Electrical safety experts and device manufacturers recommend testing Ground Fault Circuit lnterrupter (GFCI) receptacles once a month. In many cases, a GFCI will continue to provide power to plugged-in devices even if the GFCI safety device has failed.
Find and Press the Reset Button
Look at the face of a quality GFCI outlet: Between the two sets of slots where you plug in cords, there are two rectangular buttons, labeled “TEST” and “RESET.” To test your GFCI, simply press the test button with your finger. You will hear a snap sound that trips the outlet and cuts off the power to the two plug connections.
Confirm That the Power Is Cut
To confirm that the outlet’s power is off, plug a lamp or radio into each half of the outlet; the lamp or radio should not turn on.
Reset the Outlet
Once you’ve confirmed that the safety function is working properly, press the reset button to restore power to the outlet.