Keep Your Home Safe with 3 Key Benefits of Installing a GFCI Outlet

When it comes to residential homes, there are a lot of safety measures you need to consider to ensure that your family is not exposed to any undesired dangers. One of the safety measures that you should consider is installing GFCI outlets. A GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlet is an electrical outlet that has special sensitivity which allows it to detect faults in the electricity’s flow and quickly shut the power off if an abnormality is detected. It is a great way to prevent sudden electrocution or shocks and is a required measure in some countries by law.

Installing GFCI outlets not only complies with the legal standards of safety as required by the National Electric Code (NEC), but it also offers several advantages. Most commonly, these outlets are used to protect areas around water such as bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, and outdoors, but due to its increased safety regulation, GFCI installation has been extended to cover all single-phase outlets of 125 volts.

The first advantage of installing a GFCI outlet is that it prevents the risks of shocks and electrocution. This is the GFCI’s primary function, it is built with a sensor that allows it to detect changes in the flow of electricity and if any abnormalities are detected, it cutting the power off right away. This measure is great in preventing any unnecessary shocks and especially electrocution.

The second advantage of installing GFCI outlets is that it helps in preventing fires due to electrical faults. The GFCI can detect ground faults which occur when the electrical current leaves a circuit and as a result, it can help in preventing any electrical fires that can occur from ground fault. A regular fuse can provide protection from electrical faults as well, however, when combined with GFCI outlets it increases the level of security which results from it.

Another great advantage of installing a GFCI outlet is that it helps in protecting equipment from getting damaged due to electrical leaks. Insulation can breakdown over time and this causes electricity to slowly leak into devices and appliances. If the outer body of the device is not made of metal, then it won’t cause much harm in terms of electrocution, however, this leak can damage the device due to the build-up of electricity. The GFCI outlet has a function that allows it to detect any kind of electrical leaks and deactivate the circuit right away.

Overall, installing GFCI outlets brings numerous advantages to your home such as the prevention of sudden shocks, electrical fires, and electrical damage to devices due to leak. Adhering to the law has never been more beneficial as it can help to save lives and also protect your investments. Although GFCI outlets are a bit more expensive than regular ones, it is definitely an expense worth investing in.