Today’s building codes require GFCI outlets in areas with the highest electrical shock risk, including kitchens, bathrooms, and garages. You can identify GFCI outlets by the “Test” and “Reset” buttons on the receptacle. Mr. Electric recommends GFCI outlets to stay up to code and enhance your home’s electrical safety, preventing shocks, fires, and other injuries and damage. These outlets safeguard you and your electronic devices against electrical hazards by monitoring how much electricity flows in a circuit. The GFCI immediately shuts off power in an outlet the moment it detects an imbalance in your electricity flow. With our skills and expertise, we can install these outlets quickly and carefully to ensure adequate protection against harm and damage.

After Mr. Electric of Central Iowa completes your electrical outlet installation, using your new outlets is fairly simple. If we install a GFCI outlet, there aren’t many differences between operating a GFCI and any regular outlet. You only need to press the "Reset" button whenever your GFCI outlet stops power flow under normal operating conditions. These outlets are significantly more reliable than depending on your electrical panel’s circuit breaker to stop current flow when an imbalance occurs. GFCI outlets are much more sensitive to these small current variations. In fact, manufacturers design these outlets to cut off power flow before receiving an electric shock will affect your heartbeat. This critical safety function protects your well-being, and testing all your home’s GFCI outlets every month is essential.

Mr. Electric of Central Iowa proudly installs GFCI outlets as one of our many electrical services to households throughout Des Moines. However, these outlets do have limitations you need to know. You should never use a GFCI outlet as a receptacle for a refrigerator or freezer. The electromagnetic interference these appliances can generate will trip these outlets and cut off power flow. GFCI outlets are incompatible with most stoves and dryers because these heavy-duty appliances require 240-amp power outlets. Hair dryers, irons, toaster ovens, and some other small appliances with heating elements can trip GFCI outlets. Finally, you will trip a GFCI outlet by connecting an extension cord and plugging in too many devices to it.