Why Are GFCI Red and Green Lights Both On? (Solved) -

Looking at a GFCI outlet can be fascinating for those who are used to traditional outlets without the different lights.

However, if you do have a GFCI outlet, it’s time to understand what these lights mean.

The first question you will have is – why are the GFCI red and green lights both on?

If the GFCI red and green lights are both on, this means there’s a wiring issue within the circuit causing the outlet to malfunction. The red light signifies GFCI protection is lost, while the green light suggests power is coming to the outlet. To fix the issue, turn off the power, remove the outlet, and tighten the wiring. In some cases, an electrician will be required to look at the power source.

This is an issue that can happen with old and new GFCI outlets.

Be patient and go through each facet.

If the GFCI red and green lights are both on, this means the issue has to be resolved right away. Don’t keep using the outlet in its current state!

This article will explain why the GFCI red and green lights are both on and what to do about them moving forward.

Table of Contents

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How To Fix Outlet If GFCI Red and Green Lights Are Both On

1. Turn Off The Power

If the GFCI red light stays on, this is immediately a sign something is wrong with the electrical circuit.

The light is a warning that there’s instability in the circuit and it has to be addressed as soon as possible. If not, the GFCI protection is gone.

In this case, you are going to want to turn off the power to the outlet.

This is the first step to ensure you don’t get electrocuted when working on fixing the GFCI outlet and making sure power is coming to it properly.

2. Remove The Outlet

Next, you are going to unscrew the GFCI outlet and remove it.

The goal is to get inside the outlet to see what’s going on with the wiring. In some cases, the problem will become obvious right away due to a wire being frayed or loose.

If that is the case, you will already know how to resolve the issue.

With frayed wires, you will have to replace the wiring.

With loose wiring, test the connector and reattach the wire. This will help secure the connection and make sure power is going through to the outlet as required.

3. Check and Tighten The Wiring

If it is not obvious, you will want to go through each wire connected to the GFCI outlet.

This is going to allow you to determine whether or not the wiring is loose or damaged. If it is, you can begin to work on fixing it immediately.

It’s common for wiring to get loose with time. It might even get like this with a brand-new GFCI outlet due to improper installation work.

Take your time to go through each wire and test it to ensure the connection is secure.

4. Reset The Breaker

You will have to reset the breaker.

Sometimes, the electrical circuit starts malfunctioning or gets overloaded. When this happens, the electrical circuit might end up putting stress on the GFCI outlet.

The best option here is to go to the breaker panel and reset the circuit breaker.

This will ensure power goes through to the GFCI outlet as you want it to.

5. Consult With An Electrician

This is an important detail to remember when it comes to a GFCI outlet that is not working as it is supposed to.

If you can’t seem to find the main issue and have tried everything, the red light is going to stay on.

This means the issue is still with the circuit itself.

So, what do you do then?

You have to take a step back and call in an electrician. They are going to dive deeper into the electrical circuit by taking readings throughout the setup. This will let them know where there is an issue downstream.

It’s important to find the problem as it can begin to impact other fixtures on the circuit too.

Final Thoughts

These are the details to think about if the GFCI red and green lights are both on.

If the GFCI red and green lights are both on, this means there’s power going to the outlet but there’s an issue with the electrical circuit downstream. To fix the issue, turn off the power, remove the outlet, tighten the wiring and reset the breaker. If necessary, call an electrician to dive deeper into the circuit.

This is the best way to get to the bottom of what’s going on.

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