GFCI Reset Button Falling Out

[afeef745]

Moved to our current house about 3 years ago which has GFCI outlets on the exterior of the house. Strange thing happening is that Reset buttons on 3 of the GFCI outlets have fallen out. 2 when I pressed on them (no excessive force here) while tinkering with something plugged in and wasn't sure if the outlet is tripped or not. And one that had apparently popped out by itself and was laying inside the weather protective cover. Wondering if this is something someone else has encountered before?

Also, does the GFCI outlet need to be Weather Resistant if it will be installed inside GFCI outlet cover on the exterior of the house?

Thanks in advance

 

[Neggy]

Personally I would be using a breaker, but when it trips it is a PITA to go running to the panel to reset

 

[PFSard]

I've never encountered that before. Any idea on the brand of the outlet? Sounds like something I would want to avoid.

 

[rayra]

I'd be replacing them. If the button is falling out, the mechanism could be damaged. Considering their safety purpose, why screw with it. They're $17-20ea. Or Death. Not a difficult choice.

 

[56Mark]

I replaced one for my neighbor last year, same thing, he went to reset it and the button flew across the garage. I don't remember the brand. The house is about 9 years old and was original install so maybe there was a bad run of them some time in the past. Easy changeout.

 

[afeef745]

Yes, I was gonna replace them. Just wondering if anyone else had similar issue with them. House is 14 years old and these GFCI outlets appear to be original to the house.

Spent some time digging up the one that broke last year. Brand for these is Pass & Seymour.

Thanks for helpful comments.

 

[driftpin]

That sounds like a Lowe's product. I have some pics of a GFCI I disassembled which was rarely-used, but had failed. It had overheated internals. I'd have to go through a couple thousand phone photos to find 'em. I agree, for the price, and where your safety is concerned, change them all.

 

[CraigStu]

In Northern Va a gfci outlet must be outdoor rated even when it is in an outdoor box. The county inspector made me do that when he was doing the final on a garage addition. I had simply moved the box and outlet from the old outdoor wall to the new outdoor wall. He said it was a change in code since the house had been built 15 yrs prior.

 

[nadogail]

Don't spend $50 dollars worth of time trying to fix a $20 problem. Change out those GFCI Receptacles.

 

[engineer2]

I just saw that in a banquet hall bathroom. The outlet looked nasty and the reset button was gone. It was under a towel dispenser.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I wonder if it's an issue due to being exposed to moisture.

I also moved this to the Electrical Section. There's some smart guys here.

 

[65ranchero]

The only thing close to that was sunbaked GFCI's
The front of the house faces due East so it gets direct sun every day for at least 4 hours straight under covered porch with no
on the outlets.
The home inspector never picked up on them had to walk right by them to get to the front door

 

[Norcal]

The GFCI receptacle is going to need to be weather resistant and tamper resistant also for a residence.

 

[engineer2]

I've found GFCI's last maybe 10 years if mounted outdoors, even if covered.

 

[alfredeneuman]

Also, does the GFCI outlet need to be Weather Resistant if it will be installed inside GFCI outlet cover on the exterior of the house?

Yes

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Ive seen a few with the buttons flying off.

i didnt waste any time pondering it. just bought some new ones..

 

[sparky 1971]

Seen it a few times. just replace it.

 

[afeef745]

Thanks a lot, guys. One GFCI outlet I replaced last year is not rates Weather Resistant. Thanks for letting me know that it does. Will buy WR GFCI to replace the broken ones I havent fixed already. Much appreciated.

 

[American Locomotive]

Pass & Seymour seems to be a Lowes brand from Legrand. I haven't really been impressed by the quality of their products. I think Leviton and Hubbell products are higher quality. IIRC, you can even get USA-made Hubbell GFCIs

Plastic (especially white plastic) exposed to sunlight will get brittle due to UV damage and oxidation. Also, if you can get black outlets (or you can tolerate black outlets for outdoor use), they will hold up even better. Black colored plastic almost always uses carbon black as a pigment, which offers additional UV protection,

 

[Norcal]

P&S GFCI's are on my preferred list, the Cooper/Eaton (former Eagle Electric) that Lowe's has been selling is not, Hubbell, & Leviton are the other 2 makes on the list.

 

[Terry D]

I use all P&S devices