GFCI Receptacles

Page 1 of 7

Test Run - Survey 02 - GFCI Receptacles
Page 1
Thank you for choosing to participate in this survey, which will ask you about your
experiences with electrical outlets that contain ground fault circuit interrupters, or
GFCIs. This survey should take less than 15 minutes. If you have any comments
concerning the accuracy of this time estimate or have any suggestions for reducing
it, please send them to us via e-mail at [email protected].
All questions marked with an asterisk (*) are required. To avoid influencing other
people's responses, please not discuss this survey or disclose the contents of the
survey to anyone until after [INSERT CLOSING DATE OF SURVEY].
To navigate through the survey, please use the buttons provided on the survey
pages. Do not use your browser's Back and Forward buttons. To begin, please click
NEXT.

Page 2
A ground fault circuit interrupter, or GFCI, is a device that helps to protect you from
electrical shocks and electrocutions. Electrical outlets with receptacle-type GFCIs
are often located in bathrooms, kitchens, garages, unfinished basements, outdoor
locations, and similar areas that may be exposed to water.
The drawing below shows an example of a GFCI receptacle. All GFCI receptacles will
have TEST and RESET buttons, but these buttons may be shaped or positioned
differently than is shown in the drawing.

https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/cof/Print.aspx?SurveyID=152&Title=N&Breaks=N&AllPages=Y&Pa... 9/8/2008

Page 2 of 7

1. Do you have any GFCI receptacles either in your home or on the exterior of your
house?*
Yes
No
I don't know

Page 3
2. Please identify all of the locations in and around your home that have GFCI
receptacles.
Check all that apply.

Crawlspace or unfinished basement
Kitchen
Exterior of house
Bathroom(s)
Garage
Other, please specify

https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/cof/Print.aspx?SurveyID=152&Title=N&Breaks=N&AllPages=Y&...

8/15/2008

Page 3 of 7

3. Imagine that each of your GFCI receptacles has a small light built into the front of
it. Are any of your GFCI receptacles blocked or covered in a way that would prevent
you from seeing that light?
Yes
No
I don't know
4. Are any of your GFCI receptacles difficult to test because they are blocked, hard to
reach, or otherwise difficult to get to?
Yes
No
I don't know
5. Do you know how to test your GFCIs to make sure they're working properly?*
Yes
No
I'm not sure

Page 4
6. Have you ever tested any of your GFCI receptacles to see if they were working
properly?*
Yes
No
I don't remember

Page 5
7. Have you tested every one of your GFCI receptacles?*
Yes
No
I don't know

https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/cof/Print.aspx?SurveyID=152&Title=N&Breaks=N&AllPages=Y&...

8/15/2008

Page 4 of 7

Page 6
8. Please identify all of the locations in and around your home with GFCI receptacles
that you have tested.
Check all that apply.

Garage
Kitchen
Bathroom(s)
Crawlspace or unfinished basement
Exterior of house
Other, please specify

Page 7
9. Think about the GFCI receptacle you have tested the most often. Where is that
GFCI receptacle located?
Choose one.

Garage
Bathroom
Kitchen
Crawlspace or unfinished basement
Exterior of house
Other, please specify

10. When was the last time you tested this GFCI receptacle?
Less than one month ago
One to six months ago
More than six months ago, but less than one year ago
More than one year ago
I don't remember
11. Please describe, in detail, how you performed the most recent test.

https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/cof/Print.aspx?SurveyID=152&Title=N&Breaks=N&AllPages=Y&...

8/15/2008

Page 5 of 7

Page 8
12. Think about the GFCI receptacle you have tested the least often. Where is that
GFCI receptacle located?
Choose one.

Bathroom
Exterior of house
Kitchen
Garage
Crawlspace or unfinished basement
Other, please specify

13. When was the last time you tested this GFCI receptacle?
Less than one month ago
One to six months ago
More than six months ago, but less than one year ago
More than one year ago
I don't remember

Page 9
14. Have you ever tested a GFCI receptacle and found that it was not working
properly? In other words, have you ever had a GFCI receptacle fail the test?*
Yes
No
I don't remember

Page 10
15. What, if anything, did you do after the GFCI failed the test?

For example, did you continue to use the outlet? Did you replace it? Did you do something else?

https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/cof/Print.aspx?SurveyID=152&Title=N&Breaks=N&AllPages=Y&...

8/15/2008

Page 6 of 7

Page 11
16. If one of your GFCI receptacles were to fail when you tested it, what actions would
you take, if any?

Page 12

17. Without actually performing the following test, imagine that you have a GFCI

https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/cof/Print.aspx?SurveyID=152&Title=N&Breaks=N&AllPages=Y&...

8/15/2008

Page 7 of 7

receptacle like the one pictured above and have decided to test it to see whether it
is working properly to protect you from an electrical shock. You have unplugged
everything from the receptacles and pressed the TEST button on the GFCI. When
you did so, the RESET button popped forward. Based on this, is the GFCI likely to
protect you from an electrical shock?*
Yes
No
Other, please specify

Page 13
18. Now imagine that a night light is plugged into a GFCI receptacle and the light has
been switched on. You press the TEST button on the GFCI. What result or results
would indicate that the GFCI is NOT working properly?*
Check all that apply.

The light stays on. The RESET button does not move.
The light switches off. The RESET button pops forward.
The light stays on. The RESET button pops forward.
The light switches off. The RESET button does not move.

https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/cof/Print.aspx?SurveyID=152&Title=N&Breaks=N&AllPages=Y&...

8/15/2008

End-of-Survey Message:
“Thank you for completing this survey.
All GFCI receptacles should be tested once a month. To properly test a GFCI
receptacle, you must first plug a nightlight or lamp into the outlet. The light should be on.
Then, press the TEST button. The RESET button should pop forward and the light
should go out.
If the RESET button pops forward but the light does not go out, the GFCI has been
improperly wired. You should contact an electrician to correct the wiring errors.
If the RESET button does not pop forward, the GFCI is defective and should be
replaced.
If the GFCI is functioning properly and the light goes out, pressing the RESET button
should restore power to the outlet.”