When a client asked me to skip the GFCI to cut costs

I was wiring up an outdoor outlet for a deck project last month. The guy kept saying it was too expensive to put in a GFCI since he barely used the space. It got me thinking about how many people might be doing this just to save a few bucks, which is pretty scary. I told him I wouldn't do it without the proper safety gear, even if it meant losing the job. In the end, he found someone else, but I still wonder about that outlet.

3 comments

3 Comments

king.richard2mo ago

Ever think about who's legally on the hook if that outlet causes a shock? Homeowner's insurance often won't pay for injuries from known code breaks. I remember hearing about a landlord who got sued for a tenant's medical bills after a similar shortcut. That cheap fix could cost you your house.

jamie_white2mo ago

That insurance bit about not covering known code breaks is accurate. I saw a report where a faulty outlet led to a lawsuit that cleaned someone out.

kevin_singh322mo ago

How many homeowners realize they're playing with fire by ignoring code? Once something goes wrong, insurance companies will drop you fast. Seen it happen to a buddy, and it wiped out his savings.