SHORT HISTORY OF G.F.C.I’s
Ground fault Interrupting Circuit Breakers, those strange looking wall outlets with the reset buttons in your bathroom, kitchen or other areas considered “wet” areas, are affectionately known as GFCI’s. NASA invented them after Gus Grissom was killed in an electrical fire aboard one of the early space capsules January 27, 1967.
They have a built-in circuit breaker that interrupts the flow of electricity the instant a ground fault or current leak is sensed. An unintentional electric path between a source of current and a grounded surface is referred to as a “ground- fault.” If your body provides a path to the ground for this leakage, you could be injured, burned, severely shocked, or electrocuted.
GFCI protection was first required by the National Electrical Code on exteriors January 1, 1973, bathroom receptacle circuits since 1975, garage wall outlets since 1978, kitchen receptacles since 1987, and one receptacles in a crawl space or an unfinished basement since 1990. A local rule of thumb is 1980 for bathrooms and exteriors and 1990 for kitchens, garages and basements.

Summer Household Maintenance
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Early morning is the safest time to work in an attic. Even properly ventilated attics can have temperatures of 110 to 120 degrees. 8. Repair cracks in concrete patios and driveways. For most cracks less than 1/4, apply concrete caulk; just clean the crack out with a high- pressure hose nozzle, let it dry and then apply caulk into the crack. For larger cracks, substitute concrete patch for caulk.
9. Check the condition of any yard fences. If the freezing/thawing cycle has weakened the posts, reinforce them. Examine the gate latches and replace any defective parts. If it’s a wood fence, give it a new coat of paint or stain. In the case of mesh fences, be sure that the mesh and attachments are in good condition. If the mesh is beginning to sag, tighten it with metal wire.
10. Take advantage of the warm weather to straighten up your storage areas. Look over the garage and find ways to save space. The addition of shelves is a good way to solve storage problems. You can build your own shelves or purchase solid, easy to install units.