Electricity is necessary for our modern lifestyles, but also it is potentially dangerous. The development of safety features over the years has enabled us to live with electricity while experiencing fewer life-threatening incidents. One of the most important advancements in electrical safety was the development of ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet.
What Are GFCI Outlets?
Thanks to these outlets, there is less risk of severe shock and electrocution. According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), there has been an 83% drop in electrocutions in homes since the introduction of GFCIs in 1971.
A ground fault is an abnormal electrical current. A ground fault occurs when an electrical current escapes a wire because of damage or faulty wiring and takes an unintended path to the ground. A ground fault is even more likely to happen with any outlets that are near water.
A GFCI outlet contains a sensor and an internal switch. The sensor monitors the flow of electrical current in its circuit and can detect any variations. When a variation, or fault, is detected, the switch turns off the flow of electricity. Rather than experiencing a dangerous, prolonged surge of electricity, a person would receive a smaller, survivable shock. GCFI outlets prevent electrical injuries to people which standard outlets cannot do.
Contact a Professional
If you want to make sure to properly equip your home with life-saving GFCI outlets, then you need a residential electrical service to inspect your electrical outlets. If you are looking for an electrician in White Marsh or the greater Baltimore area, contact Tim Kyle Electric.