As a homeowner, you have to learn a little bit about electricity in order to take care of things that arise from time to time. In a major storm, you might have to flip your breakers or deal with other electrical issues now and then.
As part of that learning process, you’re going to hear about AFCI and GFCI switches or breakers. What are they? How do they work? Do you need both?
You’ll find answers to those questions and plenty more in this quick guide. So, take a moment to learn about two of the most common electrical safety systems in modern homes.
What Is AFCI?
An arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) is a type of circuit breaker that protects a home from specific problems. The arc fault detects when electricity is leaving the designed circuit. This can happen when a wire or device is damaged, and it creates an arc.
Arcing is very hot and dangerous — especially when it happens inside the walls of a house. Arcs can easily start fires. Even worse, they continue to fuel the fires, and they make putting out a fire more complicated and dangerous. If you pour water on an electrical fire (which this is), it can cause an explosion.
The AFCI detects arcs right away. When that happens, the breaker flips and it completely cuts the flow of electricity. This prevents fires from occurring in the first place, making your home that much safer.
What Is GFCI?
A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) is another type of breaker, but it focuses on different issues when compared to AFCI. A GFCI can measure imbalances in the current that runs through a circuit. If a current is imbalanced, it means that an unwanted contact (or ground) is touching the circuit somewhere. This allows electricity to travel where it isn’t supposed to go, and that can create serious shock and electrocution risks for anyone in the area.
As an example, say an electrical device (like a hair dryer) is accidentally dropped in a sink full of water. The water can contact the circuit and create a ground fault. This leads to a dangerous situation where the water in the sink can now electrocute someone. The GFCI detects that ground fault and cuts off the flow of electricity.
How Do They Compare?
AFCI and GFCI devices both protect homes and the people in them from electrical issues. AFCI looks at arcing and mostly prevents fire dangers. AFCI switches are usually installed in the main breaker box in your home.
GFCI looks at unintended electrical contacts and prevents electrical harm to people — such as burns, shocks, and electrocution. GFCI switches are usually installed in outlets, and you can control them with a switch right there at the outlet.
Both types of switches provide important protection to your home, and it’s best to make use of both of them at the same time. On top of that, fire and building codes typically require both.
