GFCI means Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter. It’s a safety device that shuts off power fast if it detects electricity leaking off the normal path (for example, through water or a person). It does this by comparing the current going out on the hot wire vs. coming back on the neutral. If they don’t match, it trips.
Where you usually see them:
- Bathrooms
- Kitchens (near sinks)
- Garages Basements
- Laundry areas
- Outdoors
- Anywhere near water or damp areas
What it looks like
- An outlet with TEST and RESET buttons (or a GFCI breaker in the panel)
What it protects against
- Mainly electric shock / electrocution (it’s not the same thing as a standard breaker, which mainly protects wiring from overheating).
Here’s the simple way to test a GFCI outlet:
- Plug in a lamp (or phone charger + something that clearly shows power). Turn the lamp on.
- Press the TEST button on the GFCI. The lamp should turn off immediately (power cuts).
- Press the RESET button. You should feel/hear a click, and the lamp should turn back on.
If you’re testing a GFCI breaker in the panel:
- Turn on something on that circuit (lamp, light, etc.).
- Press the breaker’s TEST button. Power should shut off and the breaker should move to a tripped position.
- Flip it fully OFF, then back ON to reset.
If TEST doesn’t cut power, or RESET won’t stay in, that’s a problem (bad GFCI, no power to it, miswire, or it’s protecting downstream and you’re testing the wrong spot).
For a GFCI breaker (in the electrical panel), test it like this:
- Turn something on that you know is on that circuit (a lamp, a light, a bathroom fan, an outdoor light, etc.)
- At the panel, press the breaker’s TEST button.
- Confirm it worked: the thing you turned on should shut off, and the breaker handle should move to TRIP (often a middle position, sometimes it shows a red/orange indicator).
- Reset it correctly: push the breaker handle firmly all the way to OFF first, then flip it back to ON.
If any of these happen, it’s a red flag:
- Pressing TEST does nothing (device stays on, breaker doesn’t trip)
- The breaker won’t reset (won’t stay ON)
- It immediately trips again after reset (could be a real ground fault, moisture, bad appliance, or wiring issue)
A GFCI that doesn’t TEST and RESET correctly isn’t protecting you. If anything feels off, stop using that circuit and have it inspected. Need help troubleshooting a GFCI? MAS Pro provides licensed electrical service and can get it fixed quickly and safely.
