These Simple Devices Can Save Your Life...

GFI comes up in almost all my home inspections.  Several houses have defective breakers and the homeowner is unaware of how serious this can be...

thank you for passing this along to us, well worth a reblog for my world of folks!

Michael, I saw this post was reblogged by Mark. You are absolutely right. For as long as they have been around I find they are under utilized. They only cost $10.00 each if you buy a 3 pack and that is pretty cheap insurance. If I am representing a seller I make sure they comply with installing GFCI outlets where needed. Very good reminder Michael!

Thanks for the post. For a Realtor it may be location, location, location but for Home Inspectors is has to be safety, safety, safety!

One thing we have started doing is only testing GFCI's that are visible, not necessarily every outlet that might be protected. We have spent literally hours looking for concealed GFCI's. In one case we had to call the owner's agent to have the owner come home and show us the location of the GFCI that "protected" the game freezer in the detached garage. The GFCI was located beneath the vinyl siding adjacent to the rear door on the house, several yards away. Any idiot should have known that!

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When I speak with a seller for a listing appointment and go over their seller's disclosure, I look to see if the GFCIs are in place. I'm not an inspector but after being in so many homes, if I see no GFCIs in the wet areas, I bring it to the seller's attention and often they will bring that part upto date. Who wants that kind of liability?  I just tell them to sell the home it has to be up to code. Have had a few sellers have their home pre-inspected and brought up to code and they have gotten what they wanted for their home. otherwise the house goes on market for "CASH AS IS, SELLER UNABLE TO DO REPAIRS, SELLER HAS NO FUNDS FOR REPAIRS" and we price accordingly.

I like your series of videos. Good job! And good info on the GFI's!! Thanks!

Thanks for the info.  Over the years my home inspector has noted on almost every inspection at least one GFCI outlet that is not functioning.  I automatically request the seller replace those outlets and they do.  I have not had a single seller refuse.  I guess that speaks to the perceived importance of this device. 

That's funny that this post came along today. I have an older home without GFIs and I was just getting around to getting them replaced Monday. 

When we updated our home a few years ago, we installed GFCIs throughout.  Definitely and easy to install safety device.

Michael, what an exceptional post!  Congratulations on the feature and thank you for access to valuable information for our clients!

Good timing on this post! We have a seller who is giving us grief about replacing regular outlets with GFCI's in a bathroom and kitchen. They only cost a few bucks for cryin' out loud, but he thinks he doesn't need to replace them. Maybe if we ask him if he wants to be statistic #301 he'll get it...

Dear Michael,

Let's keep telling people about this, as it is an easy way to stay safe & alive. Flying backwards across the kitchen from an electroshock ain't any fun. I accidentally tried that once while cleaning an apartment stove in college & would not recommend it to anyone else.

Michael: another great video explanation from you. I aways advise buyers to have an inspection which usually shows the necessity of GFICs, and then I recommend that the sellers have a certified electrician make the replacement.  I have seen lazy, careless owners who put the cover plates on but did not have the electricity done properly.

Almost every home inspection points them out as lacking...  so easy to install....  Thanks Michael for the great post!

Great video on GFI's.  Thanks fo sharing your knowledge with me and the others.

Nicely done, Michael, informative and useful to all of us with homes as well as those buying and selling them.

Important stuff that shouldn't be overlooked. Something bad can happen quickly so why take the chance? It's minimal cost. Good video BTW.

Thanks for the post. Lots of people come from areas where GFCI's are not common and/or out of old houses. So they really don't understand what's behind them and why they are an important safety feature.