Many homeowners assume that today’s electrical outlets are safe to use, and most are – but not all. Outlets can be unsafe for a number of reasons, and one of these reasons is a lack of proper grounding. When an outlet is grounded, it means that errant electricity is re-directed to a safe place where it can dissipate; outlets that aren’t grounded will direct an errant current of electricity to the closest thing that will ground it, including someone touching it. The good news is that there are outlets available to eliminate this from happening: the GFCI outlet.
What Is It?
A GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlet is a specific kind of outlet for your home. What makes a GFCI outlet so effective is that it will immediately cut off power to the outlet as soon as it detects even the slightest deviation of electrical flow from its intended path. This doesn’t mean you can no longer use the outlet. GFCI outlets are equipped with test and reset buttons so that you can reset the outlet if it trips.
Do I Need One?
The National Electrical Code (NEC) requires that all new construction use GFCI codes, especially in kitchens and bathrooms. This includes areas that are remodeled. If you aren’t doing any work to your home, your current outlets are grandfathered in, meaning you aren’t required to change them, but it is highly recommended for safety reasons that you upgrade your kitchen and bathroom outlets to GFCI outlets.
We Can Help
The electrical experts at D’Spain Sales & Service, Inc., can help you upgrade as many outlets as you need, or help you install new ones into new construction. We’ll show you how they work so that should your GFCI outlet trip, you know how to turn it back on. Give us a call today and schedule an appointment for your home in Boerne, TX.
