Do you know the old saying… water and electricity don’t mix? Well, it packs a very important safety warning to protect you from electrical shock.
One of the ways you’re protected is with the special electrical outlets in the bathroom, kitchen, garage and outdoors. These special outlets are called ground fault circuit interrupters or “GCFI”/”GFI” outlets. They are in places where outlets have the potential to get wet and have a safety measure to “trip” if they detect that electrical power is flowing along the wrong path – meaning they are in place to mitigate electrical burns and shock in your home or business.
It is very important to test these outlets monthly to ensure they are working properly. Here are six simple steps to follow to test your GCFI outlets:
Select the “reset” button on your GCFI/GFI outlet.
Plug in a nightlight or small device.
The nightlight should be “ON.”
Press the “test” button. The nightlight should turn “OFF.”
Push the “reset” button again it should turn back “ON.”
If your nightlight doesn’t turn back on, your GFCI/GFI outlet isn’t working properly and will need to be replaced.
If you find that you do need a few outlets replaced, we always recommend using a licensed electrician to replace them.
As you can see, testing these outlets is quick and easy. We encourage you to add this safety test to your monthly calendar to ensure your home or business is extra safe. Find out more helpful electrical safety tips here .