How to test a GFCI outlet
Test a GFCI outlet, the kind with test and reset buttons found near sinks, tubs and outdoors, once a month. Plug in a small lamp and switch it on, press the test button, and the lamp should go off. Press reset and the lamp should come back on. If the lamp stays on after test, or reset will not hold, stop using that outlet and have a licensed electrician replace it.
Why it matters: The outlets near water are designed to cut power in a fault, and a monthly press proves they still do.
Steps
- Find the outlets with test and reset buttons near sinks, tubs, the kitchen counter, the garage and outside.
- Plug a small lamp into the outlet and switch it on.
- Press the test button: you should hear a click and the lamp should go off.
- Press the reset button firmly: the lamp should come back on.
- Check other outlets nearby, since one GFCI can protect several on the same circuit.
- Write the date on your maintenance calendar and repeat monthly.
Stop and call a professional if
- the lamp stays on after you press test, reset will not hold, or the outlet is warm, buzzing or scorched: stop using it and call a licensed electrician, through your landlord if you rent
- anything beyond pressing test and reset is needed: electrical work is a licensed electrician's job
Common mistakes
- Never pressing the buttons until something goes wrong.
- Ignoring a GFCI that will not reset.
- Opening the outlet cover to look inside.
Teach this to someone
A one page sheet for showing a friend, a teenager or a parent: what to say, what to show, and one question to check it landed.
Teach: How to test a GFCI outlet
What to say
Test a GFCI outlet, the kind with test and reset buttons found near sinks, tubs and outdoors, once a month. Plug in a small lamp and switch it on, press the test button, and the lamp should go off. Press reset and the lamp should come back on. If the lamp stays on after test, or reset will not hold, stop using that outlet and have a licensed electrician replace it.
What to show
- Find the outlets with test and reset buttons near sinks, tubs, the kitchen counter, the garage and outside.
- Plug a small lamp into the outlet and switch it on.
- Press the test button: you should hear a click and the lamp should go off.
- Press the reset button firmly: the lamp should come back on.
- Check other outlets nearby, since one GFCI can protect several on the same circuit.
- Write the date on your maintenance calendar and repeat monthly.
Where it stops
Stop and call a professional if the lamp stays on after you press test, reset will not hold, or the outlet is warm, buzzing or scorched: stop using it and call a licensed electrician, through your landlord if you rent.
Check question
What should happen when you press test with a lamp plugged in?
Answer: The lamp goes off. Cutting power is the outlet's safety job.
Your checklist
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Quick quiz
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Related skills
Sources
- US national electrical safety guidance for homeowners and renters, 2026. Reviewed September 28, 2026.
Written in our own words from the sources above. It is general information, not advice for your situation; where a professional, your doctor or your lease says something different, follow them.
Last reviewed . First published .