WHY DOES EVERY OUTLET IN MY HOUSE NEED TO BE GFCI NOW?
Honestly, I scratched my head at this too when I renovated my kitchen last year. The inspector wanted GFCI everywhere, even spots nowhere near water. I get the safety thing, but sometimes it feels like they’re just making it harder for the sake of it. The GFCI breaker trick is nice, but if it trips, you’re running to the basement every time... not super convenient. I guess the codes are always playing catch-up with new appliances and whatnot, but it’s a pain to keep up.
I hear you on the inconvenience. When we redid our bathroom, the inspector flagged a couple outlets that I thought were far enough from anything wet, but apparently the new code covers a wider area now. I get that it’s about safety, but sometimes it feels like overkill. Have you noticed if your GFCIs trip more often with certain appliances? I’ve had issues with older coffee makers setting them off, which is just... annoying.
Title: Why does every outlet in my house need to be GFCI now?
That’s a familiar headache. The code updates do seem to cast a wider net every few years, and it can feel like a hassle when you’re just trying to make coffee. I’ve noticed older appliances—especially ones with a bit of wear—tend to trip GFCIs more often. It’s frustrating, but I try to remind myself it’s about preventing those rare but serious accidents. Still, I wish there was a little more flexibility for things like vintage coffee makers... sometimes progress feels a bit rigid. Hang in there, though—the peace of mind is worth something.
I totally get what you mean about older appliances. I just moved into a new build and every single outlet in the kitchen and bathrooms is GFCI now. It’s kind of wild—my toaster tripped one the first week and I thought it was broken. Is there any way around this for stuff that trips them all the time, or do you just have to replace everything? I feel like I’m constantly resetting outlets...
I feel like I’m constantly resetting outlets...
That’s a pretty common frustration with newer builds, especially since code requirements have gotten stricter around GFCI protection in kitchens and bathrooms. The intent is solid—minimizing shock risk in areas with water—but it does mean older appliances with slight grounding or insulation issues will trip them more often.
You can’t really “bypass” the GFCI protection without violating code, and honestly, it’s not something I’d recommend from a safety perspective. Sometimes, appliances that trip GFCIs are on their last legs electrically, even if they seem to work fine otherwise. I’ve seen clients try to use adapters or extension cords to get around it, but that just introduces new risks.
Curious—have you noticed if it’s always the same outlet that trips, or does it happen at multiple locations? Sometimes, the wiring itself can be overly sensitive, or there might be a ground loop issue. Also, are you using any surge protectors or multi-plug adapters? Those can sometimes interact weirdly with GFCIs.
