3 Reasons To Invest In GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) Outlets In Your Home
There are many homeowners out there who might not be familiar with Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlets and what it is exactly that they can do for your home. GFCI electrical outlets in Manassas & Fairfax Virginia are a form of three pronged outlet that are a vital addition to your home, especially if you have a home that is close to water of any kind. The also extends to the inside of the home as well, meaning that having GFCI outlets near your kitchen, bathrooms, laundry rooms, etc. is absolutely vital. On top of that, GFCI outlets are actually required in your home by law to a certain extent, as the National Electric Code (NEC) says that all homes must be equipped with GFCI protection. While originally, these were only required when the outlet was closer to water, that requirement has been expanded over the years to encompass all single phase outlets of 125 volts. One of the main reasons for this is because at least 300 people are electrocuted inside their home each and every year specifically because they don't have these outlets in place.
A typical GFCI outlet in Manassas & Fairfax Virginia is going to have three holes in it, as you have no doubt seen around some areas of yours or a friend's home at some point or another. What many homeowners don't know, however, is that that third hole serves as a ground wire, where the other two are for the neutral and hot wires respectively. A GFCI monitors the flow of current in the two wires, and if it detects a change in electrical flow, it immediately cuts it for your safety. There are three main advantages of having GFCI outlets installed by professional Manassas & Fairfax Virginia electricians, and they are as follows:
Shock Prevention
This is without a doubt the most obvious, and one of the most useful advantages of having GFCI outlets in your home. A GFCI outlet has a built in sensor that monitors the inflow and outflow of electricity from an appliance or other electronic device, so where normally if you had a live wire inside an appliance that came in contact with a metallic surface, you would get a shock, but that isn't the case with a GFCI outlet. The second the GFCI outlet detects the change in current, it will cut the flow of electricity.
Fire Prevention
As the name implies, one of the primary functions of GFCI outlets is to detect the presence of ground faults. Since these ground faults can result in electrical fires when they leave a circuit, it is easy to see why these particular outlets can actually pay for themselves in a very short amount of time. While your electrical fuses do offer a basic protection from electrical fires, combining them with a GFCI outlet is a winning combination, reducing the chances of you having to deal with an electrical fire to almost zero.
Prevent Damage To Appliances with GFCI Outlets in Manassas & Fairfax Virginia
Over time, the insulation of your appliances wiring tends to break down, and a certain amount of electric current begins to leak into other household appliances and electronics. If the outer body of these appliances isn't made of metal, you likely aren't going to get a shock, but this constant leakage will eventually result in damage to the equipment.
In fact, this electricity leakage is one of the most common reasons for computer hard drive failures. With GFCI outlets in Manassas & Fairfax Virginia, however, you don't need to worry about this leakage because your outlet will detect it immediately and shut down the circuit. This can save you untold amounts of money in replacing damaged electronics.
