Unplug everything on the outlet, then press the RESET button firmly until it clicks. If it will not reset, look for another GFCI that may be protecting it, then check the breaker. If it trips again right away, leave it off and call. Never reset a GFCI that is wet or damaged.
Step by step
Unplug everything from the outlet and any outlets near it.
Press RESET firmly until it clicks and stays in.
Plug in a lamp you know works and check for power.
If RESET will not stay in, find the other GFCIs in the home. One GFCI often protects other outlets on the same circuit, sometimes in another room. Check bathrooms, the kitchen, the garage, the laundry and outdoor outlets.
Still no power? Open the outer panel door and look for a tripped breaker. Push it fully to OFF, then ON, once.
Plug your items back in one at a time. If the GFCI trips when one item goes in, that item may be the problem.
Test it once a month
The CPSC recommends testing every GFCI at least once a month, after a power failure and after installation. Plug in a lamp and turn it on. Press TEST. The lamp should go off. Press RESET. The lamp should come back on. If the lamp stays on after you press TEST, the GFCI is not protecting you. If it will not come back on after RESET, the GFCI needs to be replaced.
A good habit is to test them on the same day each month, such as the first of the month, and to test again after any power outage. Write down which GFCI protects which outlets so the next dead outlet is quicker to sort out.
When to stop
The outlet or anything plugged into it is wet. Do not touch it.
The GFCI trips again right away with nothing plugged in.
It is warm, cracked, scorched or smells like burning.
You feel a tingle from an outlet, switch or appliance.
Talk to a real person
Call (602) 999-2770 and a person answers, any hour. If a GFCI keeps tripping or a room stays dead, we will help you figure out on the phone whether it can wait until regular hours, and you will hear the price before anyone drives out.
Smoke, a burning smell or a hot outlet: stop and call. If you see smoke or fire, call 911.
Common questions
Why does my GFCI keep tripping?
Common causes are moisture in an outdoor or bathroom outlet, a faulty appliance, or a worn GFCI. Repeated trips need an electrician.
Why are outlets dead with no GFCI nearby?
The GFCI protecting them may be in another room, such as a bathroom or garage. Check them all.
Do GFCIs wear out?
Yes. That is why monthly testing matters. One that fails the test should be replaced.
