How to Check for an Electrical Short in a House

Locate all of the appliances that no longer work after the breaker trips. Unplug a single appliance, then turn the breaker on and see if it trips again. If it does not trip, this indicates a short in the appliance you unplugged. If it still trips, disconnect another appliance until you have tested them all. If the breaker trips every time, the issue is with the wiring or receptacle in the wall and not with a defective appliance.

Turn off the breaker if it's on and test one of the outlets in the circuit with an ohmmeter. To test, place the ohmmeter on "voltage" and place the red lead into one receptacle hole, and then place the other in the other receptacle hole. The meter should read "zero."

Remove the screw that holds the cover plate over the receptacle and place the cover plate off to the side. Remove the screws that hold the outlet into the electrical box, and then pull the outlet out of the box. Loosen the screws that hold the black wire and white wire on to the outlet, and then pull the wires off the outlet.

Place the ohmmeter on "ohms" or on "continuity," and then place the black lead on the black wire and the red lead on the white wire. If the meter indicates an infinite loop or a "0," it means the outlet is bad. If the meter indicates any number other than "0," it means there's a break in the wires -- and you've located your short.