What is a GFCI?
A "GFCI" is a ground fault circuit interrupter. A ground fault circuit interrupter is an inexpensive electrical device that, if installed in household branch circuits, could prevent over two-thirds of the approximately 300 electrocutions still occurring each year in and around the home. Installation of the device could also prevent thousands of burn and electric shock injuries each year. The GFCI is designed to protect people from severe or fatal electric shocks. Because a GFCI detects ground faults, it can also prevent some electrical fires and reduce the severity of others by interrupting the flow of electric current. 

How Does it Work?
It is designed to turn off the voltage within a few seconds if it detects an imbalance between the current flowing in the live conductor and than flowing in the neutral conductor. In simpler terms, if the electrical current were to go through your body rather than back through the neutral conductor the GFCI will shut the current off and possibly save your life.


Does Every Outlet need to be a GFCI?
No, by today's standards electrical outlets are expected to be on GFCI circuits when they are near a sink, anywhere in a bathroom, unfinished basement, garage, exterior, crawl space or any area that has damp conditions. You should, no.... you must have these devices in all of these locations. They are valuable, essential and absolutely necessary.  Please have them installed and maintained.

The only exception to omitting a GFCI in the above locations is when an electrical outlet is dedicated specifically to be used for an electric appliance. An example is a washing machine in an unfinished basement or a garage door opener in a garage. Appliances are not required to be on GFCI circuits, because they often trip the circuit and become a nuisance. Refrigerators, especially, should not be on GFCI circuits.
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How can I tell if the Outlet is GFCI Protected?
Many of us are familiar with the GFCI outlet having a test and reset button.  When functioning properly, the device provides GFCI protection to this specific outlet. Often, regular electrical outlets are installed "downstream" of this device. They too will be protected. Prove it by pushing the test button on the GFCI in your kitchen. Did other regular outlets also lose power? Now reset the GFCI, have these other outlets now become activated?

More confusing situations exist when all of the exterior outlets are regular outlets, yet are actually also on a GFCI circuit. This is often found in the garage, or by the electrical panel. By pushing the test button on the garage or electrical panel GFCI, you may find that the exterior circuits go off. this is an acceptable method of providing GFCI protection.

A final method of GFCI protection occurs when the circuit breaker in the electric panel itself is a GFCI circuit breaker. Now all of the electrical outlets on the circuit are GFCI protected.

Yes, GFCI devices (with the test and reset button) should be tested every 3 months. Simply push in the test button, confirm that this electrical outlet and all downstream outlets have become inactivated. Now push the reset button and check again to be sure all are activated. Much of this test simply has to do with "exercising the test and reset button. If these buttons become stuck, your GFCI protection is lost.