In a world filled with uncertainty, the last place you want to find any safety hazards is inside of your home. One of the simplest ways to protect your home and those in it is by using GFCIs in your home.

Why GFCIs Matter

A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) is a device either built into an outlet or a breaker. This device will stop the flow of electricity when it detects an undetermined path. Whether that be that it is detecting water within the circuit, malfunctioning equipment plugged in or any other fault between neutral and ground. They will trip at 5 millivolts of a neutral imbalance and they are designed to protect people.

Common issues

GFCIs may cause several hassles to the homeowner and require a bit more maintenance than your standard outlet. If you lose power to the outside receptacles, garage receptacles, kitchen receptacles or bathroom receptacles, check your ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) first. This device can be in your panel or a receptacle. A GFCI breaker, is located inside the panel and will typically be in the tripped(middle) position.  GFCI receptacles is a rectangular outlet with a test and reset button. It is used to reduce the risk of electric shock, which can cause the heart to stop or cause burns and death.

What can you do?

Knowing where your GFCIs are is one of the most common issues most homeowners experience. While most are commonly found in garages, kitchens, bathrooms and exterior outlets. Knowing where to look if you lose power can save the homeowner a costly service charge. GFCIs should be tested annually to verify their functionality and keep from having the issue of power loss in key areas.

We highly encourage the discerning homeowner to check their GFCIs and have them inspected and replaced by qualified electricians.