How Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters(AFCI) protect your house.

by David Campbell

GFCI or Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters have been required for years for circuits within 6 feet of water, exterior and garage outlets. It wasn’t until 1999 that AFCI or Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters were required in bedroom circuits but now they are required on nearly every circuit in the house.

AFCIs do a job GFCIs cannot. They are super sensitive and can detect ‘leaks’ in a circuit while a GFCI can only detect a large amount of energy going to ground. Let’s say a connection at a wire nut, switch or outlet starts to come loose. This can begin to heat up as the electricity starts to arc across the loose connection. The AFCI will immediately shut it down before it gets hot enough to cause a fire in your house but the GFCI would not sense this type of issue.

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