Please install GFI is probably the most common safety issue noted on a home inspection report in my market. I can prove this. I had this noted on 3 reports in the last 4 weeks. When I look back over my real estate career this phrase has popped up so many times.
I am not an electrician, and I personally stay away from any sort of electrical projects. However, I do know certain residential electrical requirements.
Since this issue comes up so often I suspect many have no clue as to what a GFI is. GFI stands for ground fault interrupter and I will spare you further technical terms and go straight to an example. This is an outlet for example in your bathroom where you might plug your hair dryer and if you accidentally drop the hair dryer into the sink which has water in it, without this GFI outlet you would get a shock or possibly be electrocuted. The GFI trips the circuit breaker whenever something like this happens.
So you might be thinking why do so many homes have outlets without GFI? The electrical code is always being updated and when electricity was discovered many of the household appliances we now have were not even thought of.
The requirement for GFI in the bathroom did not come about until 1975 and was not required for the Kitchen until 1987.
So, homeowners if you have a house that predates 1975 make sure your bathroom is equipped with GFI outlets, and for a home prior to 1987 update your kitchen outlets near the sink.
This inexpensive safety update can save lives, and if you are looking to sell your home why wait for the inspector to tell you this? Make the upgrade a part of the things to do to get your home ready for sale.
And just maybe, Please install GFI will no longer appear on home inspection reports.
Jennifer Fivelsdal - JFIVE HOMES REALTY LLC - 845-758-6842- jennifer@jfivehomes.com
www.jfivehomes.com or www.midhudsonhomevalue.com
poisoning.
my cupboards. Driving along I saw evidence of melting snow, and standing water now in areas I have not noticed before.