In the course of owning a home, you are likely to have had an outlet trip a circuit breaker or another safety feature at some point. This isn’t a big problem if it happens once, but you should be concerned if it keeps happening. Different types of outlets tend to trip for different reasons, and the nature of what happened can be very informative.
GFCI
Ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) are among the most likely types of outlets to trip. This is because the ground fault line in the outlet offers an additional safety feature that might react to a failure state as part of its normal operation.
In residential settings, GFCIs are especially common where water is present. You will see GFCIs in homes near sinks, bathtubs, toilets, laundry rooms, and showers. They also frequently appear outside, particularly in patio areas and anywhere close to a spigot. The current National Electrical Code requires GFCIs in these areas, but they may be absent in older homes.
The reason GFCIs typically trip the most often is that they’re doing their job. A GFCI reaches a fault state whenever the electricity leaks to somewhere besides the grounding system. A classic scenario would involve a hair dryer left on next to a sink. If water from the sink contacts the hair dryer, electricity can leak into the water. Worse, a person who touches the water or the hair dryer at this point could experience a shock. Tripping a fault turns off the electricity, reducing the odds that a person will be injured or that equipment will be damaged.
If the outlet stops supplying power, most models have an indicator LED that signals that a fault has occurred. You should address whatever triggered the fault; usually, that means drying up pooled water, and then hit the reset button on the GFCI.
Repeated trips are a source of concern and require professional diagnosis. Moisture can build up in the outlet or even near the wiring. This is particularly common if a bathroom doesn’t have a ventilation fan. Outdoor outlets also sometimes develop moisture due to humid weather, such as during heavy summer rains or after a significant snow melt in winter.
The components of a GFCI outlet should be closed tightly enough to prevent this. If they are not, then it might be time to have one of our electricians replace the outlet or even rewire the whole thing.
Deteriorating wiring can also trip a GFCI. Rodent damage is a common source of trouble. Connections will also loosen, especially if the outlet is old. Insulation in the wire can break down, too. Our electricians can assess your wiring and outlets, repairing or replacing them as needed.
You should also perform a quick check of whatever you’re plugging into the GFCI. A frayed cord can easily expose wiring and trip the outlet’s safety features. Older appliances and tools sometimes have internal short circuits that trigger faults.
An aging GFCI can fail after about 10-15 years. Internal components will fail after many trip cycles. The reset button may also fail. Gene’s Refrigeration Heating & Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical offers GFCI replacement services to restore safety and dependability.
AFCI
Arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) sound similar to GFCIs, but they serve a different purpose. AFCIs detect whether an interruption occurred in the wiring. Particularly, AFCIs protect against the possibility that something penetrates the wiring. The classic example is someone hanging a picture who drives a nail into the wall, hitting a wire. The nail can damage the wire and become electrified. This poses a shock hazard, and it also risks creating enough heat to start a fire inside the wall.
An AFCI outlet samples the circuit’s condition about 30 times a second. If the electricity is stable, it keeps working. If the electricity starts to fluctuate out of spec, then the AFCI triggers a fault and turns the outlet off.
Your default assumption should be that the circuit has some type of damage. Our electricians can test the circuit and verify whether something is wrong. We offer circuit testing and diagnostic services to locate the source of arc faults and perform repairs.
AFCIs do fail, particularly due to age. Internal wiring connections can loosen, triggering a small arc between the wire and the connector in the outlet. Oxidation of the metal in the outlet or the wiring can also cause a fault. Our outlet replacement services address age-related failures, ensuring your electrical system will function safely and properly.
Notably, some appliances and devices cause false faults. Vacuum cleaners with brush motors are common culprits. Power tools and motorized treadmills can also be problematic. If this happens, the standard solution is to use a non-AFCI circuit or get a different device. Most newer appliances are designed not to trip AFCIs.
Standard Outlets
There are three critical things to understand about standard outlets. First, anything that can go wrong with a standard outlet may also go wrong with a GFCI or AFCI. While GFCIs and AFCIs have added safety features, they still fundamentally function as standard outlets. Second, the only safety feature protecting a standard outlet for sure is a circuit breaker or fuse. Third, if there is an additional safety feature, it is the ground.
