Stop and take a look at the outlets in your home. If it's of newer construction, it stands to reason that in areas where water is often used, such as the kitchen or bathroom, outlets look a bit different than in other areas of the home. Outlets in these areas may have black and red test and reset buttons. Some will say, of course, these are ground-fault protected! They help prevent electrical accidents and fires caused by erratic surges in the electrical current. To others, this may be new, and useful information.

Advancements in electrical protection devices help keep families and businesses safe. These devices include Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI's) and Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCI's). Both help prevent electrical shocks and fires caused by erratic surges in electrical current.

GFCIs are designed to trip when they sense even a minor imbalance in current between the hot (black) and neutral (white) legs of an electrical circuit. They shut off power to the receptacle in a fraction of a second -- fast enough to avoid a potentially fatal shock. In new construction they're required in kitchens and bathrooms and in other areas that might get wet -- a garage or basement, for instance. They make just as much sense in an old house as they do in a new one.

GFCI outlets have test and reset buttons. If you locate the GFCI's in your home, it is a good idea to test them monthly to make sure they are operating properly.
 
AFCI's are designed to help prevent fires caused by arcing faults, erratic current flows, that get hot enough fast enough a fire can start without ever tripping the breakers. As of 2002, AFCI's are required to be installed on branch circuits that serve residential bedrooms in new construction only, not existing construction. A property inspector can help pinpoint areas where added safety measures such as AFCI's or GFCI's could help protect your family.