I'm replacing a GFI outlet in kitchen; outlet is 8' to 10' from plumbing, do I need to replace with a GFI?
Question:This outlet died on me last night. I have some experienced with minor electrical work and in my opinion this outlet does not need to be on a ground fault interrupter for safety reasons. The outlet I am replacing was not part of the original construction of the house (plastic junction boxes did not exist back then). My concern is that I do not want to do something that would violate typical building codes.
Answers:
Replace it with a GFI. Pay attention when you remove the old one to LINE and LOAD markings on both the old and new outlet. Make the new connections properly or the new outlet will not work. ALL outlets in a kitchen are required to be GFI protected per the national electric code.
i provided a cut and paste job from a website that i found that should let you know whether it is needed in your location or not. the whole page i got it from is HERE: http://www.besthomecheck.com/gfci_afci.h...
Depends on what building codes your state has adopted. Your best bet would be to put one in anyways. What safety reasons do you have not to put a GFI in? Actuall Bob that is not true, he would have to replace that outlet with the exact same outlet he had before or it is considered an upgrade by most states and then you have to follow current building codes. It is 6' from any plumbing or appliances also.
While I would check with local code I believe any outlet in the countertop are must be GFCI.
Just put a GFCI outlet there. It's only a few cents more, but the protection it provides (when properly grounded) is priceless.
If you had a GFCI, why wouldn't you want the added measure of protection that it offers? Another consideration is what else is on the circuit. Electrical inspectors don't normally want to inspect an outlet replacement. I am certain they would not mind a call to clarify the issue. Unless someone identifies them selves here as code certifed or an electrician and offers a license number, you will only get an opinion. Call the inspector . I just finished a basement buildout...trying to get finals done.
alot of peps are posting what they feel on top of some knowledge.
Keep in mind, your safety and the safety of your family is first.
You are speaking of a few dollars you will save buying a generic outlet insead of a gfi.
Make the right decision, you know what it is.
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If a GFCI outlet fails it really should be replaced with another one. However a lot of people don't know that all the outlets on the same circuit that are down line from the GFCI are also protected. The GFCI outlet should be first in the circuit, if it's not only the down line outlets will be protected. Everything between the breaker and the GFCI is not protected.
The national electrical code requires a GFCI within 6 feet of any water or a GFCI protected outlet
If it is in the kitchen "AREA" it has to be GFI protected.
Please use a GFCI outlet, it would be against current code, and dangerous not to. 2005 NEC requires GFCI protection " where receptacles are installed to serve the countertop surfaces" in the kitchen. So there is no distance requirement from plumbing in the kitchen to require a GFCI. The price difference between a regular plug and a GFCI is about $10-$12, but is your life really worth it?
Outlets within 3 feet of plumbing must be GFCI protected. If your outlet is in series with one that comes within 3 feet of plumbing and it is upstream of the electrical current it must be GFCI. There are ways around it but it's complex. But GFCI protection must be observed!!
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