One day mom called up to me that the rice cooker was no longer working in the kitchen. I also noticed that the light on one side of the kitchen wasn't working.
Doggone it! I wasn't thrilled with the idea of having to pay an electrician to come and fix this. I didn't think we'd lost power because my computer was working and probably not a fuse since other parts of the kitchen were working.
I waited until Art came home from delivering his Meals on Wheels and told him the bad news. "Did you reset the gfci button?" he asked.
Hunh?
He went over to the outlet and showed me the little red button.
He explained that we have these outlets in the kitchen and bathrooms.
I got this from the How Stuff Works website.
"That outlet is called a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI). It's there to protect people from electrical shock, so it is completely different from a fuse."
OK, so now I know. Let's hope I remember the next time something like this happens again.
Doggone it! I wasn't thrilled with the idea of having to pay an electrician to come and fix this. I didn't think we'd lost power because my computer was working and probably not a fuse since other parts of the kitchen were working.
Hunh?
He went over to the outlet and showed me the little red button.
He explained that we have these outlets in the kitchen and bathrooms.
I got this from the How Stuff Works website.
"That outlet is called a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI). It's there to protect people from electrical shock, so it is completely different from a fuse."
OK, so now I know. Let's hope I remember the next time something like this happens again.
The guest bathroom in our house had to be reset fairly often. Not sure why.
ReplyDeletewe have those too and the only place it seems to go off is in the bathroom,,
ReplyDeleteThank goodness for Art. We may have used this once but I would never remember.
ReplyDeleteWe only have one of these on our outdoor outlet, and it had me perplexed once.
ReplyDeleteEach time we've had bathroom remodeling work done we had those outlets installed. I understand that they're required by regulation now (and weren't when our house was built).
ReplyDeleteWe also have one on the patio and it seems to get disconnected more than the others even though there is a plate over it which should prevent it from being accidentally pushed.
ReplyDeleteMy house is too old to have them, but we do have them in the Whidbey cabin. They are required any place where the outlet is in proximity to water.
ReplyDeleteGood to know. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI had one of those panic me once also. They really to help keep us safe, we just have to remember to reset them.
ReplyDeleteI have one in the bathroom with the plug in for my hairdryer which hangs on the wall. Every once in a while I have to reset it..
ReplyDeleteArt is smart!
ReplyDeleteI have them. Totally useless. They just cause consternation and puzzlement every few years when pushed by accident.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to go check my light switches now. Thanks Kay!
ReplyDeleteWe don't have any in our rented apartment, built fifty years ago, but they sure seem like a good idea! That was an easy fix, and probably will help some of your blog family. :-)
ReplyDeleteWhen we moved in here, we put them in all the bathrooms and the kitchen. I too learned to use them the hard way.
ReplyDelete...and I had meant to say that you won't forget because you wrote about it. :)
ReplyDeletenow i feel smart cause i know about those...probably causes my hairdryer to stop.
ReplyDeleteI learned all about GFCIs when I was selling my house since I had to have them installed. Codes had changed since that house was built. Apparently it was okay for me to be at risk of electric shock all those years, but at least the buyers were safe.
ReplyDeleteSo that's what they are! Thanks Honey (and ART)
ReplyDeleteThose things are confusing
ReplyDelete