What are the safety benefits of installing ground fault circuit interrupter (GCFI) outlets?
- Prevents electrical shocks
- Puts a stop to electrical fires
- Saves electrical devices from damage
If you haven’t yet heard of ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets from some other electrical company in the Philippines, friends, family, or acquaintances, then you’re in luck because we are going to tell you about it in this article!
GFCI outlets are protective devices that help prevent a number of electricity-related incidents. Unlike standard receptacles or regular outlets that simply allow electricity to flow from your supply to whatever device is plugged in, GFCI outlets are fitted with special features. It has the ability to constantly and continuously track the flow of electrical current in a circuit.
Once it senses any real-time fluctuations and changes that are out of the ordinary, it makes changes accordingly. If need be, it can and will cut off the flow of electricity in the circuit. For example, when you drop your plugged-in hair dryer into a water-filled sink by accident, the GFCI outlet will detect the interruption and immediately cut the power supply, avoiding any injuries and incidents.
Installation of GFCI outlets is included in the Philippine Electric Code (PEC) but not a lot of Filipinos are complying perhaps due to lack of knowledge regarding the product and its benefits, so we aim to change that today. Listed below are the three safety benefits that you can get when you install GFCI outlets in your home:
Prevents Electrical Shocks
No matter how strategically placed your outlets are or well-maintained your appliances and devices are, the risk of electrical shocks and electrocutions is always there. The danger is even bigger if you have kids or pets at home who are more prone to such incidents. Slight contact with live wires and metallic surfaces may cause severely damaging shocks.
The only way to rid of this ever-present problem is to replace your old outlets with GFCI outlets. As said previously, these outlets have the ability to detect electricity flow and cut it off in case of fluctuations and abnormalities due to loose wires or any other defects.
Source: servproblackwoodgloucestertownship.com
Puts A Stop to Electrical Fires
In addition to sensing changes in the electrical current, GFCI outlets can also detect ground faults. As the name suggests, ground faults happen when the electrical current, on its way to its source or destination, travels through the ground and not using its intended path. These are one of the most common causes of electrical fires along with other types of electricity leakage and can be difficult to detect using normal means.
Although there are electrical fuses that provide protection against electrical fires, they aren’t fully fool-proof. Adding GFCI outlets into the equation can practically reduce the occurrence of electrical fires to zero and save you and your loved ones from harm.
Saves Electrical Devices from Damage
Aside from electricity leaking into the ground, it can also leak into your appliances and cause irreparable damage without your knowledge. Electrical leaks are hard to avoid and are bound to happen over time because they are caused by the deterioration of insulation. You can easily detect leakage if the appliance’s body is made of metal. In that case, you will experience an electrical shock every time you touch it – not an ideal way of detecting a leak, but it’s the only one.
If, on the other hand, the device or appliance is made from some other material, there is no way to know of the leak and excessive amounts of electricity will continue to flow into your equipment, causing damage. This is actually one of the most common reasons for device and appliance failure and is very hard to prevent, at least without a GFCI.
With a GFCI outlet installed, you won’t have to worry about electrical leakage. Additionally, since no damage is done to your devices and appliances, you can expect them to have a longer life expectancy.
Key Takeaway
Not a lot of people know about ground fault circuit interrupter (GCFI) outlets, which is a shame because they offer so many benefits that any local electrical company in the Philippines would advocate for.
They can prevent electricity-related accidents from happening and not only in the home. The benefits that a GFCI outlet offers extend beyond the household and applies to establishments and corporations. In fact, these large infrastructures may benefit most from this type of outlets as they don’t have control over each person who plugs in their devices. So, if you’re thinking of rewiring an existing establishment or building a new one, consider putting in GFCI outlets.
Sure, they may cost a little more than regular outlets but not in exchange for nothing. You are basically protecting people from common hazards that you would otherwise face on a daily basis. On top of this, it also allows your appliances and devices to live longer lives. Fewer repairs and replacements can mean more money saved, so, technically, GFCI outlets also allow you to keep your money in the bank.