The Importance Of GFCI Circuits For Your Property

Most homes have those special electrical outlets that are strange looking. They have a small test button and are usually a different shape than all the other receptacles. These are GFCI or ground fault circuit interrupter devices. They are very handy to have and they can save your life.

A GFCI or GFI circuit can be installed as a receptacle or a special GFI breaker. These things are there to prevent the possibility of dangerous electrical shock. Most building codes require this kind of circuit anywhere there is house current within six feet of water. They also require them to be installed in all outdoor situations.

A standard electrical outlet is grounded when properly wired. If a short circuit should occur, it will trip the breaker. However, it can take as long as a second or so for this to happen. In that amount of time electricity can kill you, under the right circumstances.

GFI breakers and outlets have a system that constantly monitors current entering and leaving. If there is a slight difference between the two, it shuts off the flow of current in a fraction of a second. This can prevent many serious accidents in the home, outside of the home, and in modern industry.

Your kitchen should have GFI outlets installed. However, they must be installed properly, and should operate all the receptacles in and around the kitchen sink. In other words, if you press the "test" button, all of the outlets in that area should be dead. If not, you need to install more GFI outlets or wire the circuit so the GFI is in front of the others.

Most people understand that a GFI or shock saver outlet can prevent tragedy if you drop an electrical appliance into a tub of water. However, you may not realize that a swimming pool can be just as dangerous. In addition, you do not need to drop anything into pool water to create a hazard.

If something goes wrong with your swimming pool pump it can cause electricity to travel into the water. This causes a shock for anyone in the water, and it is the reason that pools must have a special GFI breaker to protect the circuit. Solar systems must also be protected. Even if you have the best solar pool heating possible, you still need protection for the pump. Make sure to test your GFI outlets and breakers on a regular basis, and never replace these items with standard (non GFI) ones.