Refrigerator Tripping GFCI (2023)

FAQs

Why does my new refrigerator keep tripping the GFCI outlet? ›

This is usually caused by multiple appliances being plugged into the same circuit. To avoid this happening, make sure that your refrigerator has a dedicated circuit, which you can do by plugging your refrigerator into an alternative power outlet and seeing if it still trips.

There is no doubt that your family is safer with a GFCI on their refrigerator, than they are without it. The National Electrical Code requires that GFCI systems be grounded to ensure that a low-impedance fault path exists back to the OCPD.

Short Circuits

Troubleshooting this sort of problem is relatively simple. If the breaker tripped immediately after plugging in the fridge, then you should consider unplugging it, resetting the breaker, and plugging in a second appliance. If the second appliance works, the short circuit is inside the refrigerator.

Circuit overload occurs when more amperage flows through an electric wire or circuit than it can handle. This may happen if you connect malfunctioning or defective appliances. Loose, corroded wires or connections may also be to blame. Once the GFCI outlet senses an overload, it trips or "breaks" the circuit.

Most often, when a GFCI “trips” it is the result of a faulty appliance plugged into the outlet or an outlet down circuit.

Will a surge protector stop breakers from tripping? No, tripping breakers are usually caused by current (amperage) overloads. Surge protectors protect against voltage surges and spikes.

A modern refrigerator requires a dedicated 20-amp circuit.

If the fridge is in any other room, it will need AFCI protection. GFCI's, on the other hand, monitor the current coming and going. If it detects a change in the current between four to six milliamps, then you may have a potentially hazardous situation on your hands.

Refrigerator – Most refrigerators work with a standard 100-120 volt electrical plug and outlet. You will notice that the electrical plug is made up of three prongs; this means you will need an electrical outlet that has three inserts.

You should have refrigerators and freezers installed on a 15-20 amp dedicated 120 volt circuit. This will avoid an electrical overload due to your current wiring not being capable of handling the additional power.

What to do if an appliance keeps tripping? ›

Unplug all appliances on that problem circuit and switch off any immersion heaters (if you have one), boilers, outside lights etc. Switch the tripped switch to the ON position and plug in the appliances one by one until the trip goes again. If it does trip again then you will require a new appliance.

Most refrigerators use between 3 and 6 amps, but peak draw can spike up to 15 amps. For this reason, refrigerators and freezers should be connected to a 15-20 amp dedicated 120-volt circuit.

The usual suspects for ground-faults include worn insulation, conductive dusts, water, or other "soft grounds." Ground faults account for more than 80% of equipment short circuits and in 90% of those cases it is caused by insulation deterioration on wires and cables.

Rest your GFCI outlet by using the test and reset button. First off, if the test button doesn't pop back out after you press it, the GFCI outlet could be bad, or there could be no power to the GFCI. Make sure to push the reset button on all of your GFCI outlets, to verify all are working.

If your insulation is worn out, old, or damaged, it could cause your GFCI to trip. The insulation is in the wall is meant to help prevent such leaks from occurring. So if your insulation is worn, this can cause more leaks. Sometimes having too much equipment or appliances plugged in can also cause your GFCI to trip.

Most GFCI outlets will last for about 15 to 25 years, but in certain circumstances, they can fail after 5 years.

If there's an obvious cause for the trip, you should unplug the device as it may be faulty and causing the GFCI to trip. If the GFCI continues to trip, or if the reason for the trip is not obvious, it's time to contact an electrician.

A GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlet monitors electric current flow and may trip when it detects a power surge. A GFCI outlet won't trip for all power surges so it's not the most reliable solution for protecting appliances from power surge damage.

While one bad outlet doesn't always affect other outlets, a bad outlet can sometimes cause circuit breakers to trip, resulting in the other outlets not working as well.

According to National Electrical Code, only a 15-amp or 20-amp electrical receptacle can be installed to a 20-amp circuit. A 15-amp receptacle may also be installed on a 15-amp circuit. However, a 20-amp GFCI outlet may not be installed to a 15-amp circuit.

