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Started By
Message
GFCI outlet will not reset (Problem found, updated OG)
Posted on 8/6/26 at 3:50 pm
Posted on 8/6/26 at 3:50 pm
I have this GFCI outlet that will not reset. I replaced the outlet and it still will not reset. So I take it, it is one of the outlets down the line causing the problem. My question, how do I go about finding out which outlet is causing the problem?
The outlets down the line are outside outlets. In the past, when it would trip (usually after rain) it would always reset a day or so later. We haven't had rain to speak of in some time and it is bone dry outside.
ETA:
The outlet I suspected was the issue. I opened the box up and it has water in it. It is on a brick patio wall and the water is leaking behind the bricks. I wire nutted the wires together and the GFCI no longer trips. I am thinking of just getting water proof wire nuts and eliminating this outlet, we rarely use it.
The outlets down the line are outside outlets. In the past, when it would trip (usually after rain) it would always reset a day or so later. We haven't had rain to speak of in some time and it is bone dry outside.
ETA:
The outlet I suspected was the issue. I opened the box up and it has water in it. It is on a brick patio wall and the water is leaking behind the bricks. I wire nutted the wires together and the GFCI no longer trips. I am thinking of just getting water proof wire nuts and eliminating this outlet, we rarely use it.
This post was edited on 8/6/26 at 6:54 pm
4
Posted on 8/6/26 at 4:09 pm to Major Dutch Schaefer
You've probably had a leaking outlet if rain was regularly tripping it, which means stuff got corroded. If you know the circuit and what all receptacles are affected then you have a straightforward if labor-intensive job of taking the outlets apart, checking the condition of the wires and connectors, outlet seals, and making whatever fixes are required. If you are not 100% sure of all the receptacles affected then you might need to do some circuit tracing. There are some sophisticated diagnostic tools available but it's probably not worth investing in for just this issue unless you have wiring that is buried or in conduit.
Posted on 8/6/26 at 4:11 pm to Clames
quote:
You've probably had a leaking outlet if rain was regularly tripping it, which means stuff got corroded. If you know the circuit and what all receptacles are affected then you have a straightforward if labor-intensive job of taking the outlets apart, checking the condition of the wires and connectors, outlet seals, and making whatever fixes are required. If you are not 100% sure of all the receptacles affected then you might need to do some circuit tracing. There are some sophisticated diagnostic tools available but it's probably not worth investing in for just this issue unless you have wiring that is buried or in conduit.
All I read was "call an electrician"
Posted on 8/6/26 at 4:14 pm to Clames
quote:
If you know the circuit and what all receptacles are affected then you have a straightforward if labor-intensive job of taking the outlets apart, checking the condition of the wires and connectors, outlet seals, and making whatever fixes are required.
This is what I was hoping to avoid
Posted on 8/6/26 at 4:19 pm to CatfishJohn
This is pretty simple electrical work, a basic DVOM with continuity function can make short work of finding if a short exists. Tools like a live circuit capable tracer or a toner on a de-energized circuit aren't necessary. I have both along with a live circuit diagnostic tester, I'm not an electrician just a very capable DIY'er. Now there are really good tools that are not terribly expensive these days. The Ideal circuit tracer I have used to be a $1000+ kit, now there's a $200 version Home Depot Link and these are fantastic tools to have available. Much more reliable than cheaper circuit breaker finders and can trace a live or dead circuit along its entire length.
This post was edited on 8/6/26 at 4:26 pm
Posted on 8/6/26 at 4:21 pm to Clames
I’m a decently capable DIYer and it doesn’t take much with electrical for me to call a pro
Posted on 8/6/26 at 6:08 pm to Major Dutch Schaefer
The outside outlets should be GFCI as well.
GFCI outlets do wear out over time and need to be replaced.
Buy one more GCFI and use it to replace one GFCI down the line and test. If it still trips, put the old one back in and do the next one. Eventually the line won’t trip and that’s the one you just replaced with the new one that was bad. Process of elimination.
GFCI outlets do wear out over time and need to be replaced.
Buy one more GCFI and use it to replace one GFCI down the line and test. If it still trips, put the old one back in and do the next one. Eventually the line won’t trip and that’s the one you just replaced with the new one that was bad. Process of elimination.
This post was edited on 8/6/26 at 6:09 pm
Posted on 8/6/26 at 6:09 pm to UptownJoeBrown
Or put back the old one you replaced and use the new one to do this. That way you don’t have to buy another GFCI. This is what I would do.
This post was edited on 8/6/26 at 6:11 pm
Posted on 8/6/26 at 7:07 pm to Major Dutch Schaefer
Thanks for the update. Helps all of us troubleshoot for the next guy.
Posted on 8/7/26 at 6:26 am to Major Dutch Schaefer
What is behind the bricks? Not an expert here, but I would do what I could to not have water behind the bricks. Mold, mildew, damage if it freezes, etc.
Posted on 8/7/26 at 8:02 am to UptownJoeBrown
quote:
The outside outlets should be GFCI as well.
They don't need to be as long as the upstream receptical is a GFCI.
Posted on 8/7/26 at 8:13 am to Clames
quote:
They don't need to be as long as the upstream receptical is a GFCI.
Oh ok. Didn’t know this. TY.
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