services so you know which one to flip based on the area of the house that lost electricity. If you don’t know which breaker it is, reset each one until you turn on the electricity in the right area of the home.

Flip the tripped breaker to the off position. This is similar to turning on and off a light switch except the switch is horizontal and there is a bit more tension. After two or three seconds, flip it back to the on position. If it doesn’t work and you are sure it is the right breaker, try again. Make sure you turn the breaker all the way to the off position and not just part of the way.