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If you’ve ever plugged in a hair dryer and noticed that little outlet with the “TEST” and “RESET” buttons, that’s a GFCI. Most homeowners know they’re important, but not everyone really understands what they do—or how often the rules around them change.
The 2024 National Electrical Code (NEC) made a few updates to GFCI protection, especially in kitchens and bathrooms. Here in Fort Myers, where moisture, storms, and salt air are part of daily life, those updates matter more than most people realize.
At Coharbor Electric, we install, replace, and test these things every week. Sometimes we’re fixing outlets that don’t trip when they should. Other times, we’re upgrading older homes that never had GFCIs to begin with. And nearly every time, the homeowner says, “I had no idea the rules changed again.”
So, let’s go over what’s new—and why it matters for your home.
GFCI stands for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter. Sounds complicated, but the idea is simple: it protects people from getting shocked.
Electricity should flow through a closed loop—out on the hot wire, back on the neutral. If some of that current starts leaking out somewhere else—like through water, or through a person—the GFCI senses that and cuts power instantly.
We’re talking fractions of a second. It doesn’t give you time to react, and that’s the point.
We’ve seen cases where someone plugged something in near the sink, it shorted, and the GFCI tripped just like it was supposed to. A normal outlet wouldn’t have reacted that fast. That’s why these things are mandatory anywhere water and electricity can meet.
The NEC keeps expanding where GFCIs are required, and the 2024 version covers more than ever.
In kitchens, here’s the breakdown:
Every countertop outlet must be GFCI-protected—no exceptions.
Anything within six feet of a sink needs protection.
Dishwashers—even hardwired ones—must now have GFCI protection.
Refrigerators within six feet of a sink need it, too.
Microwaves, garbage disposals, and instant hot dispensers might need it depending on where they’re installed.
Basically, if it’s near water or metal, it needs GFCI protection.
And for bathrooms:
Every outlet in the room must be GFCI-protected.
That includes any hidden or under-vanity outlets, towel warmers, bidets—everything.
If there’s more than one circuit feeding the room, each one needs its own protection.
It’s about keeping people safe, not just checking a box for inspection.
Here’s the part that catches people off guard. The new NEC now requires GFCI protection for certain 250-volt outlets—not just the standard 120V ones.
That means dryers, water heaters, and similar appliances in laundry areas, garages, and basements may now need GFCI breakers.
We’ve already started upgrading panels in Fort Myers homes for this exact reason. A 240V surge near a damp utility sink can be just as dangerous as a 120V outlet near a kitchen sink. The code is catching up to that.
Let’s be honest—our weather is tough on electrical systems. The humidity, salt air, and frequent storms can cause corrosion and small electrical leaks that go unnoticed until something fails.
We’ve replaced countless outlets where moisture crept in behind the wall or up through outdoor conduit. You’d be amazed how fast corrosion builds up down here, especially in homes near the water.
And since kitchens and bathrooms are already the two wettest areas of the house, GFCI protection here isn’t just code—it’s common sense.
Even when GFCIs are installed, that doesn’t mean they’re working or wired correctly. Here are a few things we run into on real jobs:
Someone replaced a GFCI outlet but didn’t hook up the “load” side, so the downstream outlets aren’t protected.
Builders used older non-self-testing outlets that fail silently.
GFCIs wired to shared neutrals that cause nuisance trips.
Outlets that work fine but haven’t tripped in years—and might not if they needed to.
If you’ve got a home older than about 2010, chances are your GFCIs need a checkup or replacement. These devices don’t last forever.
When a GFCI trips, it’s doing its job. It’s telling you that somewhere on that circuit, there’s a ground fault. Could be water, could be a bad appliance, could just be a worn cord.
Here’s what we typically do on a service call:
Check for moisture around the outlet or backsplash.
Test appliances one at a time to see if a particular one causes the trip.
Look behind the outlet for corrosion or loose wires.
Test the GFCI itself to make sure it’s not a failed device.
Sometimes it’s an easy fix. Other times, it’s the first sign of something more serious, like a damaged wire in the wall.
Either way, don’t just keep pressing “RESET” without figuring out why it tripped.
Bringing a Fort Myers home up to current code usually isn’t a big project. Most of the time, we replace older outlets with modern GFCIs or install new GFCI breakers right at the panel.
The newest models even test themselves automatically. If the protection ever fails, a light on the outlet lets you know.
We also test grounding while we’re there—because a GFCI is only as good as the grounding system behind it. Corroded or loose ground rods are common in Florida soil, and that’s something we check on every visit.
A few months ago, we worked on a kitchen remodel in south Fort Myers. Beautiful space—new cabinets, quartz counters—but the outlets hadn’t been touched since the early 2000s.
We swapped in new GFCIs, added protection for the dishwasher and under-sink disposal, and brought the circuit up to code. Two weeks later, the homeowner called to thank us. A small leak from the sink had dripped into an outlet box, tripped the GFCI, and stopped what could’ve turned into an electrical fire.
That’s exactly why the NEC keeps tightening these rules. They’re written in blood and experience.
At the end of the day, GFCI protection is about keeping people safe. It’s not about red tape or inspection stickers—it’s about preventing shocks, burns, and fires.
If you’re not sure whether your kitchen and bathroom outlets are protected—or if your home meets the 2024 NEC standards—it’s worth getting checked before the next storm season hits.
At Coharbor Electric, we specialize in these upgrades. We’ll inspect your outlets, test your breakers, and make sure your system is grounded and code-compliant from top to bottom.
⚡ Call Coharbor Electric today to schedule a GFCI inspection or code compliance upgrade. We’re your trusted Fort Myers electricians—local, licensed, and committed to keeping your home safe, efficient, and up to code.
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