When was your house built? If it was before 1976, there’s a chance that it does not have Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters, (or GFCIs, for short) which protect you and your family from significant electrocution hazards. The reason for this is that GFCIs were not required for electrical receptacles in the National Electrical Code until 1975. Even if your house was built after 1976, you may still need to install GFCIs in specific rooms, since the code has gradually required GFCIs in specific rooms (like the bathroom, kitchen, and basement) in the years since 1976.
If your home already has GFCIs installed on any outlet within 6 feet of a water source, you’re probably in great shape, and in harmony with current codes. However, you should be sure to test your GFCIs regularly. It’s easy enough to test them – simply plug something into the outlet, turn it on, and then press the “TEST” button. If it turns off, the GFCI is working properly.
