Things You'll Need:
- GFCI receptacle
- Standard receptacle
- Large appliance receptacles
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Step 1
Take note of the electrical outlets in rooms that have water. Kitchens, bathrooms, garages, basements and outdoor areas are supposed to be equipped with GFCI receptacles, also known as ground fault circuit interrupt electrical outlets.
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Step 2
Identify the GFCI electrical outlets. These electrical receptacles have two narrow slots, a half-round hole for a ground plug and a set of buttons for testing. There is a black button to test the outlet and a red button to reset the outlet. Test the GFCI receptacles monthly to make sure they work properly and to keep them from deteriorating.
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Step 3
Look at the electrical outlets in living spaces where water is not present. The standard electrical receptacles are commonly found in the living, dining, bedroom and hallway areas.
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Step 4
Find standard electrical receptacles by identifying the two narrow slots and a half-round hole for a ground plug. Unlike the GFCI receptacle, the standard outlets do not have a set of buttons. Older homes and buildings may have standard receptacles without the half-round hole for a ground plug. There are two-prong adapters you can purchase with half-round holes for appliances and other electrical items with three-prong plugs.
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Step 5
Notice that large appliances such as ranges, washers and dryers and air conditioning units that draw a lot of power use a much larger receptacle than the standard and GFCI. These appliance receptacles can have different configurations with two or three narrow slots and a half-round hole.
