Electrician for GFCI Outlet Installation or Replacement
Premium Electric can help if you need GFCI outlet installation, repair, or replacement services.
We recommend that you only use a certified commercial or residential electrician so you don’t need to know how to install a GFCI outlet.
Canada introduced the Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) more than four decades ago. The job of a GFCI is to detect when an electrical current is moving through an unintended path. That path could be people or water. When that happens the GFCI shuts off the electricity to that outlet.
A GFCI breaker works by monitoring the imbalance of current between a circuit’s grounded conductor and an ungrounded conductor. As a current enters a GFCI, if it is different than what is leaving the GFCI, the GFCI de-energizes or shuts down the circuit. A GFCI outlet is easily identifiable. It has a reset button and a test button between the 2 outlets.
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Why do I need a GFCI outlet?
Since their introduction, GFCI outlets have reduced the number of electrocution-related deaths from 800+ per year to fewer than 200. GFCI power outlets are a compulsory safety measure for certain locations in your home, especially any outlet that is near water like in your bathroom, laundry room, kitchen, or garage. They can drastically reduce the risk of personal injury to you and your family.
By constantly monitoring the flow of electricity, GFCI outlets are designed to prevent electrocution should instability in the electrical signal be detected.
Where do I need GFCI outlets Installed?
If you need a power outlet installed near water or down close to the ground, our Abbotsford commercial and residential electricians recommend you only install a GFCI power outlet.
Whether in your home or commercial building, there are a number of possible locations for installing a GFCI outlet. Install a GFCI outlet no closer than 1.5 metres from your sink. For an outdoor power outlet, do not install if it is within 2.5 metres of the ground or next to a water source such as a swimming pool or outdoor tap.
Our certified commercial and residential electricians can install a GFCI outlet outside or inside in the appropriate locations for all residential new home construction as well as for any leasehold improvements.
A GFCI power outlet is recommended when installing in any or all of the following home locations:
- Next to a bathroom sink or tub
- Adjacent to a kitchen sink
- Beside a laundry sink or utility sink
- Close to wet bars
- Inside garages
- Within crawlspaces and unfinished basements
- As exterior power outlets on the outside of your house
- Near spas and pools
Using and Testing a GFCI Outlet
You would use a GFCI power outlet just as you would any normal outlet in your home. You can plug any device requiring an electrical current and that appliance will work just the same.
NOTE: We do not recommend plugging a refrigerator or freezer
into a GFCI outlet since these appliances need a constant source of power.
To test your GFCI outlet, plug in a small lamp or other electrical appliance and turn it on. Press the test button on the GFCI power outlet. If the lamp or appliance stops working, the GFCI outlet is functioning correctly. Press the reset button and the outlet will return to normal functioning mode.
About Premium Electric
Premium Electric is accredited with the BBB and all electrical work we do is in accordance with Technical Safety BC regulations.
If you need a GFCI outlet installation electrician or if you have any concerns about any of the power outlets in your home, we can help. We service both commercial and residential clients throughout the Fraser Valley and Vancouver Lower Mainland including Maple Ridge, Coquitlam, and Burnaby BC.
Whether you need a power outlet repaired or replaced with a GFCI outlet, contact our Abbotsford electricians. Owners Mike Speakman and Tristan McAllan will be happy to provide you with a detailed estimate.
Call 1-604-308-6195, send us an email, or…
GFCI Frequently Asked Questions
What is a GFCI electrical outlet?
GFCI simply means Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter, which is a modern electrical outlet designed to protect you from electrical shocks. We recommend installing GFCI outlets in any location that may be near water such as in your kitchen, laundry room, bathroom, garage, pool or spa area, or as outdoor electrical plugs.
What happens when a GFCI outlet trips?
When a GFCI outlet detects a ground fault (a low level electrical current leak), it automatically shuts off the power to that plug and the red button will pop out. First, confirm the reason why the outlet tripped before pushing the red button back in to reset it. If necessary, call a licensed commercial or residential electrician. You can also test the GFCI outlet simply by pressing the black button.
How safe are 2-prong outlets in older homes?
For safety reasons and for a proper grounding of your electricity, it is highly recommended that all older outlets that are 2-prong plugs, be replaced with safer, modern 3-prong outlets. Most modern electronic devices only have a 3-prong plug to ensure the device will be properly grounded.
Can I plug in a refrigerator into a GFCI outlet?
We do not recommend plugging freezers or refrigerators (appliances that need a constant source of power) into a GFCI outlet since these devices can be easily tripped.