Whenever you try to heat up a cup of coffee in the microwave the circuit trips. What’s going on? Here’s what could be happening—and how an electrician can help fix it—when your microwave is tripping your circuit breaker.

Why is My Microwave Tripping My Circuit Breaker?

Overloaded Circuit

Think your microwave is pulling too much power? You might be right. Microwaves use, on average, 600-1200 watts of power for every one minute on high power. If something else is running on the same circuit — say, a mixer, toaster, or your refrigerator — it could be enough to blow the circuit every time you hit the start button.

Professional electricians recommend that you run a microwave to its own circuit to keep the switch from tripping.

Worn-Out Or Faulty Wiring

Old or damaged wiring can cause your circuit to trip, too, even if your microwave is on its own circuit. If this is happening, call in an electrician to inspect your system and diagnose the problem. If there’s an issue with the wiring or the power outlet needs to be replaced , your microwave could be telling you it’s time to get some work done, to keep your home safe.

A Malfunctioning Microwave

It could be that the circuit isn’t overloaded and the wiring is fine. In that case, there might be something wrong with your microwave. Even if it seems to be working fine, any of a number of internal parts could be drawing excessive current, making the circuit trip. A repair person can help diagnose if, perhaps, your turntable motor is wet, the safety latch on the door is broken, or you have a faulty capacitor.

What Should You Do About It?

Whatever the case, it’s important to have a professional look at your electrical system if your microwave is tripping the circuit to determine what the problem is and fix it.