Consequently, a standard outlet fault will typically arise because the circuit breaker tripped or a fuse blew. The most common reason for this is an overload. Every circuit in your home has a rated amperage limit. If it exceeds that limit, then the system should experience a fault and turn off the circuit.
A common type of overload occurs when people use electric heaters or fireplaces to warm limited spaces. Homeowners often position these in living rooms or bedrooms that only have 15- or 20-amp circuit breakers. Many of these devices can exceed 20 amps on their own, causing the circuit to break. Similar issues occur with high-draw power tools.
Failing appliances, tools, and electronics sometimes cause circuits to trip, too. Their motors or power supplies may start to operate out of spec, overloading the circuit.
There are only three safe solutions. First, you can move the offending device to a circuit with enough load. Second, our electricians can add an outlet with a dedicated circuit to handle the high-draw device. Third, we can rewire the existing circuit to operate at the desired amperage. The second and third options are generally more common in workshops, garages, and other high-demand areas where wiring tends to be fairly accessible.
If there are repeated failures on a circuit that should be up to the job, there could be a short circuit or damaged wiring. Our electricians can test the circuit and fix it, if necessary.
Since 1959, Gene’s Refrigeration Heating & Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical has helped the people of Medina, OH. We deal with many types of electrical projects, including working on outlets, switches, and ceiling fans. You can also have us deal with electrical panels, whole-house rewiring, EV charging stations, solar, and backup generators. People rely on us because we offer flat rates and straightforward pricing. We also offer a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee.
If you’re worried about a fault in an outlet in your Medina home, contact Gene’s Refrigeration Heating & Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical right away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Both help protect against ground faults, but they’re installed in different places. A GFCI outlet protects itself and sometimes additional outlets on the same circuit, while a GFCI breaker is installed at the electrical panel and protects the entire circuit from there. If you’re troubleshooting repeated trips, knowing which one you have can speed up diagnosis and keep repairs code-compliant.
In many homes, several receptacles are protected “downstream” by a single safety device. That means one tripped protective outlet or a loose connection in one spot can make other outlets go dead even when the breaker appears normal. If you can’t restore power quickly or safely, it’s best to have a licensed electrician trace the circuit and confirm safe voltage at each outlet.
An instant trip usually points to an active problem like a short circuit, a ground fault, damaged wiring, or a failing breaker. Leave the breaker off, unplug what you can from that circuit, and avoid repeated resets. A professional electrical inspection can pinpoint the fault and prevent overheating or fire risk.
Yes. Stop using the outlet and get help if you notice heat, a burning smell, buzzing/crackling, discoloration on the faceplate, sparking, or a loose/wobbly receptacle. Those can signal arcing, poor connections, or insulation breakdown. Addressing it early is a key electrical safety best practice.
They can. Power strips add more plug-in spots but don’t increase a circuit’s amperage capacity, so it’s easy to overload a single circuit without realizing it. Extension cords can also overheat when used with high-draw devices or when coiled, pinched, or run under rugs. If trips happen during normal use, an electrician can review your circuit load and recommend safer options.
Not really. GFCI and AFCI devices are designed for shock and fire prevention related to ground faults and arc faults, not lightning or utility surges. If you’re trying to protect TVs, computers, or HVAC controls, consider a quality point-of-use surge protector and ask about whole-home surge protection installed at the electrical panel.
Often, yes. Remodeling is a smart time to bring receptacles up to current requirements for safety devices in certain areas and to improve overall electrical reliability. A licensed electrician can confirm what applies to your home in Medina, OH and make sure installations meet current National Electrical Code standards and local rules.
Tamper-resistant outlets add built-in shutters that help prevent kids from inserting objects into the receptacle slots. They’re commonly required in newer construction and are a practical upgrade for many households. If your outlets are older, loose, or frequently used, Gene’s Refrigeration Heating & Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical can help you choose the right replacements and verify proper grounding and secure connections.
Call a pro if the trip keeps happening, affects multiple outlets, comes with heat or odor, or happens even when nothing is plugged in. Those clues can point to wiring damage, a failing receptacle, or an issue in the electrical panel. Gene’s Refrigeration Heating & Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical can test the circuit safely and recommend the most direct fix without guesswork.
