Why Does My GFCI or Breaker Trip When It Rains?

Short answer: when a GFCI or breaker trips every time it rains, water is almost always getting somewhere it should not. The usual suspects are an outdoor outlet without a proper weatherproof cover, a cracked fixture or junction box, damaged underground or exterior wiring, or something plugged in outside, like holiday lights or a pump. The trip is the protection doing its job. The fix is finding where the water gets in, not resetting it over and over or bypassing it. If you live in Newnan or anywhere in Coweta County, a licensed electrician can track it down.

Why Rain Makes a GFCI Trip

A GFCI compares the current going out on the hot wire with the current coming back on the neutral. If a few milliamps go missing, for example leaking through water to ground, it shuts the power off in a fraction of a second. Rainwater in a box, a fixture or a plug gives current a path to leak, so the GFCI trips. That is exactly what it is designed to do, because the same leak through a person is a shock.

Why Rain Can Trip a Regular Breaker

A standard breaker does not trip on small leaks. It trips on overloads and short circuits. If enough water gets into a fixture, a splice or a damaged cable, it can create a short between conductors, and the breaker trips. If you have AFCI or combination AFCI/GFCI breakers, which are common in newer homes, they can also react to arcing or ground faults caused by moisture. A breaker that trips in the rain is a sign the water problem is more serious, and it should be looked at soon.

The Most Common Wet-Weather Culprits

• Outdoor outlets with flat covers. A flat cover only seals when nothing is plugged in. An “in-use” bubble cover stays closed while a cord is plugged in
• Old or cracked outdoor boxes and covers. Gaskets dry out and covers crack in the Georgia sun
• Exterior light fixtures. Water gets in around worn gaskets or a fixture mounted without proper sealing
• Holiday and landscape lighting. Connections lying on wet ground are a classic cause of trips
• Damaged buried wiring. A nicked cable to a post light, shed or pool equipment leaks current when the soil is wet
• Plugged-in equipment. Pumps, fountains, pressure washers and extension cords left outside
• Water in the panel or meter base. Less common, but serious. Rust stains or water inside the panel need attention right away

Safe Things You Can Check

These checks do not involve opening anything or touching wiring:

• Unplug everything from outdoor outlets, then try resetting the GFCI. If it holds, plug things back in one at a time once they are dry
• Look for outdoor outlets with missing or broken covers, and close the covers
• Notice which outlets or lights went dead when it tripped. That tells an electrician which circuit to start with
• Note whether it trips only during heavy rain, during any rain, or also when sprinklers run

Do not keep resetting a breaker that trips again right away, and never replace a GFCI with a regular outlet to stop the tripping. If you see water inside the panel, smell burning or see scorch marks, leave it off and call an electrician.

How We Track Down a Wet-Weather Trip

Rain-related trips can be tricky because everything tests fine on a dry day. We map what is on the circuit, inspect outdoor boxes, covers and fixtures, and use an insulation resistance tester to find cables that leak current. Then we fix what we find: in-use covers and weatherproof boxes, resealed or replaced fixtures, repaired or replaced underground wiring, or properly protected circuits for outdoor equipment. If your GFCI also trips in dry weather, read why a GFCI keeps tripping, and if the breaker trips on its own, see breaker keeps tripping.

Getting Ready for Holiday Lights and Winter Rain

Late fall brings both holiday lights and plenty of rain to Coweta County. Use outdoor-rated cords and lights, keep connections off the ground, and plug into GFCI-protected outlets with in-use covers. Our post on holiday lights and outdoor outlets has more tips. If you need more outdoor outlets, see our outlet and GFCI services.

Related Reading

More guides from our Newnan electricians on this topic:

• How to Reset a GFCI Outlet (and Why It Will Not Reset)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it dangerous if my GFCI trips when it rains?

The trip itself means the GFCI is protecting you. The water causing it is the problem and should be found and fixed, especially if a breaker is tripping too.

Will a new GFCI outlet stop it from tripping in the rain?

Usually not. If water is getting into a box, fixture or cable, a new GFCI will trip too. The leak has to be fixed.

Why does it trip only during heavy rain?

Heavy or wind-driven rain reaches places light rain does not, like a fixture gasket or a box behind siding. That pattern helps us narrow it down.

Can I use my outdoor outlet while it is raining?

Only with an in-use cover, outdoor-rated cords and equipment, and GFCI protection. If it keeps tripping, stop using it until it is checked.

Talk to a Licensed Newnan Electrician

If your GFCI or breaker trips every time it rains, we will find out where the water is getting in. Call (678) 552-9399 or text (470) 516-7261. We are at 1002 Highway 16 W, Suite A, Newnan, GA 30263, and serve Newnan, Peachtree City, Sharpsburg, Senoia and nearby towns. Learn more about our residential electrical services in Newnan.