Check out some similar questions!

Alipet8 · Jul 17, 2008, 01:44 PM

I bought my home in May 2008. During the inspection it was required that the previous homeowner install GFI outlets in both bathrooms. She did this and everything worked fine. However, several days ago the outlets in both bathrooms quit working and I can't set them to work again. Any idea why this would be happening or how to fix it? The outlets are new so it would be strange if they already wore out.
Thanks!

hkstroud · Jul 17, 2008, 02:26 PM

Unplug everything, check to see that the circuit breaker is not tripped then try to reset the GFI's. They will not reset if the breaker has tripped. If they will not reset you will then have to try to determine why not. GFI's can be very sensitive and do fail. However, it would be very unusual for both to fail at the same time. Depending on how they are wired, one can cause the other to trip off.

stanfortyman · Jul 17, 2008, 02:41 PM

I'd be willing to bet the home inspector had very little clue and did not know that the receptacles were already GFI protected. He probably never even checked that.

hkstroud · Jul 17, 2008, 02:54 PM

I wouldn't bet against you. I'd probably lose. Not only that I have a real problem with someone who probably took a two week course on paper work being taken seriously.

What's more (if I understand the code correctly) if the house was wired prior to GFI's there is no legal requirement to upgrade. Not a bad idea but not a requirement.

Stratmando · Jul 17, 2008, 03:09 PM

Before they made the GFI testers readidly available, I used to take the 2 probe of a "Wiggy", and touch 1 probe to the Ground, and the other in the Hot(small prong), If it lost power, it tripped, and was GFI protected.