What are the problems with GFCI’s and AFCI’s?

GFCI and AFCI devices are life savers, a Code requirement in some places, fire preventers,  and…. “A nuisance!”. Ok, so the last part is feedback that we have had from some of our customers; let me explain. 

First off, before we get into the negative experiences that have happened, take the time to check out our previous posts where we discuss all kinds of benefits and requirements for both of these products. They do have great features and statistical data that supports why they are a necessity. 

Now let’s get into it! 

You come home from a week long vacation, walk in the door, and there is a stench coming from the kitchen. Something has happened to the refrigerator, and the breaker has tripped. It is the middle of the night and everyone is sleeping, you or one of your family members use a CPAP machine, and then the AFCI breaker for the bedroom receptacles trips leading to a rude awakening for the CPAP user.  “This new piece of junk breaker!”. That, unfortunately, is the statement that I have heard time and time again. Most of the time, the breaker is not the issue. Aging appliances, frayed cords, unexpected damage, and improper installation are things that happen that cause GFCI and AFCI devices to trip.  I have seen brand new appliances in a newly built home trip these devices, even when changing the breaker up to 3 times before a replacement appliance was used. 

Now, we can’t immediately blame the appliance for every situation when a breaker of a receptacle type device trips. Sometimes the breaker or GFCI receptacle is faulty out of the box, and it trips as soon as a load is put on it. Another example we found on a service call is there was an improper connection from ground to neutral in a remote panel which causes multiple problems with these types of breakers. Once the improper connection was corrected, the home’s system began performing properly. On other service calls, we have found one of the staples securing the cabling in the home was driven way too far, piercing the cables sheathing, and getting into the individual wires insulation. This lead to the AFCI tripping. Some manufacturers have programmed their AFCI and GFCI breakers to perform a self test periodically, and if the breaker fails the test, it trips. When turning it back on, some brands will have a flashing LED light that flashes a pattern indicating the problem that occurred. 

So what do you do when these safety devices become a real nuisance in your daily life? Many would like to get rid of these altogether, as we have been asked to do many times. However, as a licensed Electrician, it is our responsibility and duty for us to follow the requirements of the Code and protect the electrical safety of the consumer that relies on the use of electricity. So, instead of getting rid of these safety devices, call your local electrician to use their expertise to trace out the issue and find a solution for your situation. https://www.afcisafety.org/ is a great resource to find out more information of AFCI devices and report issues for other agencies to get involved.