Solved! My GFCI Outlet Not Working & Won’t Reset. (Step-by-Step Guide)

The problem with the GFCI outlet not working happens in houses that have old wiring or have not been rewired for years. a person who is facing a problem in an outlet that is not working that does not mean that you should just call an electrician to fix the problem because the problem of a GFCI outlet not working sometimes can be solved by simple steps. This article will guide you about what to do and solve the problem before calling an electrician and paying them a high cost to fix the problem.

Key takeaways:

  • Check if other outlets are working or not.
  • Check for the GFCI area.
  • Check the breaker panel.
  • Turn off the power.
  • Check for loose connections or damaged wires.
  • Check for loose nuts.
  • Replace the outlets.
  • Reinstall the outlet and cover the plates.
  • Turn on the power.

 Before making any mistakes in solving the problem of the GFCI outlet not working you need to read the explanation of how to solve it .

GFCI Outlet Not Working
GFCI Outlet Not Working

Solved! My GFCI Outlet Not Working:

The following are some steps you need to follow and fix the problem of the GFCI outlet not working:

Check if other outlets are working or not:

The first step you need to check is that if other outlets are working you can use the outlet tester by plugging it in. if you find that there are no LEDs lit up in the tester it indicates that there is no power in that outlet and mark it if the outlet is not working to remember it. 

GFCI Outlet Not Working
GFCI Outlet Not Working

Check for the GFCI area:

  • The second step is to check the area where there is a problem with dead outlets and after that plug the outlet tester into the outlet which is not working. 
  • if there is no power in the tester press the reset button and if there is tripping of outlets you need to push it and there will be a little bit of resistance. 
  • And if the outlet works properly the tester will show each is wired correctly. But if after resetting or pushing the button it trips again it means that there is a ground fault situation. 
  • In that situation, you need to call a professional electrician. 
GFCI Outlet Not Working
GFCI Outlet Not Working

Check the breaker panel:

  • After checking the area of the outlet not working and if there is no problem there you need to check the breaker panel and check there for any tripped breaker. 
  • If you find there is any problem in the breaker panel you need to reset the breaker by pushing the handle of the breaker and turning it on and if it remains on you need to check the dead outlets to find the outlet has the power.
  • In case the breaker trips again then there is a possibility of a faculty outlet, damaged wire, or any loose connection so for solving these problems you need to hire a professional electrician. 
GFCI Outlet Not Working
GFCI Outlet Not Working

Turn off the power:

  • If none of the above mentioned steps does not work then the next is to turn the power off to the outlets by shutting the power off of the entire house. Make sure that it does not have any power over the things you are working on as it will be very dangerous to you.
  • You just have to turn the breaker off.
  • After turning the breaker off make sure that there is no power to the outlet not by touching the bare wire but by using the voltage meter to verify it.

Check for loose connections or damaged wires:

  • After following the above step now you need to check for any loose connections or damaged wires.
  • For this, you need to remove the cover plate by removing the mounting screws and then just pull out the outlet box.
  • The next step to check the wire is to pull out the wire by using the flashlight. It will be easy to inspect any damage to the wire.
  • If there are any wires that show any signs of heating the wire or arcing then the next step is to remove the damaged part of the wire.
  • The wiring in the outlet is terminated in two ways such as:
  • Stab-in the back 
  • Terminal screws
GFCI Outlet Not Working
GFCI Outlet Not Working

Check for loose nuts:

  • The next is to check for the wire nut for loose wires.
  • If you out that there is any loose wire inside the outlet and be sure to redo the connection.
  • By taking the wire nut off and then regrouping the wires, after that put the wire nut back.
  • Continue to do these steps in the GFCI outlet and each outlet that has no power on it.
  • Replace the outlets:
  • The next step is to replace the outlet that you find has loose wiring because it can get heated and will damage the whole outlet which will lead to a short circuit and ground fault situation. 
  • This can become the reason GFCI won’t reset.in case you change the GFCI you should pay attention and learn how it is being wired. In future situations, you can easily find the problem. For example, if the outlet was wired using the stab-in method and there is a loose wire due to which the outlet has no power then you have to just replace the outlet instead of stabbing the wire back.
  • Make sure to properly rewire the outlet by looping the hook over the termination screw and then tightening the screw.
GFCI Outlet Not Working
GFCI Outlet Not Working

Reinstall the outlet and cover the plates.

  • After completing the step of replacing the outlet you can reinstall the outlet and cover the plates.
  • For that, you have to fold the wire and tuck the wires back so they don’t get pinched when the outlet is put back in the box.
  • Be aware that the bare wire doesn’t touch any brass or silver screws as it will cause to have a short circuit.

Turn on the power:

  • After completing the reinstallation of the outlet. Now you need to turn on the power. 
  • The next thing is to test GFCI by using an outlet tester to verify that it has the power and is wired correctly. 
  • If you find that there is no power to the GFCI outlet it’s time to call a professional electrician. 
  • Because after checking and completing the above step 
  • If it does not work there must be a problem behind the walls or in the main breaker panel. 
  • In that case, there is a need to call an electrician so that you won’t end up with issues like catching fire or damaging the appliances. 

Conclusion:

For solving the problem of the GFCI outlet not working you can follow the above-mentioned steps before calling an electrician and spending a high cost on it rather you should do it yourself and find where the fault is. 

Rick Costa

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