What is a GFCI Outlet?
Unlike regular outlets and circuit breakers designed to protect your home’s electrical system, GFCI outlets, or ‘ground fault circuit interrupters,’ are designed to guard people against electrical shock. Easy to identify, GFCI outlets are recognizable by the ‘test’ and ‘reset’ buttons on the outlet face.
What Do GFCI Outlets Do?
GFCI outlets prevent serious electric shock and reduce the risk of electrical fire by monitoring electrical current, cutting power or ‘tripping’ when the outlets detect an imbalance or excess current flow down an unintended path. Super-sensitive and with a far faster response time than circuit breakers or fuses, GFCIs are designed to respond before electricity can affect your heartbeat – in as little as one-thirtieth of a second – and will even work in outlets that aren’t grounded.
Where Should GFCIs Be Used?
GFCI outlets required by code in moist or wet locations of the home to protect people from being shocked, including:
- Bathrooms
- Kitchens (including with dishwashers)
- Laundry and utility rooms
- Garages and outbuildings
- Crawlspaces and unfinished basements
- Wet bars
- Spa and pool areas
- Outdoor areas
Post time: Dec-16-2021