Many homes today are required to use GFCIs or Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters, especially in the kitchen and bathroom to minimize the risk of getting an electrical shock from water. The GFCI breaker trips for several reasons including:

• Wet cables and wires plugged in
• Turning certain appliances on and off
• Wrong connection of wires damaging the breaker
• Outdated breaker and component
• Damage to the system during manufacture or shipping 

Since it plays a significant role in keeping you and your family safe, knowing basic things about it, such as, how to reset GCFI outlet and why the GCFI won’t reset even after pushing the button will help minimize your frustrations when electrical issues arise.

Take a look at Gfci Benefits That Should Finally Convince You to Invest in the Device

How do you know if a GFCI is bad?

The first thing you should know is that the GFCI functions to provide protection from power overload and surges. Its breaker is built to shut off in case such a scenario happens. It might also turn off for reasons like storm lighting and static electricity. 

So if the power is continuously shutting on and off, it means that the GFCI system is tripping. And if the outlet is not used on a regular basis and still frequently trips off, that indicates it is faulty and must be immediately replaced.

To analyze the problem, the first thing you need to do is to find the circuit breaker that is connected to the GFCI. And then, try to reset it. There should be a button on the face of the GFCI outlet that will let you reset it.

Not all GFCI circuits are the same. Some will need you to use a special tester to check if the reset was successful or not. Other designs, especially those that were produced after 2006 have indicators in them. 

If yours requires a special tester, simply plug it in and if the power goes out, then it worked. Otherwise, the GFCI has gone bad and you need to replace it.

Other indicators that the GFCI is faulty are shown in the following scenarios:

• If you press the reset button and nothing happens.
• If the reset button does not stay in or if the button is out and still, the appliances or devices plugged in are working. 
• If the reset button pops out overtime you use a device or appliance that is plugged in.

For safety purposes, it is better to hire a professional electrician in Arvada, CO to do install, maintain and repair the GFCI in your home. 

What would cause a GFCI not to reset?

There are several reasons attributed as to why the GFCI won’t reset. That includes the following:

• Outdated components
• The GFCI has gone bad
• Wrong connection of the system
• The circuit breaker turning off its power
• Not enough or no power supply to the receptacle

However, the most common cause would be due to the ground fault that has detected a power surge thus automatically shutting the breaker to prevent the potential occurrence of electrocution.

If the outlet is shorted or overloaded, the only way to resolve the problem is by replacing the GFCI receptacle and other affected components. Troubleshooting a GFCI that won’t reset requires the skills and knowledge of a certified electrician.

ElectriCall consists of dedicated and expert electricians that will help you figure out the issues and fix them with minimal disruption and safety risks. Call us to get more details about our electrical services.

What to do if GFCI is not resetting

If the GFCI is still not reactive after resetting, the system is definitely faulty. Call an electrician in Arvada, CO to repair the electrical problem including issues with the outlets and connections. Professional electricians like us can perform GFCI outlet reset or repair. 

Any problem with your electrical system warrants inspection and repair by a seasoned electrician. Attempting to do it on your own might cause bigger damage to the circuit, and you are putting yourself at risk as well. 

ElectriCall can fix the issue with the breaker and other components. Our team is the “residential electrician nearby” you can count on. But in the meantime, do these steps to prevent any more risks:

• Assess the problem. 
• Make sure your appliances are unplugged or not connected to the GFCI outlet.
• Try to reset GFCI by simply pushing the red button.
• If that did not work, switch off the circuit breaker.
• Inspect the wire connections. Look for any loose or bad connections. The live circuit should be attached to the “Line,” while the wire for the other outlets should be on the “Load” connection.

Electrical issues and solving them can be quite confusing which is why it is better to hire an electrician in Arvada, CO.