GFCIs are an essential part of modern households that keep all family members safe from electric shocks in bathrooms, kitchens, and any area of the home where water and electronics collide. Homeowners with GFCIs have most likely experienced a situation where their outlet didn’t work after plugging in an appliance and flipping the switch. Using the built-in GFCI reset switch, this problem usually takes care of itself. In some cases, however, the outlet might not turn back on. If you find yourself with GFCI outlets that won’t reset or turn themselves on, follow this checklist to try and get it back online safely.
Determining The Issue With Your GFCI Outlets
GFCI outlets play an essential role in modern electrical safety for homes and should have any issues investigated promptly. GFCIs protect you from severe danger or even death if water interacts with the electrical socket.
If the outlet is not working, clear off the counter and declutter the area around it. Unplug and remove appliances, turn off any sources of running water, and allow time for suspended water molecules in the air, following a shower or bath, to become less concentrated. Running your overheard bathroom fan is recommended to help speed up this process.
When the area is free of clutter, start a more thorough investigation of the outlet. For most electrical projects, a certified electrician is recommended. Don’t poke in or around an outlet unless you know what you are doing. If there are no apparent signs of lingering problems – warped plastic on the outlet, warm to the touch, sparking noises – investigate nearby areas of the home. If other lights and outlets are not working correctly, that entire area of the house might have an underlying circuit problem. If it is just the GFCI that is not working, the issue is more than likely localized to the bathroom or kitchen itself.
The GFCI might have overloaded and caused the breaker to trip. Appliances like blenders and hair dryers are notorious for using excessive amounts of power, more than most homeowners would think. Plugging in too many of these devices into one outlet can lead to the possibility of an overloaded circuit and a tripped breaker for that room. Unplug all devices from the nearby outlets and flip the breaker to the ON position if this is the reason behind the non-responsive GFCI outlet. The outlet should work just like new if a tripped breaker was the culprit.
Despite being rated for over a decade of use before they need replacement, your GFCI outlets might be at the end of their lifespan. Check to ensure that the outlet is screwed on tightly and not loose. Next, if the outlet is not working, but the RESET button has not popped out, this is a sign that the unit is defective and needs to be replaced. You could also have a wiring problem that is not delivering sufficient power to the outlet.
As previously cautioned, only certified and trained electricians should take on projects that involve live wires and potentially dangerous levels of electricity. Many homeowners who thought an outlet swap was a quick and easy project have learned the hard way that electricity is not to be trifled with.
Don’t bring stress into your life by taking on a dangerous home repair without the assurance that the job was completed correctly. Promise Electric employs a team of master electricians experienced in residential and commercial maintenance of all kinds. Call our Sarasota offices today for all electrical problems, small and large.