Should a refrigerator be on a surge protector? ›

We do not recommend connecting a refrigerator or freezer to a surge protector. The reason we do not recommend this is explained below: The compressor is sensitive to temperature and current overloads and will shut itself down with a power surge. It will also restart itself.

But as far as the National Electric Code (NEC) is concerned, there's no explicit mention of refrigerators needing GFCIs to function properly and safely. That being said, the NEC specifically states that GFCIs should be used in locations where appliances can be exposed to water.

However, GFCI's are prone to a phenomenon called "phantom tripping," meaning that they sometimes activate -shutting power off to the circuit - under normal, everyday voltage fluctuations. So freezers and refrigerators should never be plugged into GFCI's.

In the 2023 NEC, most dishwashers, electric ranges, wall-mounted ovens, microwave ovens, and counter-mounted cooking units will require GFCI protection.

Refrigerators are considered noncontinuous duty loads. Loads that draw current for less than three hours at a time are allowed to be on the same circuit with other noncontinuous loads, as long as the total load does not exceed the circuit breaker rating.

You can and it will work. Some people discourage it because if you trip the circuit breaker and aren't aware of it, you can spoil a refrigerator/freezer full of food worth hundreds of dollars. They prefer that the refrigerator has its own circuit.

A refrigerator should be plugged into the kind of outlet that the cord is designed to plug into. If it has two prongs a standard outlet is sufficient. If it has the three prong, 2 flat and one round, you can't plug it into any other kind of outlet, etc. And refrigerators are not the only appliance made like that.

If your fridge is below 6 amps, then a 15-amp circuit will suffice. As for big refrigerators used for heavy chilling, they need their dedicated 30-amp dedicated circuit.

Technically, you can have as many outlets on a 15 amp circuit breaker as you want. However, a good rule of thumb is 1 outlet per 1.5 amps, up to 80% of the capacity of the circuit breaker. Therefore, we would suggest a maximum of 8 outlets for a 15 amp circuit.

If you're wiring a residential space to plug in lights and other everyday electronics that don't exceed 15 amps, install a 15A outlet. If you're working on a kitchen or laundry room and have a 20A circuit breaker, put in a 20A outlet.

What are three warning signs of an overloaded electrical circuit? ›

An electrician is coming to replace the cutoff (containing fuses) with a simple lever cutoff. In discussing this he said that a circuit breaker should not be allowed to trip more than 4 or 5 times before being replaced.

Common reasons your breaker keeps tripping include circuit overload, a short circuit, or a ground fault. The following information will help you understand the differences between these three reasons so that you can better resolve your circuit breaker and electrical system issues.

A: According to NFPA 70-2011, article 110.26, a minimum of 36 inches clearance is required in front of all electrical equipment, including controls and panels, extending from the floor to a height of 6 foot 6 inches or the height of the equipment whichever is higher.

Generally you should not. Indeed, it's wise to have your fridge on a dedicated circuit so that a failure of some other device does not shut off the power to the fridge. You can check whether the two items together on a circuit would overload it by adding the currents in amperes that are required by each.

Some appliances, such as lamps, televisions, computers, fridges and freezers generally require a 3 amp fuse. However washing machines, dishwashers, microwaves, kettles, toasters and irons usually require 13 amp fuses. Check out our Electrical Socket Calculator to see if you're overloading electrical sockets at home.

Ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) and ground fault interrupters (GFI) are the exact same device under slightly different names. Though GFCI is more commonly used than GFI, the terms are interchangeable.

Look at the face of a quality GFCI outlet: Between the two sets of slots where you plug in cords, there are two rectangular buttons, labeled "TEST" and "RESET." To test your GFCI, simply press the test button with your finger.

GFCI outlets last between 7-10 years but can sometimes fail after only 5 years. Since GFCIs are one of the most important safety features in your home, it's important to check your GFCIs monthly and every home should have its GFCIs tested and replaced if necessary every 7-10 years.

