A tripped GFCI outlet is usually a minor inconvenience when you’re home. You notice something isn’t working, investigate, and—when appropriate—reset the outlet or determine why it tripped.
But when the house is unoccupied, the situation can be very different.
Ground-fault circuit interrupters are designed to protect people from electrical shock by quickly interrupting power when they detect certain electrical imbalances. You’ll commonly find them in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, basements, and exterior locations.
Sometimes multiple outlets or equipment may be downstream from a single GFCI.
That’s where an unexpected trip can become consequential.
A garage refrigerator or freezer, for example, could lose power without anything obvious happening elsewhere in the house. Days later, the homeowner could return to spoiled food and a considerable mess.
A tripped GFCI can also be an indication that something deserves further evaluation.
Simply resetting it repeatedly without understanding why it trips isn’t a solution.
During a Home Watch visit, we’re observing for conditions that appear different from normal. That can include checking agreed-upon appliances, noticing displays that are dark, observing an unexpected temperature condition or discovering that equipment isn’t operating as expected.
We’re not electricians and don’t diagnose electrical faults. If an electrical condition appears abnormal, the appropriate response may be evaluation by a qualified electrician.
The Home Watch value lies in awareness.
When you’re hundreds of miles away, you can’t respond to something you don’t know has happened.
Homeowner Tip
Before leaving home, identify refrigerators, freezers, sump equipment or other important devices connected to GFCI-protected circuits. Consider placing a simple thermometer inside secondary refrigerators and freezers so temperatures can be easily observed.
Concierge Connection
Where appropriate and within the manufacturer’s recommendations, Hoosier Home Watch Service can assist clients with certain routine Concierge tasks or coordinate access for qualified service providers.
During Home Watch visits, we also observe the area around water heaters for obvious visible irregularities and report concerns to the homeowner.
The Little Things Matter.
Many routine home maintenance tasks can be completed as part of Hoosier Home Watch Service’s Concierge Services. Whether you’re traveling, managing a second home, or simply prefer spending your weekends enjoying life instead of tackling household chores, we’re here to help.
Small maintenance today can help prevent expensive repairs tomorrow.
Contact us today at 239-910-0767 or visit www.hoosierhomewatchservice.com to schedule a consultation.
