06/15/2026
There's a $30 outlet that could save your life. Do you know if you have them everywhere you should?
GFCI stands for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter. These outlets monitor the flow of electricity and cut power within milliseconds if they detect a dangerous imbalance — like when electricity is taking an unintended path through a person or water.
They're required by code in: Bathrooms, Kitchens (within 6 feet of a sink), Garages, Outdoors, Near pools, hot tubs, and wet bars, Unfinished basements and crawl spaces.
The problem? Millions of older homes still have standard outlets in these locations because they were built before the code required GFCI. And many homeowners have no idea.
How to check: GFCI outlets have two small buttons (TEST and RESET) on the face. If your bathroom, garage, and outdoor outlets don't have those buttons, you may not have proper protection.
This is especially critical heading into summer when outdoor entertaining, pool use, and wet conditions increase the risk of electrical shock significantly.
Not sure if your home is up to code? Celestial Electric offers electrical safety inspections for homeowners and property managers. Reach out today.