Do you have a problem with your GFCI outlet? We have all been there. As we would all agree, we all uses electricity whether at the workplace or at home so we have to encounter hitches from time to time. For instance, light which fails to turn on or a laptop that will not charge even as it is connected to the electric source. However, more often than not, what you actually have is a GFCI outlet that is non-functional.
There are several reasons why a GFCI outlet could cease to work as it should and why a GFCI outlet will not reset: Some reasons why GFCI outlets may not be working and which you can fix yourself and others that may be very risky and require the services of an electrician. Keep on reading to find out what type of electrical issue you might be dealing with.
What is a GFCI Outlet?
A GFCI outlet, where GFCI is an abbreviation for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter receptacle, is essential for every business or industrial as well as residential construction. It is designed to change from the closed circuit to the open circuit immediately, in case of occurrence of an electric ground fault.
Therefore GFI receptacles are ideal to be used in the bathrooms, basement, kitchen, garage and any outside area because they prevent the occurrence of electric shocks. Besides, they are according to the requirement for the damp location as provided by the National Electrical Code.
According to the National electrical code, it is mandatory to install GFCI or GFI (Ground Fault Interrupter) outlet if the location getting electrical appliance power outlet exposure to chances of electric shock shorting. A good example is in the kitchens and the bathrooms.
How Do GFCI Outlets Work?
As discussed above, a GFCI outlet is a safety device and GFCI outlets operate by measuring the current passing through a circuit. When the current going back to the circuit is any different from the current entering the circuit, even by a little, the GFCI outlet will turn off or trip.
This is the biggest cause of electric shock or electrocution results from use of appliances or tools near water or moisture since water particles are good conductors of electricity. Furthermore, because improperly installed outlets may indicate a severe problem with the electrical system, outlets must be wired correctly at these outlets.
GFCI outlets are incorporated into each other but there are various kinds of GFCI kind, portable GFCI unit or GFCI extension cord. Further, most circuit breakers are designed with GFCI outlets for a second protection circuit against circuit overload and ground fault.
Why is my GFCI Outlet not Working?
There are several reasons why GFCI outlets could stop working, and they include:
1. Tripped Outlet
A tripped outlet is one of the causes of malfunctioning in your GFCI outlet. Grounding is an integrated protective mechanism that avails electrical protection of a home’s circuits to risky electrocution. On each GFCI outlet, there has got to be both reset and test buttons and if the reset button pops out, you should just press the button back in or, press the test buttons first before you press the reset buttons.
If the problem of the electrical outlet is a tripped outlet, then with the above steps the GFCI outlet should be fine, and should be functioning as expected. But if pressing the reset button was no way helpful in your tripped GFCI problem, then it should be best to hire a licensed electrician.
Furthermore, you may find that the device powers off and you resetting gazes back to the off positions, though this becomes irritating where some electricians refer to this as nuisance tripping. Harmless situations cause GFCI outlets to trip each time they detect a current leakage.
2. Poor Electrical Connection
This is another reason the GFCI outlet might have stopped working and as such, require repairs. While it is not very common, cut wires can damage a GFCI outlet and thus make it nonfunctional. Furthermore, cut wires affect your electrical connection flow mostly resulting in very risky situations such as fires or electrocution.
It is not safe to try and replace a GFCI outlet because with any do it yourself project where electrical outlets are involved, there may be risks. However, GFCI outlets cannot be wired wrongly because they will not work, and even other professional homeowners get frustrated when working on such a project.
You should engage a licensed electrician to handle all things concerning GFCI outlets, since handling it in any other way poses a risk to your life and other people’s lives.
What are the Reasons my GFCI Outlet won’t Reset?
A GFCi outlet has an internal breaker that interrupts and shuts off the power supply to the outlets when the circuit to becomes overloaded or shorts, thus protecting your house against electrical dangers. In fact, if your outlet circuit breaker trips, you need to reset the power supply of your outlet.
If a GFCI outlet won't reset, then this is indication that ground fault is present somewhere. There are some reasons why your GFCI outlet won't reset, and they include:
1. If GFCI Outlets are Dead
Only when the power goes off in our home do we realize how important the electrical outlets are, and while one outlet may be dead, the other outlets may seem to have no problem. A dead outlet is over just an inconvenience, but it also poses a fire hazard, and this is why hiring an expert to repair your dead outlet is recommended if your home has not undergone rewiring for several years.
