Is your home keeping up with the demands of today’s electrical appliances? Many homes aren’t keeping up. That can mean overloaded circuits and electrical hazards that can put you and your home at risk.
At Clover Electric, our team of licensed electricians have decades of experience in electrical installation and safety. We specialize in GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) outlet installation, ensuring your home is safe and compliant with local building codes.
Contact the experienced electricians at Clover Electric to make sure that your home has the ability to support your electrical needs.
What is a GFCI outlet?
A GFCI outlet is designed to protect you from electrical shock in areas where electricity and water may come into contact.
Picture this. You’re working on a car in a wet driveway. You pick up an electric drill that’s plugged into a normal outlet. Bad news. Electricity uses the path of least resistance and could produce a fatal accident. In contrast, if the drill is plugged into a GFCI outlet, it will detect any irregularities in the electrical current and shut off power within milliseconds, significantly reducing the risk of serious injury.
How GFCI Outlets Work
GFCI outlets monitor the electrical current flowing through them. They contain a sensor that detects any imbalance between incoming and outgoing currents. If the outlet senses an issue (such as water coming into contact with the device), it quickly shuts off power to prevent electric shock.
Identifying GFCI Outlets
GFCI outlets look different from ordinary outlets. They feature two buttons labeled “Test” and “Reset.” To test if your GFCI outlet is functioning correctly:
- Press the “Test” button: This should immediately cut off power to the outlet.
- Check that devices plugged into the outlet lose power.
- Press the “Reset” button: This will restore power to the outlet.
Importance of GFCI Outlets
Installing GFCI outlets is not just a safety measure; it’s also a requirement by the National Electrical Code (NEC) in many areas. GFCI outlets should be installed in:
- Bathrooms
- Kitchens
- Garages
- Outdoor areas
- Near swimming pools and spas
At Clover Electric, we make it easy to make your home safe and secure. We are the Cleveland-area experts in rewiring and GFCI outlet installation.