The outlet may have dust or moisture inside, you have a bad electrical connection, or there is an improper connection. If there is no power supply to the outlet, your GFCI will not reset. While 99% of outlets not resetting are due to ground faults and wrong connection problems, GFCI outlets can still go bad.

Can a bad breaker cause a GFCI to trip? ›

Faulty Breaker – Another very common possibility that will initiate a GFCI breaker tripping is a faulty breaker.

Most often, when a GFCI “trips” it is the result of a faulty appliance plugged into the outlet or an outlet down circuit.

What Happens If a GFCI Is Not Grounded? If a GFCI outlet is not grounded, the electrical current could travel to the ground and cause a fire or even shock a person or animal.

In kitchens, all outlets that serve countertop surfaces should be equipped with GFCI outlet protection. That would include any outlets on walls, behind wet areas (sinks, etc.)

In the 2023 NEC, most dishwashers, electric ranges, wall-mounted ovens, microwave ovens, and counter-mounted cooking units will require GFCI protection.

A modern refrigerator requires a dedicated 20-amp circuit. You may currently have a smaller refrigerator plugged into a general lighting circuit, but during any major remodeling, install a dedicated circuit (120/125-volts) for the refrigerator.

Most refrigerators run between 3 to 6 amps, with that said, a refrigerator can spike at peak usage up to 15 amps. It's best to take into consideration worst case scenarios. You should have refrigerators and freezers installed on a 15-20 amp dedicated 120 volt circuit.

Refrigerator or Freezer – Running a refrigerator via a dedicated circuit is the recommended best practice for homeowners. Most refrigerators use between 3 and 6 amps, but peak draw can spike up to 15 amps. For this reason, refrigerators and freezers should be connected to a 15-20 amp dedicated 120-volt circuit.

A refrigerator is not a countertop appliance; thus, GFCI protection is not required unless the receptacle is located 6 ft or less from the top inside edge of the bowl of the kitchen sink [Sec. 210.8(A)(7)] (Fig. 2). Outlets supplying dishwashers require GFCI protection [Sec.

Does a fridge need to be AFCI and GFCI protected? ›

It's important to note that fridges in other living spaces, like a basement, are not exempted. If the fridge is in any other room, it will need AFCI protection. GFCI's, on the other hand, monitor the current coming and going.

But don't plug big appliances such as refrigerators, freezers and sump pumps into a a GFCI outlet or circuit. It's also not a good idea to put lights on GFCI circuit – you don't want to be left in the dark if the circuit trips.

There is no specific requirement in the NEC for the washing machine itself to have GFCI protection. Section 210.52(F) requires a receptacle outlet to be installed for the laundry area and it must be supplied by a 20-ampere branch circuit in accordance with 210.11(C)(2).

Not all your kitchen outlets need to be the GFCIs, but they are required to be if they're within six feet of a kitchen sink or if they serve a countertop. Near laundry room sinks. Any receptacles within 6 feet of a sink or washing machine should be GFCIs.

The entire circuit is protected by GFCI circuit breakers and these are fairly simple. If you install one breaker in the service panel, the entire circuit receives GFCI protection. This includes the wiring, appliances and all devices connected to the circuit.

There are too many appliances being protected by the GFCI.

Sometimes tripping occurs when a GFCI circuit breaker is protecting multiple downstream receptacles. If several appliances are connected to the GFCI device, the cumulative effect of the appliance leakage currents may trip the GFCI.

If the GFCI won't reset or the button doesn't pop out when you press the “test” button, there may be no power to the GFCI or you may have a bad GFCI. Pro tip: If the “reset” button trips again every time you press it, there may be a dangerous current leak somewhere on the circuit.

There's no limit. A standard GFCI will protect up to 20 amps, drawn from any combination of receptacles, either the built-in one or any number of additional ones connected to its load terminals.