One thing that many people are unaware of is that electrical outlets have a limited lifespan. Over time, the wiring in the outlet can start to degrade and potentially result in a dangerous short circuit. Outlets can also simply fail over time due to the wear and tear they get from repeated use. In this guide, we’ll show you how long you can expect your electrical outlets to last and also how to know when any outlet in your home needs to be replaced.
AVERAGE ELECTRICAL OUTLET LIFESPAN
Standard three-prong electrical outlets and Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlets should typically last around 15 years and possibly up to 25 or 30 years. Exactly how long an outlet will last depends largely on how often you use it and also on whether it was installed and wired properly. Some outlets in your home will always last longer than others simply because they rarely get used. For instance, the outlets located near the base of some walls will often last a long time since they may be mostly used to plug in your vacuum cleaner.
On the other hand, outlets that get daily use, such as those next to the bed where you plug in your phone, alarm clock, and lamp, will often fail more quickly. Outlets in the kitchen also often don’t last as long since many kitchen appliances like mixers and food processors draw quite a bit of power. The same can be true for the outlet in your bathroom if you blow dry your hair daily.
THE IMPORTANCE OF REPLACING OLD TWO-PRONG OUTLETS
Modern outlets are always three-prong, which means they have three holes. If you still have any old two-prong outlets in your home, you should schedule a service call to have them replaced as soon as possible. Two-prong outlets are dangerous and can be a major fire hazard. The reason for this is that two-prong outlets don’t have a grounding wire.
A grounding wire is a safety feature that will redirect the power away from the outlet if there is ever a short circuit that causes a power surge. The wire runs from the outlet back to the electrical panel or breaker panel. Outside the home is a copper ground rod that is driven deep into the ground and connected to the breaker panel via a copper wire. If the outlet ever short circuits, the grounding wire will prevent power from flowing through the outlet. This is important since you would likely get shocked if you tried to plug something into a short-circuited outlet. The power surge from the short circuit would also likely fry whatever you were trying to plug in.
Any time an outlet short circuits, the power can arc and flow out into anything nearby, such as wall studs or insulation. This is a serious issue as it can easily cause your house to catch fire. The grounding rod in a three-prong outlet prevents all of these potential issues by sending the current back to the electrical panel where it then flows out into the grounding rod and safely disperses into the soil.
SIGNS THAT AN ELECTRICAL OUTLET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED
If the outlets in your home are more than 20 to 25 years old, it’s a good idea to have an electrician replace them all so you can ensure they are safe and function properly. Any outlets in the home that no longer work should be replaced, too. You’ll also want to replace an outlet if it’s loose or no longer securely holds a plug in place.
It’s important to replace an outlet if the outlet itself or the face plate is cracked or damaged. This is because a crack can allow dust and debris to get inside the outlet and potentially cause it to catch fire. If you see any singeing or black marks on the outlet, you should never plug anything into it until you can have an electrician replace it. Black marks or singeing indicate that the outlet has some issue that has caused it to overheat, which means it could potentially catch fire if you were to plug anything into it.
If you ever have an outlet that starts smoking or an outlet that smells or feels hot, you should immediately unplug everything from it or else it will likely catch fire. This issue usually constitutes an electrical emergency and is something you need to get taken care of as quickly as possible. In the meantime, it’s a good idea to shut off the circuit breaker in your electrical panel that controls that outlet. This will ensure that electricity stops flowing to the outlet so that you can be fully certain that it won’t catch fire.
Every breaker in your panel will typically be clearly labeled so that you can easily tell which room, appliance, or part of the home each circuit powers. If the breakers aren’t labeled, the only way to know when you’ve found the right breaker is to shut each breaker off individually until the lights go out in the room where the damaged outlet is located. In this situation, it’s also a good idea to have the electrician label all of the breakers in your panel when they come to replace the outlet so that you’ll be better prepared and can act more quickly should any emergency arise in the future.
THE IMPORTANCE OF INSTALLING GFCI OUTLETS
The National Electric Code (NEC) requires that all homes have GFCI outlets in all locations where the outlet could be exposed to water. In the past, the code requirement was that any power receptacle located within five feet of a water source had to have a GFCI outlet. The code has since been updated to say that all receptacles in bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, and utility rooms must have GFCI outlets. Every receptacle in a basement or crawlspace must also have a GFCI outlet due to the risk of flooding, and GFCI outlets also must be used for all outdoor power receptacles.
The NEC requirements only apply to new construction projects, which means you’re not required to update your electrical system if it doesn’t conform to the most recent codes. That said, if you don’t have GFCI outlets in your bathroom, kitchen, basement, and everywhere else that the NEC requires, we would highly recommend replacing the outlets in these areas with new GFCI outlets.
GFCI outlets will make your home much safer and greatly reduce the risk of fire and electrocution that can result if water gets inside an outlet. Water is an excellent conductor of electricity. Any time water gets inside an outlet, the current will flow out of the circuit and into the water. The water will then conduct the electricity into anything nearby, whether that be a person, an appliance, or your walls.
GFCI outlets prevent this from happening as they essentially act like a circuit breaker for the outlet. Should water get inside the outlet and cause a ground fault, the GFCI will instantly trip and shut off the power to the outlet to prevent electrocution or a fire.
All GFCI outlets in your home should be tested monthly to ensure that the circuit interrupter still works. The green light on the outlet should shut off when you press the test button and then come back on when you press the reset button. If the green light doesn’t go out when testing the outlet, you’ll need to have the outlet replaced and should avoid using it in the meantime.
If you have any outlets you need to replace or you need any other electrical service in Marietta, Garrett Mechanical has you covered. We are always available 24/7 for any emergencies, and we can also help with all of your plumbing, heating, and cooling needs. To schedule an appointment to have your outlets replaced or for any other home service, contact us today.
