Ground fault circuit interrupters (or GFCIs) are electrical outlets created with your safety in mind. GCFIs protect you against electrical shocks by shutting off after detecting a ground fault.
Today, electrical codes make it mandatory to install GFCI (or GFIs) in places with a water source, including bathrooms and laundry rooms. However, when a GFCI trips and won’t reset, you might be left scratching your head. GFCIs can trip for numerous reasons, and there are also several reasons why it refuses to reset.
If you cannot reset GFCI outlets in your home, we’re here to help. Here are the most common reasons why a GFCI tripped and won’t reset.
Tripped Circuit Breakers
If your GFCI outlet won’t reset, you’ll want to check the breaker. Your GFCIs won’t be able to function if you’re dealing with tripped breakers. Your circuit breakers are located in your electrical panel.
After resetting the tripped circuit breakers, check if this has fixed the problem. However, if the breaker keeps tripping, you might have a short circuit problem due to an overloaded circuit. Contact a professional electrician for assistance.
Loose Connections
It’s also possible that you cannot reset GFCI outlets because of faulty or loose connections. You can use a wire connector to check for loose connections if you feel comfortable. However, if you do notice bad connections, it’s time to call a licensed electrician to fix the problem at hand. Whether you have loose connections or want to replace a light switch with an outlet, RR Electrician will get the job done right.
Downstream Ground Faults
A ground fault downstream is one of the most common reasons a GFCI tripped and won’t reset. If you press the reset button and it won’t stay in, this indicates that you’re dealing with a ground fault downstream from the GFI outlet. Your GFCI outlet protects receptacles that are downstream from it, and if the outlet is overloaded with appliances, this can cause a problem.
A Defective GFCI
Unfortunately, ground fault interrupters can sometimes be defective, which can be why you cannot reset the GFCI outlet correctly. For instance, if you press the “test” button and the “reset” button won’t pop out, you could have a faulty GFCI.
Alternatively, if you’ve pressed the “reset” button but the devices plugged into it won’t work, you could also have a defective GFCI. This faulty outlet could make it seem like the GFCI tripped and won’t reset.
Contact a Professional Electrician
There are several potential reasons why you cannot reset GFCIs in your home—and when you encounter this problem, it’s best to get in touch with an experienced electrician for assistance.
When your GFCI tripped and won’t reset, contact RR Electric for a professional inspection. We offer comprehensive electrical outlet and light switch services to help fix a wide range of problems. If you’re having trouble with a ground fault circuit interrupter outlet because of loose connections or another reason, we’ll get the job completed to your satisfaction. Call us or schedule an appointment online to restore your GFCIs to working order.
