What is a GFCI outlet and why do you need them?

GFCIs (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters) are an essential home safety component for preventing shocks and even fire hazards that stem from spikes in energy currents. Every home should have these, but if you’re experiencing shocks while using appliances, then consider scheduling a safety inspection and consider adding more.

What do GFCI Outlets do?

GFCI outlets are protective devices designed to prevent electrical shock. They monitor incoming and outgoing electrical flow. When the device senses an imbalance in the current flow, it causes the GFCI device to trip, which halts the flow to whatever appliance is causing the problem.

GFCI outlets are required for residential and other buildings by most local electrical codes, including here in Kansas City. Standard outlets do not have GFCI protection on their own, which means you may want to replace them if you’ve noticed shock problems.

By the 1970s, almost all outdoor, bathroom, and garage receptacles were in compliance with GFCI requirements. Then in the 1980s, that grew to include kitchen outlets. Nowadays, GFCI outlets are all over new homes.

Do all Homes Have Sufficient GFCI Protection?

No, if you inherit or purchase an older home in Kansas City, you may encounter some outdated electrical fixtures, including the wiring itself. Homes built before the 1950s may have ungrounded wiring, and rarely have sufficient ground fault protection. Most of the time, you can tell by looking at the outlet to see whether it has a GFCI test button.

When in doubt, call us and we can troubleshoot with you over the phone or send an electrician to inspect your home. If you don’t have GFCI protection, especially for appliances that consume lots of energy, you’ll want to rectify that discrepancy soon.

GFCI Outlet Best Practices

GFCI outlets require little maintenance, but you’ll want to check and test them every so often. We recommend doing so on a monthly basis. You should see a reset button on the outlet. It will disengage the outlet if you press it, then press it again to reset.

Some GFCIs have their own self-testing function, but it’s good idea to check them manually sometimes as well. Here are some other things you can do with GFCIs:

• Prioritize GFCI outlets in the areas of your home where electricity comes close to the water sources. This would include the kitchen, bathrooms, basements, and outdoor outlets for hot tubs.
• Don’t do your own GFCI installation. Contact a licensed electrician for assistance.
• Avoid poking around with electrical outlets if you don’t know what you’re doing. There are too many live wires, which means you’re vulnerable to shock.

For more on how to install, test, and maintain GFCI outlets, you can check out this article on the do’s and don’ts for Kansas City GFCI installation.

Get GFCI Outlet Installation with Fusion Electric in Kansas City

Fusion Electric is at your service for GFCI inspection and installation. For safety purposes, you should only entrust this kind of work to a licensed, bonded, and insured electrical company. Fortunately, you can count on us for thorough workmanship, and attention to detail, AND we provide great deals (such as $50 off panel upgrades).

How do you know we’re as good as we say we are?

Our company has a perfect 5-star rating with previous customers on Google Reviews and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) grants us an A+ accreditation. Plus, we’ve received the Super Service Award from Angie’s List. We’re on a short list of reliable electrical service companies in the KC metro area.

If you’d like to learn more about GFCI outlet protection, then contact Fusion Electric anytime at 913-563-7975.