Yes, circuit breakers can degrade and go bad over extended periods of time. While a high-quality thermal-magnetic breaker can last for decades, internal spring mechanisms, bimetallic strips, and mechanical trip linkages can become brittle, corroded, or lose calibration due to chronic heat exposure, frequent overloads, high humidity, or electrical surges. When a breaker ages past its prime, it may experience nuisance tripping, fail to trip during a dangerous short circuit, or feel spongy when toggled.
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