September 2006
The purchase of a home with inadequate wiring can end up costing the buyer thousands of dollars. Inadequate wiring is also a safety concern. The focus of this newsletter is on Ground Fault Circuit Interupters, or GFCI's. The National Electric Code requires that GFCIs be used in all new kitchens, bathrooms, crawl spaces, unfinished basements, and for most outdoor receptacles. A GFCI is like an ultra sensitive circuit breaker built into the outlet to protect people from electrocution.
If a house was built before GFCIs were required, local building codes may not require them, but safety does! Safety is the primary primary concern of a professional home inspector. The information we provide here will hopefully help keep homeowners better informed on ways to make their house a safer place to live.
We welcome your feedback,
Jeffrey S. Leighton, President
Inspect-It 1st
Email: jleight3@maine.rr.com
What is a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter, and how does it protect you?
An Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) survey found more that 25 percent of U.S. families did not know the purpose of a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) . Most of the time, a GFCI does nothing; it just monitors the electrons flowing into and out of a tool or appliance. When it is working correctly, a GFCI device will open its protected circuit if it senses the difference between the current coming in and the current going out exceeds 5 milliamps. This electrical leak is known as a ground fault. If a GFCI senses a fault it cuts off power in an instant -- in as little as .025 of a second.
Nearly one-half of U.S. families never test the GFCIs in their homes. To be sure they are working properly GCFI's should be tested once a month as they are subject to wear and possible damage from power surges during an electrical storm. Testing a GFCI outlet receptacle is relatively simple.
To test if GFCIs are functioning properly, follow this procedure:
- Push the "Reset" button of the GFCI receptacle to prepare the unit for testing.
- Plug a night-light into the GFCI and turn it on. The light should now be ON.
- Push the "Test" button of the GFCI. The light should go OFF.
- Push the "Reset" button again. The light should again turn ON.
The light should go out when the test button is pushed, if it doesn't the GFCI is not working or has been installed incorrectly. If the "Reset" button pops out during the test but the light doesn't go off, the GFCI may be improperly wired or defective and not offering shock protection. Contact a qualified electrician to check the GFCI and correct the problem.
Owners of older houses can retrofit electric receptacles for somewhere between $15 and $20. Another option is to have GFCI breaker switches mounted in the main breaker panel, which can run around $110 for 50-amp models. GFCI adapters, which plug into regular wall outlets, can be purchased for around $40.
For more information about electrical safety visit Electrical Safety Foundation International website: www.electrical-safety.org.
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