You’ve probably noticed that some rooms in your home, like the bathroom, garage, or kitchen, have slightly different outlets than other rooms in your house. They have buttons on them that say TEST and RESET. These are ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets.
Since they were introduced decades ago, in the 1970s, rates of accidental electrical injury have fallen drastically. But when these outlets trip, it can be a real nuisance. Fortunately, it’s usually easy to reset them.
AHS offers Appliance Warranties and protection plans.
What Is a GFCI Outlet?
GFCI outlets have a safety feature that prevents damaged wiring or appliances from causing fires or electrical shocks. These outlets monitor the electrical current for changes that could indicate the potential for injury or worse. If something interrupts the circuit -- like, for example, an appliance that is plugged into a GFCI outlet and dropped into a bathtub brimming with water -- the GFCI detects the change in outgoing current and automatically cuts the current.That interruption protects you from getting an electric shock.