Outdoor Outlets and North Texas Storms

Every spring and autumn this is one of the most common calls in the Metroplex: outdoor outlets dead the morning after a storm, often taking a bathroom or garage outlet with them.

Why it happens

Outdoor circuits are required to be GFCI protected. A GFCI watches for current escaping its intended path, and moisture inside an outlet creates exactly that. So when water gets in, the GFCI cuts power. That is not a malfunction. That is the device doing the one thing it exists for, in the precise situation it was designed for.

Because a single GFCI often protects several outlets downstream, one wet outdoor receptacle can take out others elsewhere. If several outlets die at once and the breakers all look fine, go hunting for a tripped GFCI before assuming anything is broken.

Let it dry first

If the outlet got wet, give it time to dry before resetting. Resetting repeatedly into a wet outlet accomplishes nothing and is not a good habit.

If it resets and holds, you are done. If it trips again straight away, or trips again next time it rains, water is reaching somewhere it should not and that is worth tracing rather than resetting forever.

The cover is the usual culprit

There are two kinds. The older flat snap-down cover protects the outlet when nothing is plugged in, and does essentially nothing while a cord is in it, which is exactly when you need it.

The other kind is a deeper bubble cover that closes over the plug with the cord still connected, and stays weatherproof while in use. For anything that lives outdoors, that is the one that matters. Current requirements for outdoor receptacles in damp and wet locations reflect this.

Also check the gasket behind the cover plate and whether the cover still closes properly. Sun degrades these, and a cover that no longer seals is just decoration.

Seasonal repeat offenders

Holiday lights, pond and fountain pumps, and pool equipment all combine long outdoor runs with constant moisture exposure. If the same circuit trips every December, the cause is more likely the connections sitting in wet grass than the outlet itself.

When to call

Call if an outdoor GFCI will not reset once dry, trips every time it rains, or if you can see damage, corrosion or scorching. Water and electricity is the one combination not worth experimenting with.