1. TopElectricians.com
2. Residential
3. Commercial
4. Emergency
5. Electrician Costs
6. Electrician Estimates
7. Electrician Services
8. Electrical Wiring
9. Inspection & Permit
10. Common Electrical Problems
11. Lighting
12. Energy Efficiency
13. Safety Systems
    1. GFCI
    2. AFCI
    3. TRR
    4. TRO
    5. Smoke Alarms
    6. Carbon Monoxide Detectors
    7. Childproofing Your Electrical System
14. Electrical Panel
15. Electric Meter
16. Articles
17. Fun Section

Join one of our advertising packages and start earning today!

1. Advertise on our Free Listings section in your local area
2. Advertise on our top Premium listing section in your local area
3. Full online advertising solution

(888) 666-9085

Top Electricians » Safety Systems » GFCI

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupts

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters or GFCIs shut off the power from your main distributor panel when it detects a leak in the amount of electricity that is traveling through you’re home. This prevents people from suffering shock or even very nasty electrical burns. The science of the GFCI is that the excess current is sent into the ground.

GFCI repair? Submit the form on your right to receive multiple estimates by local electricians.

GFCIs can be used indoors and outdoors, especially where water may come in contact with any electrical outlet, appliances or devices. The National Electrical Code (NEC) has made the installation of GFCIs in kitchens, bathrooms, garages and outdoors a requirement. Maintenance is really not cumbersome as the GFCI needs to be tested only once a month. Both installation and maintenance should be performed by licensed electricians.

GFCI Testing

When testing your GFCI:

• Push the “reset” button on the GFCI before testing begins.
• Plug in a night light and turn it on. The light must now be on.
• Push the “test” button on the GFCI to turn off the light . If the light does not turn off then hire an electrician to check not only the wiring of the GFCI, but if the system is damaged in any way.
• If the light does go off once the “test” button is pushed, then push the “reset” button again and the light should come on again.

GFCI testing? Complete the following form for local electrician estimates on GFCI services.

Portable GFCIs

You can also source portable GFCIs that don’t need any special knowledge to install. Most extension chords now come with built in GFCIs. While they do add flexibility, portable GFCIs should only be used as a temporary measure and should be tested always before use.