GFCI Outlet Installation

GFCI Outlet Repair – Troubleshooting

Serving Portland – Beaverton – Newberg – Salem – Canby

GFCI Outlet Installation in the Home

Why has the GFCI outlet become one of the most important components of a home’s electrical system? GFCI outlet installations are proven to create a safer environment for the family. Many older homes lack GFCI outlets putting the people living in these homes at increased danger of experiencing an electrical shock. The GFCI is an inexpensive device that when installed keeps loved ones safe.

Where Are GFCI Outlets Required?

GFCI outlets became a requirement for certain outlets in homes of the late 1960s to meet electrical codes. GFCI outlet installations are necessary to protect family members from possible exposure to deadly shock from electrical receptacles near water. Water and electricity do not mix. These National Electrical Code (NEC) were set up to avoid dangerous consequences. These GFCI outlet installation codes and standards were established to maintain life and fire safety. Here are the areas where GFCI outlets are required:

• Pool and spa area of the backyard
• Exterior outlets around the home
• Bathroom outlets
• Garages
• Kitchen counters
• Unfinished basements and crawlspaces
• Wet bars
• Utility sinks and laundry rooms

What are GFCI Outlets?

GFCI Outlets are special outlets that are designed to stop the flow of electricity. They’re three-pronged outlets, with a “reset” and “test” switch in the center of the outlet. When an abnormal current flows through the GFCI, the switch gets tripped, and the “reset” button needs to be pressed to resume electrical current flow to the outlet.

How Do GFCI Outlets Work?

GFCI outlets offer a more reliable system than circuit breakers or fuses in the electrical system of a building to trip and stop the dangerous current flow. GFCIs are extremely sensitive to the smallest variation in current. These devices are designed to trip before the electrical current can traumatize a person’s heartbeat. Once tripped the GFCI outlet can be reset to restore electrical power.

When Your GFCI Outlet Isn’t Working

When there is no electricity when the light switch is flipped on, it is common to go straight to main circuit breaker box. Locating the GFCI outlets near that light switch is a quicker answer to return power to the light switch. Learning where each GFCI outlet in the home is situated may shorten the time wasted looking for the culprit of the outage. Several things can trip a GFCI creating the loss of current to an appliance. GFCI outlet troubleshooting is necessary when these functions no longer work. It is most likely a bad GFCI if:

• The Reset button remains out when the Test button is pressed
• The Reset doesn’t stay in place when pushed in
• When turning something on, the Reset pops out
• The Reset stays in place, but the electrical current is not on
• Things are still working, but the Reset has popped out

Replacing a GFCI Electrical Outlet

During a GFCI outlet troubleshooting, if any of the functions cease to react properly, is it time for a GFCI outlet repair? To prevent the possibility of shock; a GFCI outlet repair needs the experience of a professional electrician. These experts will identify whether the problem is just a faulty connection or an incompatible pairing of circuits creating a dangerous electrical fault. Call a professional electrician before the electrical GFCI receptacle goes up in smoke.