Here’s Why You Have Electrical Problems During the Holiday Season

If you’ve ever plugged in your holiday lights, turned on all of your appliances to do guest laundry or cook a family feast, and wondered, “What just happened to my power?,” you’re not alone. The holiday season is among the busiest times of year for any good electrician in Waukesha County. For our team at Over the Moon Heating, Air & Electric, we see the same common problem: Your electrical system is carrying a bigger load than it was meant for. 

Decorations, cooking, guests, extra heating, endless chargers, and even your HVAC in Waukesha County running force your electrical panel to work overtime. When all of that load is on the same circuits, your system can tap out. 

Here are some of the most common holiday electrical issues homeowners report in Waukesha and Brookfield. We also cover why they all tie back to rising electrical demand, especially in older homes throughout Waukesha County.

1. Why Aren’t My Holiday Lights Working?

Holiday lighting in Brookfield, WI is festive, but puts a surprising demand on your electrical system. When your holiday lights won’t turn on, people usually assume the lights themselves are faulty. And sometimes they are. 

Consider if you’re also running space heaters, kitchen appliances, or your HVAC for longer cycles due to colder weather. A single outlet can only handle so much before its safety mechanisms prevent more power from flowing. This is often a sign you need a dedicated lighting circuit or even a light fixture upgrade in Brookfield, WI to better support your holiday setup.

2. Why Does My Circuit Breaker Keep Tripping?

Circuit breakers trip when your system is protecting itself. During the holidays, you’re running more:

• Holiday lights
• Crockpots, mixers, electric roasters, countertop ovens
• Multiple TVs or game systems
• Supplemental heaters
• Extended HVAC runtime
• Outdoor inflatables
• EV chargers and appliances if you have family visiting

Many homeowners mistakenly believe that the circuit breaker is malfunctioning, when in reality, the system is simply experiencing overloading. It may be time to consider an electric panel upgrade in Brookfield to give your home room to grow (and celebrate) safely.

3. Why Do My Kitchen Outlets Stop Working During Holiday Cooking?

Nothing tests a kitchen’s electrical capacity like holiday prep. Microwaves, air fryers, pressure cookers, toaster ovens, mixers, and warming trays all draw heavy wattage. Most kitchen circuits weren’t designed with modern holiday cooking in mind, let alone five appliances running at once.

When your outlets stop working, the circuit is doing exactly what it’s supposed to do. It “pops” to the off position and stops the overload. Our Brookfield electricians can install dedicated kitchen circuits or upgrade wiring so your appliances aren’t fighting for power.

4. HVAC Load Makes Holiday Electrical Problems Worse

HVAC load is often the hidden culprit most homeowners don’t think about. Our cold Wisconsin weather means your HVAC in Brookfield, WI is working harder and longer, especially when you’re hosting guests who open doors frequently or the oven is warming the house unevenly.

Longer heating cycles lead to:

• More electrical draw
• More strain on shared circuits
• More opportunities for breakers to trip

Many homes absolutely need HVAC upgrades in Brookfield, WI and electrical panel improvements because the two systems depend on each other. If the panel can’t feed the HVAC properly, you end up with inefficiency, tripping, or intermittent power loss.

5. Your Home’s Panel May Be Too Small for Modern Holiday Usage

Older electrical panels max out fast. And Brookfield has plenty of older homes that still run on 60A or 100A panels that simply weren’t built for:

• Decorations
• Multiple refrigerators and freezers
• Big-screen TVs
• EV charging
• Larger HVAC units
• Smart home systems
• Outdoor lighting setups

An electric panel upgrade gives you more capacity, better safety, and room to invest in EV charging installation in Brookfield, heat pumps, or updated HVAC equipment in the future.

6. Outdoor Lights, Extension Cords & GFCIs 

Holiday lighting installation is heavily reliant on GFCI outlets, especially if you have holiday lights strung up outdoors. If your outdoor lights shut off or won’t stay on, you may be dealing with:

• A moisture-triggered GFCI trip
• Overloaded outdoor circuits
• Non-weather-rated extension cords
• An outdoor outlet past its life expectancy

A simple lighting installation in Brookfield, WI can add dedicated circuits or modern LED-compatible wiring to support your holiday display safely but without constant resets.

7. Is Something Wrong With My Wiring? 

Faulty holiday lights, old extension cords, cracked plugs, or bargain-bin inflatables can all cause intermittent power issues. But often the wiring is fine, and it’s really the electrical system stretched to its limit.

Some of the common warning signs of real wiring issues include:

• Burning smells
• Discolored outlets
• Warm electrical panels
• Buzzing sounds
• Lights dimming when appliances turn on

If you notice any of these issues, it’s time to pause the decorating and call our licensed electrician in Brookfield, WI right away.

How Our Brookfield Electrician Can Help

Homeowners typically call us with a simple problem. “My lights won’t turn on,” but what they actually need varies:

• Outlet repair
• Dedicated circuit installation
• Lighting installation
• GFCI replacement
• Panel upgrade
• HVAC electrical evaluation
• EV charger installation in Brookfield
• Whole-home wiring improvements
• Surge protection

Each of these solves a different kind of holiday overload.

When Should You Upgrade Your Electrical Panel?

A panel upgrade is worth considering if:

• Breakers travel frequently during holidays.
• Your HVAC seems to strain the system.
• You’ve added an EV charger or plan to.
• Your home is still running on a 60A or 100A panel.
• You use power strips just to make everyday life work.

A modern 200A panel gives you breathing room, protects your appliances, and supports year-round energy demand, not just holiday stress.

Call Over the Moon Heating, Air & Electric for All Your Holiday Electrical Needs

Holiday electrical problems are rarely a random event and should be treated with a sense of urgency. If you’re seeing signs that your system is working beyond its capacity, call us for all of your Brookfield electric needs. 

As your go-to electrical company in Waukesha County, we’ll make sure your home is up and running, safe, and ready for your electrical load. We can also diagnose whether the problem is your lights, your outlets, or the entire electrical system calling for help. Schedule your appointment today!