Before going to check the circuit breakers, there is a need to determine whether other outlets that are within your home are operational. For instance, turn your lights on and off and check with a voltage indicator to find whether your power is transmitting to other outlets nearby.
Unplug devices or appliances from dead outlets with a view of eradicating any chance of a short or an overload from one of the outlets. Tag the dead outlets so that you find them back once you switch off the power.
2. If there are Bad or Loose Connections
Another cause of a GFCI outlet not to reset is bad wiring in the circuit. Defective wiring may be caused by moisture in it. To and attempt to do this, use a wire connector and pull out each wire; if there is any that is loose, remove the wire connector. Then remove all wires connected with the wire connector and peel off the 1/2 inch to 3/4 of the new copper wire.
In case of wire connectors always refer to the instruction given in the wire connector box to determine the required stripping length. If there are no loose connections in the connector box, look for other sockets in that area and turn on the sockets you earlier marked dead sockets. As mentioned earlier, always remember to switch off on the main circuit breaker when tightening the connection.
3. If there is a Blown Fuse or a Tripped Circuit
As soon as you ensure you do not have dead outlets, look at the circuit breakers in the main electrical room. This part is most often located close to the point where electrical cables come into your house. Some usual places where electrical panels are installed are basement, laundry room or even garages.
When you open the door of the main electrical panel you can see the circuit breakers or fuses and if any of them is not arranged properly then it indicate that you have a tripped breaker. Switch off the tripped breaker and include whether this will help you or change the fuse. However, if it happens repeatedly, it means that you may be having an overload problem from the many appliances connected. This means that the circuit is not capable of carrying all the electrical appliances plugged into it.
4. If there is a Leak in the Electric Current
GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) receptacle outlets should be installed where anything electrical related is fatal, in a ‘shock prone area’. Whenever the GFCI outlets detect the presence of a leak in the electric current, the GFCI McIntosh that cuts off the power.
Locate all the GFCI outlets in your home, check with a voltage meter and then reset each of them. If sometimes your GFCI outlet does not reset, then there is no supply to GFCI or the GFCI outlet is bad. Thirdly, if you reset your GFCI and it trips as soon as you release the button, then, chances are, you have a current leakage somewhere on your circuit. In such a case, it is recommended that you seek the service of licensed electrician for the job.
You can access the electrical problem through some of these symptoms:
- If your reset button does not pop out when you press the reset button, it may be that you did not press the button in enough for current to reach the unit, or your GFCI outlet is nonfunctional.
- If your reset button pops out when you switch on something, then the downstream ground fault might be the case or even your GFCI outlet is wired wrongly.
- If the reset button is out, but the different devices, which are connected to a plug, are working, this indicates that there can be a reversed line with a load. Occasionally, you will find that the circuit interrupter is faulty.
- If your reset button is in, but nothing that is plugged into the socket works, then it might be a case of the GFCI outlet being faulty, wired wrongly or at the moment, is not getting current.
- If your reset button doesn't stay in, then there is likely a ground fault after the GFCI outlet or it may have been wired wrong.
5. If the Connector Box Has not been Installed Properly
Gather your wires, make sure that the ends of the wires are aligned and then twist these clockwise into the new wire connector. Comparing the connector box with wire connector container label check the number of wires on the wire connector. After that, strike the main circuit breaker and then switch it again to check out whether your problem is solved. In case you has not reset your GFCI outlet to this point, you should right away contact a licensed electrician.
Do GFCI Outlets Go Bad?
Yes, GFCI outlets go bad because, like any electrical equipment, a GFCI outlet has a life that is expected to be used then its chance of being messed up is high. In most cases, electric vehicles have a battery life of five to ten years, but they can malfunction early if not shielded and preserved rightly.
When not in use, try and cover any electrical outlet that is exposed to moisture in order to maintain your GFCI outlets. Also, the easiest electrical safety measures include checking GFCIs every month or after any possible interference with the outlet, for instance, during blackouts or power disruptions.
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