Why Do Breakers Keep Tripping in Multi-Tenant Commercial Buildings?

5 Hidden Electrical Problems Loudoun County Property Owners Can’t Afford to Ignore

Loudoun County’s commercial property market is booming, and with that growth comes increased demand on the infrastructure that keeps buildings running.

In fact, Loudoun now has over 3,000 commercial properties and saw a 45.3% increase in total commercial property value last year, driven largely by new developments and upgrades across office, retail, and mixed-use assets.

But what often gets overlooked? The electrical system—especially in older, multi-tenant buildings.

If you’re a property owner or facilities manager you’ve probably fielded complaints from tenants about circuit breakers constantly tripping. Although many of us look at this as a nuisance, its actually a warning sign.

Whether you manage a medical office, retail plaza or professional building, power reliability is non-negotiable. And in high-value markets like Loudoun with high retail rents, you can’t afford downtime or repeated electrical issues to threaten tenant satisfaction or lease renewals.

So, what’s behind this common but often misdiagnosed problem?

1. Uneven Load Distribution Across Tenants

   
   

Modern tenants have drastically different energy needs. One might operate a tech-heavy office or medical lab; another might just use basic lighting and outlets. If your panels weren’t designed to accommodate mixed-use demand, certain circuits will bear the brunt—and trip more frequently.

Solution: A load balancing audit can identify where strain is uneven and help you reallocate safely.

2. Outdated or Undersized Electrical Panels

Many Loudoun County properties—especially those built before the 1990s—are still running on aging infrastructure. Panel capacity and breaker quality may not match today’s energy draw, especially with new tenants bringing in high-load equipment.

Solution: Consider breaker replacements or full panel upgrades, especially if you plan to repurpose or refinance the building.

3. Unauthorized Equipment and Tenant Modifications

From server closets to hidden space heaters, unauthorized tenant gear adds to your building’s electrical burden. These “silent loads” often go unnoticed—until breakers trip or outlets overheat.

Solution: Include annual inspections and electrical reporting in lease agreements.

4. Degrading Connections and Internal Faults

Over time, even tightly installed wiring loosens due to vibration, temperature swings, and wear. These weak spots can create intermittent faults, leading to “ghost trips” that are hard to trace.

Solution: Schedule thermal imaging scans or torque testing to spot issues early.

5. Lack of Proactive Electrical Maintenance

High-performance properties have high-performance maintenance. Yet most electrical systems get attention only when something goes wrong. That’s a liability in Loudoun’s competitive market—especially if tenants are comparing you to newly built properties.

Use this 8-point list to protect property value and ensure your systems are up to date.

COMMERCIAL ELECTRICAL CHECKLIST

☐ Panel Age Check: Assess panel type, manufacturer, and service life.

☐ Breaker Torque Testing: Ensure connections are secure and heat-safe.

☐ Load Assessment per Tenant: Flag circuits operating over 80% of capacity.

☐ Infrared Scan: Detect overheating at breakers, connections, and busbars.

☐ Unauthorized Load Review: Identify plug-in devices adding unexpected draw.

☐ Tenant Turnover Prep: Conduct an inspection before every move-in/move-out.

☐ Labeling Accuracy: Verify all panel directories are current and correct.

☐ Upgrade Plan: Create a 3–5 year roadmap for panels and subpanels based on projected use.

With over 1,700 combined office and retail buildings and surging demand for reliable

commercial space, buildings that don’t keep up with infrastructure expectations risk tenant loss and increased liability.

• 64% of local businesses plan to expand through 2030, meaning more power usage per square foot.

•  Loudoun’s commercial sales activity reached 83 property sales in just one quarter of 2024, signaling intense buyer activity, and potential building inspections during due diligence.

We specialize in supporting multi-tenant commercial buildings throughout Loudoun

County—from one-time inspections to comprehensive breaker panel upgrades. We’re here to serve.