GFCI outlet keeps tripping with nothing plugged in it

[Clarence Martin]

Got a GFCI outlet in the bathroom that has tripped 6 times today and tonight . The thing is, there is nothing plugged in the outlet. What could be causing it ?

[Dave Richards]

Typically there are other outlets on the same circuit with the GFCI outlet. The problem device could be plugged into one of those other receptacles.

[Rich Riddle]

Typically there are other outlets on the same circuit with the GFCI outlet. The problem device could be plugged into one of those other receptacles.
Precisely. You need to look "down-stream" of the devise. Look around the house for things not working that are plugged in. You might even find the devises down-stream are outside.

[David Falkner]

Same thing happened to me and what I found is that the outlet on our back porch is tied to the GFCI in our garage. No idea why they did that since the garage is on the front of the house.. oh, well.

The cover was open on the outside receptacle and there was moisture inside. Once I pulled the receptacle out, verified nothing else was wrong, then I used my air tank and blew through the receptacle. That was about 4 months ago and still working just fine. Oh, and I closed the cover this time so no rain could blow in.

[Randy Red Bemont]

Or you may just have a bad GFCI outlet like I had. Mine was only a year old and it kept tripping several times a week then even more. I replaced it (very easy to do) and no problems since.

Red

[Clarence Martin]

Pressed the reset button on the GFCI outlet this Morning. This time , I made sure everything in the house was not turned on . The only things that had any juice flowing to them besides the GFCI in the Bathroom, was the Microwave in the Kitchen, the clock radio in the Kitchen and the one in the bedroom. But, they were all turned off. Only power flowing to them was running the clocks.

It still popped. It was installed 1998-1999.

[Clarence Martin]

This just occurred to me. The Electric substation down the road from me is Maxed out for carrying capacity. When ever there is a storm, that pops something in the substation and the power goes out for about half the Town. That pops the GFCI , too. Could all those power outtages have worn that GFCI out ?

[Matt Meiser]

If its that old just replace it and see if the problem goes away.

[Lee Schierer]

Pressed the reset button on the GFCI outlet this Morning. This time , I made sure everything in the house was not turned on . The only things that had any juice flowing to them besides the GFCI in the Bathroom, was the Microwave in the Kitchen, the clock radio in the Kitchen and the one in the bedroom. But, they were all turned off. Only power flowing to them was running the clocks.

It still popped. It was installed 1998-1999.

It could be bad, but first turn off the power to that circuit and pull the GFIC out of the wall. If there are no downstream wires coming off the GFIC, it is bad. If there are downstream wires, disconnect them. Turn the power back on and see if it will stay set. If it does, you have a problem downstream.

[Erik Loza]

Or you may just have a bad GFCI outlet like I had. Mine was only a year old and it kept tripping several times a week then even more. I replaced it (very easy to do) and no problems since.

Red

This has happened to me as well. New switch was bad. I guess you just get lemons once in a while.

Erik

[Jim Koepke]

I found is that the outlet on our back porch is tied to the GFCI in our garage. No idea why they did that since the garage is on the front of the house.. oh, well.

The cover was open on the outside receptacle and there was moisture inside.

Me thinks that is the exact reason the outlet on the back porch is tied to the GFCI in the garage. When it was done it may have been cheaper to run wire than to install a second GFCI. Outside plugs and garages are both places to have the added safety they offer.

Our two restrooms are across the house from each other. They are both on the same GFCI. Not sure if the outside plug is attached to the same one. Maybe it is time to check.

jtk

[Dave Richards]

Pressed the reset button on the GFCI outlet this Morning. This time , I made sure everything in the house was not turned on .

Based on its age, it very well could be bad but it's important to know that even though everything was turned off, you haven't eliminated those things that are plugged in from the list of potential causes. The problem might also be a different receptacle on the same run.

[Dan Hintz]

Based on its age, it very well could be bad but it's important to know that even though everything was turned off, you haven't eliminated those things that are plugged in from the list of potential causes. The problem might also be a different receptacle on the same run.

Nor have you removed the wiring within the walls as the culprit...

[Chuck Wintle]

Based on its age, it very well could be bad but it's important to know that even though everything was turned off, you haven't eliminated those things that are plugged in from the list of potential causes. The problem might also be a different receptacle on the same run.

I would say thats a likely cause of the problem, remove all plugs on the same circuit and i think, correct me if i am wrong, that a GFCI should be on on its own breaker and nothing else.

[Dave Richards]

I would say thats a likely cause of the problem, remove all plugs on the same circuit and i think, correct me if i am wrong, that a GFCI should be on on its own breaker and nothing else.

A GFCI could be the only thing on a circuit/circuit breaker but more likely it is at the head of a run of outlets like this:
http://www.buildmyowncabin.com/electrical/gfci-wiring-multiple-outlets.gif

[Brian Elfert]

It was common in older houses to wire outside outlets off a bathroom GFCI. Have you checked to see if you are getting any water in any outside outlets?

[Clarence Martin]

Electrician came over at 9:30 PM tonight to replace the outlet. All fixed so far.

[Rich Engelhardt]

Electrician came over at 9:30 PM tonight to replace the outlet. All fixed so far.
If it trips again, replace it again before getting into any extensive (and expensive) downstream troubleshooting.
Based on my past experience, the chances of getting a "bad" GFCI right out of the box is pretty high.
Brand names don't seem to matter, I get bad ones from Cooper, Harbor Freight, Leviton, you name it.

Also, once the newer ones have tripped a few times - - - even if it's just to test them - - - they go bad.
The older ones, like 15 or more years back, seem to hold up better, but, they still go bad if they get tripped a lot.