(Fixed) GFCI Outlet Showing Yellow Light and Not Working

Using a GFCI outlet in your place but does not know what the GFCI outlet light indicates that will sometimes create real issues. this article will guide you about the GFCI outlet showing yellow light and how to fix the problem before it creates a big problem.

Key takeaways:

A GFCI outlet showing yellow light indicates fro a tripped outlet that will create an issue.so if you wonder to know why it is showing yellow light and how to fix the problem you need to read the below information.

GFCI Outlet Showing Yellow Light:

The main reason of GFCI outlet showing yellow light is because of the outlet has tripped which causes no power in the outlet and you need to reset it to gain power again into the GFCI outlet. 

Another reason of GFCI outlet showing yellow light is also due to the end of its lifespan and for that, you need to replace the GFCI outlet with a new GFCI outlet.

GFCI Outlet Showing Yellow Light
GFCI Outlet Showing Yellow Light

GFCI Outlet Yellow Light Won’t Reset:

The following are some reasons for GFCI outlet yellow light won’t reset:

  • If there is a problem in tripping the GFCI outlet and you are not able to reset the receptacle it means that the problem is not fixed up.
  • It can be because of the wiring of the outlet.
  • The GFCI outlet showing yellow light won’t reset can be because it may have reached the end and you can’t fix it by resetting it as you need to change the outlet with the new one.

Steps to fix the GFCI outlet showing yellow light:

The following are some steps that you need to follow if you want to fix the GFCI outlet showing yellow light:

Reset The GFCI outlet:

The first step to fix the GFCI outlet showing yellow light is to press the reset button on its front. doing this will work as giving the circuit a restart option so make the receptacle get the power back.

GFCI Outlet Showing Yellow Light
GFCI Outlet Showing Yellow Light

In case you are about to have the latest GFCI outlet it will not work for simple resetting as there is a more advanced feature in the GFCI outlet for the self-testing procedure which makes it to function again.

Readjust the Circuit Breaker Switch:

Another way to fix the yellow lighting indicates is by checking the circuit breaker panel to check if the breaker is in what position on or off. if you find that the breaker is stuck between the switch off and on you need to flip the switch off and turn it on.

GFCI Outlet Showing Yellow Light
GFCI Outlet Showing Yellow Light

Replace The GFCI outlet:

The reason for the GFCI outlet showing yellow light can be because the end of lifespans and pressing the reset button will not work. the standard lifespan of GFCI outlets on average is 15 to 25 years but it is possible that the GFCI outlet can end up within 5 years. the cause of shorting the lifespan are such as:

GFCI Outlet Showing Yellow Light
GFCI Outlet Showing Yellow Light
  • Faulty ground wiring.
  • Electrical tripping.
  • Other bad outlets affect the other outlet.

In this case, you need to replace the GFCI outlet with a new GFCI outlet.

Set up proper wiring:

If the receptacle doesn’t fix after pressing the resetting button. it can be fixed by setting up proper wiring. the resetting of the outlet only tests the mechanical actuator and starts functioning but you need to get advice from a professional electrician for proper wiring you need to have good skills for that.

Various lights indications of GFCI outlet:

The following is an indication of the lights of the GFCI outlet showing:

GFCI Outlet Showing Yellow Light
GFCI Outlet Showing Yellow Light
  1. Green Light:

If a GFCI outlet shows the green light it means that the outlet does have the all necessary requirements to pass the self-check. the self-check is to be performed to ensure that all the functioning in the GFCI outlet is running smoothly as no risk is to be taken. 

  1. Red Light: 

If a GFCI outlet shows a red light means that the outlet has failed the self-check testing due to some problem in the outlet that you need to check and mixed immediately.

  1. Yellow Light:

The reason the GFCI outlet showing yellow light indicates that the outlet has tripped, the outlet has reached the end of its lifespan in this case replacing the outlet.

  1. Orange Light: 

If a GFCI outlet shows an orange light is an indication of a properly functioning GFCI outlet.

  1. No Light:

The GFCI outlet showing no light means that the GFCI receptacle is off, tripped, or failed to identify any sort of power source.

Conclusion:

From the above article you know easily learned how to fix the problem of the GFCI outlet showing yellow light and you have the idea of the other light indication means when you need to check the receptacle and when you need to replace the GFCI outlet.

Rick Costa

Leave a Comment