GFCI vs. AFCI: What Those Buttons Actually Do
One protects you from shock. The other protects your house from fire. They're not interchangeable — and modern code wants both.
You've seen the little TEST and RESET buttons on outlets, and maybe on breakers in your panel. They're doing two very different jobs.
GFCI — Shock Protection
A GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupter) watches for electricity leaking off its intended path — like through a person standing in water — and cuts power in milliseconds. That's why code requires them on outlets in kitchens, baths, garages, and outdoors.
AFCI — Fire Protection
An AFCI (arc-fault circuit interrupter) listens for the tiny, dangerous arcing of a loose connection or damaged wire — the kind that starts electrical fires — and trips before it ignites. Modern code requires them on most living-area circuits. Not sure what your home has? An electrical safety inspection tells you where you stand.
The Takeaway
GFCI = anti-shock. AFCI = anti-fire. Older homes often have neither where they're now required — an inspection tells you where you stand.
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