The term GFCI stands for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter meaning that your outlet protects you from electrical surges that would try to use you as a grounding rod (essentially, electrocution). It senses when there is too much current coming out of the circuit and shuts it down before the levels become dangerous. Usually, when an outlet goes out, the solution is simple and you can save costs by fixing it yourself. Here you can find how to troubleshoot a dead outlet and where to look when the simple solutions don’t work. Your GFCI outlets are a safety feature most homes have today and is required by law to have GFCI outlets installed in all new homes. So not finding the solution can result in compromising your home’s safety.

How Do I Locate A Tripped GFCI Outlet?

To find the GFCI outlet that was tripped, locate any outlets that have one of the small buttons popped out. Most GFCI outlets have all the buttons exposed on the front of the outlet so they shouldn’t be too hard to find.

How Do I Reset A GFCI Outlet?

As soon as you find the outlets with the tripped GFCI, it is simple to reset, you just press the reset button on the outlet (as seen above). It may seem like a simple procedure, but there are many people out there that don’t know the point of those buttons on their outlets. If you cannot locate the tripped outlet, you can call an electrician and they will be able to locate it fast and easy but can be costly and slightly unnecessary. Taking the time to find the tripped outlet can save you a ton of time and money. If you need any help feel free to reach out to us here and one of our professional electricians will be happy to help you out.