GFCI — Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter
Also known as: GFCIGround fault circuit interrupterGFI
A GFCI is a safety device that monitors the electrical current flowing on a circuit's hot and neutral wires. When those currents don't match — which happens when current is leaking through a path other than the intended circuit (like through a person who's just touched live wire while standing in water) — the GFCI shuts the circuit off within milliseconds. It's designed specifically to prevent electrocution.
GFCIs come in two forms: GFCI outlets (the receptacles with "Test" and "Reset" buttons in your bathroom and kitchen) and GFCI breakers (which protect entire circuits from inside the main panel). Either form protects everything downstream of the device.
Current California Electrical Code requires GFCI protection on circuits serving bathrooms, kitchens, garages, outdoor outlets, laundry rooms, basements, crawlspaces, and within 6 feet of any sink. Older Santa Cruz homes (pre-2000) frequently don't have GFCI protection on circuits that current code requires it. During any remodel that touches these circuits, we bring them up to current code.
GFCI protection is the cheapest piece of electrical safety in your house. If you don't have it where code requires it, get it. We don’t publish prices on the site. You get the cost in writing after a free inspection.
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