Safety and Emergency Tips

These are quick answers to common safety and emergency questions.

I have surge protection on my home. Am I totally safe from lightning strikes?

No. Surge and Lightning protection do offer additional levels of protection but nothing can guarantee completely against forces of nature and where they strike.

Why does the fuse (or circuit breaker) keep going off?

You probably have too many appliances on that circuit. Too many appliances, especially heat-producing ones, can cause a circuit overload. Breakers and fuses typically don’t go bad with age. If you have to reset it more than once, it should be checked by an electrician.

Are the receptacles in your kitchen, bathroom or outside your home not working?

Chances are your GFCI receptacle (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) or breaker needs to be reset. The breaker should be in your panel box with typically a yellow push test button on it. To reset, flip handle to the Off position, then back On. If the breaker trips again, call your electrician. The GFCI receptacles could be located in your bathroom, garage, basement, or outside. Press the reset button located on the front of the receptacle. If it doesn’t click in position it is probably bad and should be replaced.

What is a GFCI device or breaker?

GFCI stands for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter. In layman's terms this device protects you from electrical shock. When it senses the slightest increase in resistance resulting from ground fault, (i.e., the use of electrical devices in or near water) it trips off to protect you.

What are the red and black buttons on my GFCI outlet?

The black button is a test button. When pressed, it should deactivate the outlet, and any other outlet fed from it, indicating a properly functioning device. The red button is the re-set button. In the event of deactivation resulting from a fault, you press it to reactivate the outlet or outlets.

What is the difference between a breaker panel and an old fuse panel?

Both circuit breakers and fuses are designed to "trip" (turn off) in case of an electrical overload; in other words, 20 Amps of electrical load on a 15 Amp circuit will cause a trip.

The only difference is that a breaker is mechanical and may be reset, while a fuse is one time only and must be replaced. Modern breakers are much more efficient and offer greater levels of protection.

ATTENTION! Please be careful when performing any electrical repairs or installation. As you know, electricity is powerful and can be very dangerous. This material is only for informational purposes and is not instructional. Please consult a professional as appropriate.