Haslet, TX
Haslet GFCI
What is a GFCI?
You may have noticed that some of the electric outlets in your house, especially in the bathroom and kitchen, have a couple buttons between the two plug receptacles. That means the outlet is outfitted with a ground fault circuit interrupter, commonly shortened to GFCI.
GFCIs, true to their name, interrupt the circuit if a ground fault is detected. A “ground fault” means that something is improperly connecting the circuit to the ground, causing electricity to flow through it – most often this will be a person, causing them to receive a nasty shock. The GFCI detects this difference in energy flow and shuts off the circuit in less than one-tenth of a second, preventing the shock from doing serious harm. Usually GFCIs are installed on outlets that could conceivably be near water, which dramatically increases the odds of an accident occurring.
How does weather impact GFCIs?
GFCIs can be subject to various adverse weather patterns, including those found in Haslet, TX, that can impact their reliability and usage over time. These include:
•Thunderstorms - power surged cause by lightning strikes can trip GFCIs. While they’re easily reset once this happens, repeated occurrences can cause wear and tear.
•Humidity - As a primary reason for GFCIs is to protect against faults caused by moisture, high humidity can sometimes do the job absent any other influence. Like power surges, this can trip the GFCI requiring a reset and causing extra wear.
•Extreme temperatures - Very hot and very cold temperatures affect the electrical properties of components inside the outlet and GFCI. Moderating the temperature in your home can help mitigate this.
How can I tell if my GFCI needs to be replaced?
•No power - If the outlet isn’t giving power to appliances plugged into it even after resetting the GFCI, the GFCI may have failed
•Test and reset buttons not working - It’s easiest to note a GFCI by the presence of the “test” and “reset” between the receptacles. If these buttons aren’t correctly tripping and resetting the GFCI, it needs to be replaced
•Random tripping - If the GFCI is tripping itself for no apparent reason on a regular basis, it is likely failing and should be examined or replaced
•Over 10 years old - Even if you aren’t noticing an issue yet, due to its vital role in safety, GFCIs that are more than ten years old should be replaced
•Physical damage - Any kind of burn mark or crack can compromise the function of the GFCI
•Prolonged exposure to heavy moisture - Even if it functioned correctly at the time, if a GFCI has been exposed to heavy amounts of moisture for an extended period, it should be considered for replacement. This is especially a concern for outdoor outlets
The GFCI is the first line of defense against electric shocks severely harming you or your family. Make sure you test yours regularly and keep an eye out for any signs that they need to be changed out. If you notice some, contact a properly licensed electrician for installation, as with all potentially dangerous jobs involving electrical systems.