If you’re having electrical issues and your GFCI outlet won’t reset, you’ve come to the right place.
As your friendly neighborhood electrician, we’ve listed some common reasons why a GFCI won’t reset and how homeowners like you can troubleshoot a dead outlet while still being safe and cautious.
What Are GFCI Outlets?
A GFCI, or a ground fault circuit interrupter, is an excellent tool that protects you and your loved ones from nasty electrical shocks. The GFCIs’ purpose is to sense any leaks in the electrical current and shut down the circuit before you have an accident.
However, when they stop working, it can be challenging to understand what went wrong. When the outlet’s breaker trips, you must reset it to restore the electrical current to the outlet. If your GFCI breaker does not reset, this could mean a more resounding problem for your outlet.
6 Reasons Your GFCI Outlet Won’t Reset
1. Bad Connection/Loose Parts
Sometimes if your GFCI won’t reset, the problem may be as simple as some loose parts not establishing a good connection.
Parts that could be loose are often:
To figure out if this is an issue, you must remove the outlet from the box and search for loose connections. Make sure to wear rubber shoes and gloves and use rubber tools when working with anything electric.
However, if you remove the outlet and see loose wires beyond repair, you may need to install a new outlet altogether.
2. No Power Supply to Receptacle
If there is no power supply to the receptacle, then power can not reach your GFCI outlets. What does this mean? Even if you hit the reset button on your outlet, it still will not work.
In these cases, you may have reversed line and load. In rare cases, the circuit interrupter may be defective. A good way to tell if this is the problem is by seeing that the reset button has popped out, but other plugged-in devices still work.
To fix this, turn the main breaker on and off again. If that doesn’t work, you may want to call an electrician to troubleshoot the problem.
3. GFCI Outlet Has Gone Bad
Everything has a lifespan, including GFCI outlets. Usually, GFCI outlets last between ten and fifteen years. If you find no other tripped GFCIs and the outlet is past ten years old, you may need to replace that one GFCI outlet altogether.
When this happens, purchase a new outlet and have it professionally installed.
4. Power Turned off by Circuit Breaker
If you test and reset your GFCI outlet, but it still won’t stay reset, a good idea is to check the breaker box to make sure the circuit breaker hasn’t tripped. Try resetting the outlet.
Once you reset the outlet and it still doesn’t reset, moisture buildup in the wiring or outlet may be the culprit. Dry the outlet out with a hairdryer. When it has dried, you can try resetting the button.
5. GFCI Outlet Incorrectly Installed
A likely reason for your outlet not resetting is that the entire outlet was incorrectly wired. During the 1980s, GFCI receptacles were far more expensive than they are today, and as a result, builders would only place one GFCI receptacle in the home to protect all of the downstream receptacles. As a result, many receptacles have inefficient, improper wiring.
If you live in an old home, your GFCI may have been installed incorrectly. Luckily, it’s easy enough to reinstall the correct one.
- Turn off power to your circuit breaker or fuse.
6. Ground Fault Wiring Issue
Sometimes ground faults are the reason why your outlet won’t reset. If the GFCI trips every time you reset it, there could be a ground fault along the branch circuit.
In these cases, you can call a qualified electrician for troubleshooting and repairs. They can also check out your electrical panel, breaker, and electrical code to ensure no additional issues.
It’s a common problem to have GFCI outlets break. However, as an integral piece to the safety of your home, you must fix the problem right away when you notice a malfunctioning GFCI outlet.
Contact 4Front Energy For A FREE Electrical Inspection!
To save time and money, you can try to troubleshoot the problem on your own. However, some jobs are so complex that it’s worth calling a professional. If you feel like the problem is out of your hands, reach out to the professional team at 4Front Energy.
FAQ
Why does my GFCI power outlet not reset?
A GFCI or GFI outlet may not reset due to a ground fault occurring somewhere along the electrical current. Here are the 6 main causes your GFCI outlet won’t reset.
- Bad connection, loose parts
How do I fix a stuck GFCI outlet?
Try toggling the Test and Reset buttons in order to fix a stuck GFCI outlet.
In order to properly test and reset a GFCI outlet, first, unplug all appliances that are sharing the same circuit and press the Reset button on the outlet. You should hear a click once the button is pressed. Now you can try plugging in your appliances and the outlet should be functioning again.
Opotřebují se zásuvky GFCI?
In most cases, GFCI outlets will last for around 15-25 years. In some circumstances, they can wear out in as little as 5 years.
From the presence of moisture to faulty electrical wiring, there are several reasons a GFCI outlet won’t reset. Here’s how to figure out what may have happened if an outlet isn’t working.
By Nicole Fallon | Updated Nov 29, 2023 11:16 AM
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Q: I went to use my hairdryer in the bathroom, but I discovered some of the outlets have stopped working. My GFCI test button won’t push in when I try to reset it, but nothing has tripped in the breaker box, and the hairdryer works when I plug it into outlets down the hall. Why won’t my GFCI reset?
A: Ground fault circuit interrupters, or GFCIs, are outlets designed to shut off when they sense a ground fault or short in electricity. When a GFCI outlet senses an overload or surge in electricity, it will instantly trip, triggering the breaker to cut off the electrical current to minimize the risk of electrocution. For safety reasons, building codes require that a GFCI outlet be used near any water source or moisture due to the increased risk of an appliance shorting.
