GFCI outlets are required anywhere there could be water such as in kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, garages, crawl spaces, unfinished basements, and outdoors. GFCI outlets can be used for any volt, single-phase, 15 or 20 amp circuits. This leakage is caused by a hot wire touching the ground somewhere on the electrical line such as an appliance or even the outlet itself. This can be caused by water, wires touching, dust or debris, etc. Worn out insulation — Insulation can become worn out or damaged over time.
Especially in older wiring, insulation can dry out and crack. Electrical wiring deterioration — Wiring can wear out over time.
It can break at those stress points. Conductive dust or debris — Accumulated dust or debris can also cause enough leakage to trip if the dust or debris is wet or conductive. This is the most common problem for outside outlets. Moisture can also get inside the wiring of an appliance. Make sure to protect the outlet with a hermetic or waterproof cover. Once the outlet is completely dry, reset the GFCI.
Unplug everything from the outlet and see if the GFCI stops tripping. Plug everything back in one at a time to see which appliance is causing the breaker to trip. Check that appliance or have it checked by a professional for wear or damage.
You can test the leakage with a good quality leakage current tester. When choosing a protective covering, make sure it is labelled:. Always make sure your weatherproof covering is closed, whether there are appliances plugged in or not. Request Service Moisture invaded the receptacle box. The GFCI outlet is faulty. If the outlet resets but trips again after appliances are plugged in… …then you most likely have a ground fault somewhere along the circuit or you have overloaded the circuit.
What to do: To determine where current is leaking, follow these steps: 1. Push the reset button. Replace or repair the appliance that tripped the outlet. If it rained recently or there was water present when the GFCI tripped… …then moisture has probably gotten into the receptacle box.
The other possible explanation is that the GFCI itself is faulty. A GFCI uses sensitive circuitry to detect ground faults and over time, this circuitry can become worn out.
In this situation, the only solution is to replace the GFCI. Both of these issues are major electrical repairs and you should call an electrician if you suspect that either of these is the source of your GFCI problems. Even if you have the right equipment, poking around with live wiring without professional training is probably a bad idea.
Every year, hundreds of Americans die from electrical shocks. In a typical volt outlet, 2 seconds of exposure to a ground fault or electrical surge is enough to kill an adult.
GFCIs are specifically designed to protect you and your family from the devastating effects of electrical shocks or fires; that is, if they are working properly. Make sure to test your GFCIs monthly and if you notice one that is not working as it should, call a professional electrician immediately.
Give your home systems and appliances the protection it needs with a Home Service Club home warranty. Your email address will not be published. Facebook Twitter Google. If your receptacle is wet, the current can flow through it to the ground or any conductor around. If your GFCI outlet continues to trip, there may be an electrical fault resulting from poor wiring. If, after trying the above methods, the GFCI still trips, change the receptacle, it has gone bad.
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