GFCI Outlet Wiring Colorado Springs

What Are the Benefits of GFCI Outlet Wiring in Colorado Springs?

We've mentioned that there are some big advantages of GFCI outlet installation that are related to keeping your family and property safe from fire and electrical injury. Here's how our team of licensed electricians can give you back your peace of mind with reliable GFCI outlet installation services.

• Avoid Serious Electrical Shocks: The term "ground fault" refers to any scenario in which electricity takes an unintended path to the ground. Electricity will always try to find the fastest route to the ground, so when it escapes from its insulated wires because the wiring has been damaged or wasn't installed correctly, to begin with, electricity tries to get to the ground by any means possible. When a person tries to plug something into an outlet that is experiencing a ground fault, their body provides a path to the ground, and the resulting electric shock can cause severe injury or even be fatal. GFCI outlet wiring prevents the risk of shock because a ground fault circuit interrupter will trip and shut itself down when it detects a ground fault.
• Reduce the Risk of Electrical Fires: Ground faults don't just have the potential to cause serious shock injuries. Because electricity is running rampant outside of insulated wires, it can heat up wires until they are hot enough to combust surrounding material and start a fire inside your walls. Needless to say, a house fire can lead to staggering property loss, as well as injury and sometimes death. Suppose you've had GFCI outlet wiring in Colorado Springs taken care of by an experienced electrician. In that case, you can sleep soundly at night knowing that your ground fault circuit interrupter will cut power if it detects a ground fault before the wires have a chance to heat up to the point where they pose a risk of an electrical fire.
• Prevent Damage to Appliances: Avoiding damage to your property isn't as important as protecting yourself and your family from harm, of course—but it's a nice bonus to have. Over time, your appliances deteriorate, and it's possible that small cracks may develop in the insulating material that is intended to keep electricity away from conductive surfaces such as metal. That can actually cause an electrical shock, but if the outside shell of your appliance isn't metal, it won't cause injury. However, that exposure to electrical current accelerates the wear and tear damage on the appliance and can cause it to break down much sooner than it would otherwise, necessitating a costly replacement. It also uses more electricity than it needs to operate, which increases the energy charges on your monthly utility bill. A GFCI circuit breaker can prevent this from happening because it will trip and shut off when it detects that the appliance is drawing far more electricity than necessary.

The National Electrical Code (NEC) mandates that newly constructed homes must have ground fault interrupters in specific places that are prone to water exposure, such as outdoors, in bathrooms, and above kitchen countertops. If you have an older home that was built prior to 1976, before those regulations were put in place, you are not obligated to upgrade your system with GFCI outlet wiring in Colorado Springs in most cases. 

That being said, it's a very simple, effective, inexpensive measure that can prevent serious injury and extensive property damage, so it's certainly worthwhile whether or not it is legally mandated. The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that 50% of existing American homes were built before GFCIs were available, meaning that around 43 million American homes do not have the protection afforded by ground fault circuit interrupter installation. They also estimate that 47% of electrocutions could be prevented with adequate ground fault circuit interrupter protection.

You may have heard that refrigerators are legally required to be plugged in to GFCI outlets, and that is partially true. According to the NEC:

• Commercial buildings are required to have GFCI outlet wiring for refrigerators
• Refrigerators in the kitchen of a residential dwelling unit (house or apartment/condo) do not have to have GFCI outlet wiring
• Refrigerators in the garage or unfinished basement of a residential dwelling unit must have GFCI outlet wiring in Colorado Springs

Homeowners and business owners sometimes worry that a minor power surge will cause a refrigerator's GFCI outlet to trip and turn off, leaving them to deal with costly food spoilage when the non-operational refrigerator is discovered. However, this is not typically an issue for modern refrigerators. If your refrigerator is less than about 20 years old and has been shut down by a tripped GFCI outlet, there is something wrong with the outlet or potentially the refrigerator that should be investigated by a professional.

If you already have ground fault circuit interrupters installed in your home, it may be time for a replacement. The best way to determine if you need GFCI outlet wiring services to replace a faulty outlet is by testing it and making sure it responds appropriately. However, there are some other indications of faulty GFCIs that homeowners should be aware of, including:

• Continuous Tripping: It's not unexpected for a ground fault circuit interrupter to trip every now and then in response to a brief power surge or similar issue—that's its job, after all. But if you find it is constantly tripping and needing to be reset for no obvious reason, that's a sign that something is not right, and it needs to be checked out by a qualified electrician.
• Visible Damage: If you can see visible signs of damage on your outlets, such as cracks in the cover, missing parts, scorch marks around the outlet openings, or excessive sparking when you plug something in, that's a clear sign that the outlet is way past its prime and needs replacement.
• Plugs Fall Out of Outlet: When you plug something into a receptacle, you expect it to be held firmly in place. If the plug sags downward or falls out of the GFCI receptacle altogether, that is a strong indication that you should give us a call to get it replaced with professional services for GFCI wiring in Colorado Springs.
• Power is Flickering: This particular problem is easiest to detect when a light is plugged into the outlet because you can see the problem visually if the light flickers. If it's not a problem with the light bulb, it could be an issue with the GFCI outlet wiring.
• Test Failure: If you try to test your outlet and it fails the testing process, that's a clear indication of trouble. It's possible there's something else going on that would cause this to happen, but it usually means you need a replacement installed. Our expert electricians will be able to diagnose the problem and come up with the best solution.

Once per month, or at least once per quarter, it's a good idea to test your GFCIs and make sure they are working correctly so you know there's a reduced risk of electrical injury or damage occurring on your property. Testing is a simple, easy process that pretty much anyone can do. Here are the steps to test your GFCI outlet wiring in Colorado Springs:

1. Unplug anything that is currently plugged into the outlet you want to test.
2. Firmly press the "TEST" button on your GFCI outlet. You should hear a snap or click sound that indicates it has been tripped and power has been cut to the two plug receptacles.
3. Plug something like a lamp into each of the plug receptacles and try to turn it on. You can also use a voltage meter or multimeter if you have one. There should not be any power coming from the outlet.
4. Once you've confirmed that power to the outlet has been cut off, press the “RESET” button firmly to turn it back on and restore your GFCI to normal function.

If you get to step three and the outlet is still powered, it means your GFCI outlet wiring has failed the test. It likely needs to be replaced, and you should call Mr. Electric so a qualified GFCI outlet installation expert can take a look at it as soon as possible.

You can typically expect to go about 15 to 20 years before you'll need replacement GFCI outlet wiring in Colorado Springs. However, there are some situations where replacement is warranted after a much shorter period of time, like five years. That's why it's important to test your GFCI breaker or outlet frequently to make sure it is still in fine form and functioning as intended.

If you're living in Colorado Springs or a nearby community such as Manitou Springs, Woodland Park, Falcon, or Black Forest, you need the GFCI protection that comes along with GFCI outlet wiring. And who can do it better than your local, licensed electrician?

Call the team of skilled electricians at Mr. Electric of Colorado Springs for reliable electrical service, including ceiling fan installation, light switch wiring, hot tub and spa installation, and much more.

Make use of our GFCI outlet installation service by picking up the phone and calling us today! Find out more about our trustworthy professional services and how we can help increase your family’s safety and prevent electrical issues. Schedule an appointment at a time that works best for you.