When a GFCI won’t reset, it requires a bit of testing to figure out what’s going on. If a GFCI outlet isn’t working, triggers such as the presence of moisture or dust, bad electrical connections, or something more serious can cause the outlet to trip. Luckily, there are several things homeowners can do to try and identify the problem before calling in an expert electrician.
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Check if other outlets in the room are working.
Because multiple outlets in a room can be connected to the same circuit, a non-functioning GFCI outlet could cause issues with nearby outlets as well. Understanding how the internal wiring is laid out in a home will make it easier for a homeowner to pinpoint the issue and determine if it’s a GFCI problem or something else that needs to be addressed by a professional.
Homeowners will want to test a plug-in appliance to see if the issue persists in just one outlet, in outlets throughout the room, or if the issue expands throughout the entire home. If the outlets are only affected in the one room, there’s a good chance the GFCI outlet caused the problem. Homeowners will want to also test multiple appliances to ensure that it is, in fact, an issue with the GFCI outlet not working and not an issue with the appliance itself.
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Try toggling the test and reset buttons.
Each GFCI outlet has a test and reset button, often labeled black for the test button and red for reset. These buttons can test the power running through the GFCI circuit and reset the outlets.
To properly test and reset the GFCI, homeowners will want to unplug all appliances sharing the same circuit as the GFCI and then press the reset button on the GFCI outlet. If they hear a click once the button is pressed, they can try plugging in the appliances, as the outlet should be functioning again.
However, if the outlet continues to trip once it’s been reset, it may be getting overloaded by the number of appliances plugged into it around the room. To test if it’s the number of devices being plugged in, homeowners can use a process of elimination to figure out which appliance is causing the issue by plugging in one appliance at a time until the GFCI outlet trips again.
Use a circuit tester to see if power is coming through.
In most newer homes today, updated GFCI outlets have a self-testing feature in which green and red LED indicators show whether an outlet is operating correctly or if it is faulty and needs to be replaced. Many homeowners will find that they have older GFCI outlets installed that need to be manually tested. Luckily, testing outlets can be an inexpensive task with life-saving benefits.
To manually test GFCI outlets, homeowners can use one of the best circuit breaker finders to check if an outlet is receiving any power or if it’s dead and needs to be replaced. Circuit breaker finders are tools that can read and display how strong of an electrical current each outlet is receiving and can determine if an outlet is functioning properly. Homeowners will want to test all nearby outlets to see if just one outlet is being affected or if the entire room’s power is being affected.
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Look for any tripped breakers.
A GFCI outlet won’t work if a breaker has tripped or if a fuse has blown. Homeowners can check the main electrical panel to see if a blown fuse causes the issue and if so, replace the fuse and reset the GFCI outlet. Otherwise, they’ll want to check to see if the breaker for the corresponding room has tripped.
To determine if a breaker has tripped, homeowners can look at the buttons inside the breaker box. The breaker switch should either be flipped to “off” or “on. However, if a switch is located in the middle position, that means it has tripped and needs to be reset. To reset it, homeowners will first flip it to the “off” position, then switch it to the “on” position. They’ll want to be sure to reset the GFCI outlet as well. If the breaker trips again after this fix, the issue could be a short circuit which can be dangerous and should be addressed by a licensed specialist.
If there’s moisture, try drying the outlet thoroughly with a hairdryer plugged into another outlet.
If a GFCI outlet senses that there is moisture present in or near the outlet, it will trip as a way to prevent electrocution. When it trips, it shuts off and stops electricity through the outlet as a safety measure. If moisture happens to be present in the outlet, it’s crucial that homeowners to remove all traces of it before resetting the GFCI and attempting to plug anything into it.
To remove moisture, homeowners can try plugging a hairdryer into a different outlet nearby and aim it at the GFCI outlet that has moisture present. They’ll want to allow the hairdryer to thoroughly remove the moisture from the area before continuing, as any presence will cause the GFCI reset to be unsuccessful. Once the outlet has been completely dried, the homeowner can press the reset button and listen for the click noise, which indicates the outlet has been reset and power has been restored.
Check for bad electrical connections in the wiring.
Before checking the electrical connections in a GFCI outlet’s wiring, homeowners will want to turn off the breaker connected to the outlet. After double-checking the breaker has been flipped to the “off” position, they can then unscrew the faceplate from the outlet and remove the screws that hold the outlet in the wall. From there, the outlet can be pulled a little way out of the wall for easier access.
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Once the wires have been exposed, homeowners will want to gently tug on each one to confirm if they are securely fastened underneath the screws. If a wire isn’t securely fastened, it will need to be cut and reattached securely underneath the screw to ensure it’s well connected. As a rule of thumb, black wires should be attached to gold screws, and white wires should attach to silver screws, and the screw should securely fasten each wire on the side of the outlet.
Call an electrician if the issue doesn’t seem to be a quick fix.
Sometimes, a seemingly faulty GFCI outlet can indicate a bigger problem that should be addressed by a professional who has a better understanding of the issue. It is inadvisable for inexperienced homeowners to perform extensive electrical repairs on their own, as this can pose a severe risk of injury, such as electrocution, as well as the increased risk of property damage.
If the issue seems to be more invasive than a quick DIY repair, homeowners will want to contact a licensed electrician to have them take a look. Depending on location, electricians cost around $50 to $100 per hour or around $300 per project and have specialized, high-tech equipment that can help detect problems homeowners may not have known about. Professionals will be able to determine why the GFCI outlet isn’t working and can pinpoint and repair any additional electrical issues that may be present.
