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Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter Plugs

There tend to be many reasons for plugs to stop functioning inside a home, however GFCI failure is one of the more commonplace reasons.

Depending upon when your home had been wired will certainly establish in regards to what plugs are on that detestable nuisance device we call a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter). GFCI's are created to protect an individual from electrical shock. In the event we have an imbalance of current (amperage) between the current carrying conductors (wires) it'll trip. Any plugs, and the GFCI itself, will become inactive and removes power from the devices.

GFCI's are placed in bathrooms, kitchens, basements, attics, garages, master bedroom closets and the exterior of your dwelling. The GFCI may not protect any additional plug but itself. But this is not likely the case.

To add more confusion to your diagnosis, GFCI’s also come in the form of breakers, and a device that is a GFCI simply with no option to plug an appliance in. Okay, lets begin looking into our issue. Remember that the house construction year can vary what plugs are protected, if protected at all. This is because of code changes which occur every three years and when we include the human component; you know what I mean.

To start with, some GFI plug details. Yes, I left out the "C", simply tired of typing it, lol. There are two buttons on the device. Button number 1 is "test", button number 2 is "reset". On a GFI in a functional state, if we press the test button it will click opening the circuit, so it will not work and all the plugs which it serves will also not work. Power will be restored to the GFI and the plugs it serves if we push the "reset" button. Now, using this information we are ready to begin our electrical diagnosis.

I would call a tacoma electrician in order to further diagnose your problem in the event the GFI keeps tripping when you reset it. Updating the device won't likely fix this problem, which will certainly frustrate you.

Ok, a kitchen plug is not functioning. A kitchen commonly has two 20 amp circuits supplying the kitchen in modern homes. Both circuits should serve the countertops with each having one GFI protecting any plugs which were required to be safeguarded. Locate them and check them as described. Bear in mind, years ago we could also safeguard our outdoor plug with the kitchen GFI. This might be a easy solution for your outdoor plug.

Your bathroom plug quit working in one or more bathrooms. Check the other bathrooms and see if any GFI’s are tripped and simply need to be reset. Keep in mind that a GFI for baths and exterior outlets could be in the garage, this was typical for older homes. Once again, check for this and reset if possible. Just because you don’t see a GFI in your garage does not mean it’s not covered by the boxes as well as work benches which occupy stated garage. This has been the case for me personally on numerous service calls.
It is not common practice, nevertheless look at your panel for any GFI breakers.. So, open up the panel and search for a breaker with a button. Reset it, this might be all that's necessary. Resetting the breaker requires you to switch it off and switch it back on. A GFI breaker that does not reset will most likely require the experience of an Tacoma electrician. The repair necessary with this type of condition requires an electrician.

Do you remember the master bedroom closet GFI? A GFI needs to be in use to safeguard your circulating bathtub in a master bath. Putting this device in a closet was really practical for the electrician. Hence, if your circulating bathtub quit functioning, you may want to shift a few belongings to find that GFI. These days, many electricians situate this device behind a hatch that gives access to the motor of your circulating bathtub. Needless to say, I would in no way put one there, talk about playing hide and seek.

Here is some food for thought. Customers frequently plug their freezer into garage outlets which are GFI protected. Listen to me carefully, freezers can trip GFI's ruining all your frozen goods. New freezers don’t appear to do this, but I would not guarantee it. As the compressor inside a freezer ages it can start leaking current (amperage) to the chassis. A GFI can sense this imbalance, and due to it's nature, it trips. This is my own best guess from experience. Like I said, I don’t see new freezers causing this issue.

Well, I hope I have provided some good information that may help resolve your own electrical issue.

Thanks for your visit and time, I know how valuable it is. I am here to help, a Master Tacoma electrician.

Scott