You’ve probably seen this little device a million times in your life. It’s incredibly common – in fact, it’s typically required to be installed for any electrical outlet within six feet of a water source. That means you’ve probably got at least two of these in your own home. We’re talking about Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters, or GFCI for short. They’re easily identified (as you’ll see in the picture below) by the TEST and RESET buttons installed on the face of the outlet.
GFCIs are lifesavers. They’re designed to monitor the flow of electricity to your outlet and immediately cut the flow when an imbalance is detected – protecting you from electrocution. Why not make sure the GFCIs in your home are working properly by doing a quick test using the built-in buttons? Simply plug something in, press the TEST button, and if the power is cut, it’s working fine. If the power is still flowing, take steps immediately to replace the GFCI.
