Electricity is a strong and advantageous force. We should expect to consume power without thinking about it at our homes and places of employment. However, occasionally there will be a problem—a light won’t turn on, or even if your computer is plugged in, it won’t charge. In that situation, you could discover a broken GFCI outlet.
An electrical outlet known as a GFCI contains an integrated breaker that trips (shuts off) when it senses an issue, such as a short or ground fault. Kitchens and bathrooms, which frequently have water present, are places where these outlets are essential. GFCIs feature two outlet buttons: “test” and “reset.” Push the “test” button whenever you wish to check the outlet’s functionality; if the device’s power turns off, everything is as it should be.
What Are GFCI Outlets?
A ground fault circuit interrupter, or GFCI, is an excellent device that protects you and your loved ones from harmful electrical shocks. The GFCIs aim to identify any electrical current leakage and switch off the circuit before an accident occurs.
However, it might be challenging to figure out what went wrong when they ceased operating. You must reset the outlet’s breaker to turn the electricity back on after it trips. Your outlet may have a more serious problem if your GFCI breaker does not reset.
Reasons your GFCI outlet won’t reset
· No power is supplied to the outlet
If the outlet doesn’t have a power supply, your GFCI outlets won’t get electricity. Why does this matter? Your outlet won’t function even if you push the reset button.
You could have switched the line and load in these situations. The circuit interrupter may occasionally be faulty. If other plugged-in devices are still functioning, but the reset button has fallen out, this is most likely the issue. To fix this, turn the main breaker on and off once again. If it doesn’t address the problem, you might want to contact an electrician to troubleshoot it.
· GFCI Outlet is malfunctioning
Even GFCI outlets have an expiration date. GFCI outlets typically survive ten to fifteen years. A GFCI outlet older than ten years without any additional GFCIs tripped might need to be replaced entirely if it does not trip any additional GFCIs.
· The power Circuit Breaker was turned off
If your GFCI outlet passes the test and is reset, but doesn’t stay reset, check the breaker box to ensure the circuit breaker hasn’t tripped. Reset the outlet if you can. If it still doesn’t reset after resetting the outlet, the issue may be moisture accumulation in the wire or outlet. Use a hairdryer to clean the outlet. You can try resetting the button when it has dried.
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Take these steps if your GFCI outlet doesn’t reset
1. Reinstall the connector
The wires should be gathered, with their ends aligned, then twisted into a new wire connection in a clockwise direction. Turn on the main circuit breaker to see whether your issue has been resolved. It’s time to hire an electrician if you can still fix the dead outlet issue.
2. Seek to understand why
If a GFCI outlet won’t reset, the most challenging thing to ascertain is whether the outlet or the circuit is at issue. It might be challenging to determine why the outlet isn’t working, so it’s always advised to contact a certified electrician. It’s possible that simply that specific outlet is broken, or more severe issues may be at play.
You may quickly inspect the space to determine if any more tripped or malfunctioning devices exist. For example, check the lights or other outlets in the same room or area. Additionally, you might try unplugging electronics from each GFCI outlet to see if the reset button emerges.
Checking the outlets in the other homerooms is an excellent general rule of thumb. You may check if any outlets are receiving electricity if you have a voltage tester. If additional outlets and lights don’t function, the problem may be with that specific outlet if everything else is operating; otherwise, it may be with the entire circuit.
3. Verify any tripled circuits
If additional non-working lights or outlets exist, it is time to go to the circuit breakers. The primary electrical panel and, if applicable, the subpanel house them. Frequently, the electrical panel is situated nearby where electricity is consumed. These are commonly seen in basements, laundry rooms, or garages.
The circuit breakers will be visible after you open the panel. They have been tripped if any of them are out of sequence. Resetting the tripped breaker will allow you to check if the issue has been rectified. If so, but it keeps happening, you may have an overloading issue, which indicates the circuit is insufficiently strong to handle everything hooked into it.
4. Check if the other outlets are dead
Check whether other outlets are operational before inspecting the circuit breakers. Lights are turned on and off. Use a voltage tester to check whether electricity runs through adjacent outlets.
Appliances should be unplugged from dead sockets. Doing this action may help rule out the likelihood that an overload or shortage at one of the outputs is the issue’s root. Masking tape can be used to mark the locations of the dead outlets so that you can easily find them once the power has been turned off.
Conclusion
We hope the information above will enable you to use your GFCI outlet correctly. In general, the GFCI has either developed a defect or is no longer connected, which is the most evident cause of the problem. Therefore, you won’t usually need an electrician to do the task. There is a chance that the issue will still exist even after trying every solution. Don’t hesitate to ask an expert for assistance in such a situation.
