Ontime Electric specializes in GFCI outlet installation and wiring in Toronto and GTA. Our certified electricians are experts in GFCI outlet installation, ensuring that your electrical systems are up to code and meet the highest safety standards. We understand the importance of GFCI outlets in protecting against electrical shocks and fires, and that’s why we take pride in providing quality GFCI outlet installation services to our customers. Trust Ontime Electric to keep your home or business safe with proper GFCI outlet installation. Contact us today to schedule your GFCI outlet installation service.
What Is a GFCI Outlet?

GFCI outlets, otherwise known as ‘ground fault circuit interrupters’, are installed in your home to protect against the risk of electrical shock. Placed in high-voltage areas, such as the kitchen, bathroom, or garage, these outlets are designed to cut off the power until the moment it detects an imbalance in the flow of electricity. GFCI outlets are visually marked by their ‘test’ and ‘reset’ buttons on the receptacle.
How GFCI Outlet Works & How To Test

Operating a GFCI plug is very similar to that of a non-GFCI, except for the fact that it has maintenance buttons on the front panel. Should your GFCI outlet experience a surge in power beyond what’s expected, it will immediately cut off – protecting you from any surges. Should this occur, there is a ‘reset’ button on the panel that will allow you to re-engage the charge. In addition to the reset button, there is a test button that will allow you to ensure that the GFCI plug is working properly – this should be used at least once per month.

GFCI Outlet Installation Toronto
GFCI outlet installations are required in all areas that pose high shock risks, including pools, bathrooms, garages, kitchens, laundry rooms, unfinished basements, and more. Installing these outlets is a task best performed by a professional, as it’s important that the GFCI outlet installation is performed correctly and is adequately tested.

GFCI Receptacle Replacement
Just as other items throughout your home will wear with time, you’ll be required to perform a GFCI replacement every so often. The best way to determine whether or not your GFCI outlet is ready for replacement is by testing the unit with the built-in function. The following steps should be followed:

- Press ‘test’ on the front panel to stop the electrical flow running through the outlet
- Plug in a small device (night light, phone charger, etc) that uses a minimal amount of electricity. Ensure that the current is no longer flowing through the outlet and providing power.
- Press ‘reset’ on the front panel to re-engage the electrical flow running through the outlet.
Should the outlet fail any part of this test, it’s important that you have an electrical expert – such as our team at Ontime Electric – come and replace the faulty outlet to ensure that no damage occurs.

Professional GFCI Breaker Wiring
GFCI outlets are wired to ensure that any abnormal measures of electricity running to the outlet immediately result in power being cut off. This is a far better protection method than the standard circuit breakers in your electrical panel, as it’s far more sensitive to slight changes in electrical current and can break the power supply prior to any harm occurring to the end user.

Preventing and Avoiding Electric Shocks
In addition to the safety benefits that accompany a GFCI outlet in your home, there are a variety of other measures you can take to avoid electric shocks, including:

- Not using your GFCI outlets as a receptacle for refrigerators or freezers. These large appliances may generate electromagnetic interference that trips that GFCI outlet and prevents it from accurately detecting power surges.
- Not using your GFCI outlet for most stoves, dryers, or any other item requires 240-amp or more electricity.
- Not using your GFCI plug for too many small appliances at one time. Items such as toaster ovens, irons, hair dryers, and more can wreak havoc on the security features built into your GFCI outlet, and having too many of them plugged in at once will almost certainly result in a power trip.
Upgrade Your Home’s Power Receptacles to GFCI Outlets
When it comes to keeping your family and home safe, it’s important that you rely on an electrical team with decades of experience. Our expert team will perform a thorough inspection of your home outlets and power supply, upgrading your power receptacles to industry-leading GFCI outlets wherever possible. To learn more about our GFCI outlet installation and wiring pricing, or to schedule a GFCI upgrade appointment, contact us today.

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FAQ
Yes, you can add more GFCI outlets in your kitchen. You may use two or more GFCI-rated outlets on one circuit if you like.
A GFCI receptacle is a specialized type of electrical outlet that is designed to protect against shocks. These receptacles are typically installed in areas where there is a risk of water contact, such as bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms. A GFCI receptacle contains two sets of circuit breaker contacts.
When a current flows through the contacts, the circuit breaker trips and breaks the circuit. This prevents the current from flowing through the body, which reduces the risk of shock. GFCI receptacles are an important safety feature in any home, and they should be tested regularly to ensure they are functioning properly.
If you’re experiencing any of the following issues with your electrical outlets, then they are no longer safe and it’s time to replace them:
1. Burn Marks or Melting: If you see burn marks or melting around an outlet, this is a sign of overheating. This can be caused by overloading the outlet or by faulty wiring. Either way, it’s a serious safety hazard and needs to be fixed immediately.
2. Cracks and Chips: Physical damage to an outlet can weaken the electrical connection and pose a fire hazard. Even if the outlet seems to be working fine, it’s best to replace it if there is any damage.
3. Plugs Fall Out Easily: If plugs are falling out of an outlet easily, this means that the electrical connection is not secure. This can be dangerous as it can cause plugs to come loose and cause a fire or an electrical shock.
4. Outlet Feels Hot to the Touch: An outlet should never feel hot to the touch. If it does, this means that there is too much electricity flowing through it and it is in danger of overheating. This is a serious safety hazard that should be fixed immediately.
5. You Smell Smoke or See a Spark: Smoke or sparks coming from an outlet are a clear sign that something is wrong. This could be caused by faulty wiring or an overloaded circuit. Either way, it’s a dangerous situation that needs to be rectified immediately.
6. Your Outlets Are Not Grounded: Grounded outlets are important for protection against electrical shocks. If your outlets are not grounded, they are not as safe as they could be.
7. Flickering Power: If your power is flickering on and off, this could be a sign of an overloaded circuit or faulty wiring. In either case, it’s best to have an electrician take a look at it as soon as possible so that they can fix the problem before it becomes more serious.
Most homes have multiple circuits, each powering a different group of outlets. The number of outlets that can be on a circuit depends on the wattage of the devices that will be plugged into them. For example, if you are planning to use mostly low-wattage devices, such as lamps and small appliances, you can have up to 20 outlets on a single circuit.
However, if you’re going to be plugging in high-wattage items, like space heaters or hair dryers, you should limit the number of outlets to six or eight. As for GFI outlets, they can be wired to protect multiple outlets on the same circuit. However, each outlet must be individually connected to the GFI in order for it to work properly.
While Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) and Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs) both serve important safety functions in the home, they work in different ways to protect against different hazards. GFCIs are designed to prevent electrical shocks by quickly cutting off power to a circuit when it detects an imbalance in the flow of electricity.
AFCIs, on the other hand, are designed to prevent fires by detecting arcing conditions and cutting off power before a spark can ignite combustible materials. Because each type of device protects against a different hazard, it is important to install both GFCIs and AFCIs in your home to maximize safety.