AmpSizerWhen is each electrical test due again?
Nobody skips a GFCI test on purpose. They skip it because there is no date attached to it.
One circuit check a month
MonthlyOne thing a month worth measuring, testing or recalculating on a home electrical system — the part of sizing that happens after the install. No product pitches, and nothing that needs a live panel.
Free to use — Pro is for keeping it
This tool, like every other one here, is free and needs no account. A free account keeps three setups and three email alerts. Pro takes the ads off every site we run and lifts that to 200 setups and 50 alerts, adds a public page for any result and lets you embed the tool without our badge.
Try also
How this works
What needs testing, and how often
The recurring checks that keep an installation performing the way it was signed off.
| Check | Interval | Why |
|---|---|---|
| GFCI and AFCI test button | Monthly | A device that does not trip protects nothing |
| Panel inspection, cover on | Twice a year | Staining, smell and heat are early warnings |
| Terminal torque check | Every 3–5 years | Loose terminals are the commonest failure |
| Thermal scan of the panel | Yearly, commercial | Finds a hot joint before it fails |
| Generator test run | Monthly in season | Equipment that sits idle fails when needed |
| Surge protector status | Yearly | They wear out silently after a strike |
The GFCI and AFCI test is monthly because the manufacturers say so. It is also the only item on this list that takes a minute and can save a life.
Frequently asked questions
How often should GFCI outlets be tested?
Monthly, using the test and reset buttons on the device. That is the interval the manufacturers publish, and the failure mode is silent: a GFCI whose mechanism has stuck looks identical to one that works. It is the only monthly electrical check most buildings need.
Is a thermal scan worth it for a house?
For a house, rarely — the panel inspection and a torque check cover it. For a commercial panel with many circuits and continuous loads, an annual scan finds loose terminals before they fail, and it is done with the cover on by somebody qualified to do it.
What should I never do myself?
Anything behind the cover of a live panel. If a panel is warm, discoloured, smells of hot plastic or buzzes, the correct action is to stop and call a licensed electrician. Every item on this schedule is either a test button, a look, or a job for somebody else.