If you can’t find your box in one of these areas, look again or see if you can spot where the power connects to your house from outside. Check for your box in the surrounding areas. If you live in an apartment, check in a cupboard or hallway.
If you have trouble finding your circuit breaker or fuse box, ask a neighbor where theirs is. If you live in a neighborhood with houses built in the same era, the boxes may be in similar locations. Call an electrician if you can’t find your circuit breaker or fuse box. Some boxes can be hard to find depending on additions or remodeling done to the house.
Older homes tend to have fuse boxes. If you have a particularly large house, you may even have multiple fuse or breaker boxes. [4] X Research source
If you don’t unplug any appliances before replacing the fuse, you run the risk of blowing the new fuse as well.
If there isn’t a switch to turn off the power, there will be a fuse block, usually in the center of the top row. Pull it out and check to see if it is labeled “on” and one side and “off” on the other. If so, reinsert it with the “off” side facing up. If not, leave it out while you replace the fuse, then reinsert it.
The blown fuse will be cloudy or the metal line in the fuse will be broken. If you don’t have a circuit list, you may have to guess which fuse is blown. If you pull a fuse out and no other circuits lose power, you’ve found the blown fuse. [7] X Research source
Fuses are rated at 15, 20, or 30 amps. The higher the rating the larger the appliance they power. [9] X Research source Typically if a fuse blows, it’s because too many devices or appliances are pulling power from that circuit. If you’re having a recurring problem with this, you may need to install a new circuit breaker to split the load. [10] X Expert Source Jesse KuhlmanMaster Electrician Expert Interview. 29 April 2020.
If the fuse does not blow, plug in any appliances you were using. If the fuse blows, there could be a problem with the appliance. There could also be too many appliances plugged into one circuit.
Some circuit breakers have a red or orange mark on them that is easy to see when the switch is off. This can help you locate the tripped breaker.
If the breaker trips immediately, call an electrician to inspect your wiring.
If you trip the breaker from plugging in too many appliances, try using a different outlet. If that does not solve the problem, call an electrician, as you may need to have a new circuit breaker installed. [11] X Expert Source Jesse KuhlmanMaster Electrician Expert Interview. 29 April 2020.
