Allow me to tell you a little story.
Being an American male…read morepast middle age, I've aquired a bit of knowledge in basic household electrical function and wiring. So the other day, I'm in my luxurious Man Cave... Okay, I was in my garage when the GFI wall socket clicked off "How odd" I thought as I started digging through the stratified layers atop my Man Cave Wet Bar... I mean home built work bench, in order to actually see the offending GFI. After resetting it a few times, my manly logical brain said "GFIs can go bad, replace it" Now, my brain and I go way back, we're talking like, early childhood. So I heeded my brain (when has that ever failed me and why is my wife laughing at that question?) And replaced the GFI with an industry standard 15 amp unit. All is honky dory for 2 colder days until today, it started tripping again.
They say insanity is repeating the same action over and over, expecting different results so, I replaced the second, non GFI wall socket as my wife still chortled in the living room.
Well boys and girls, it didn't work. Still tripping the GFI. It is time that I admit defeat. I hang my head and exit my luxurious man cave... Okay, I walked out of the garage into the laundry room, where I could already hear my wife rolling in full gales of laughter as I grab my tablet and pulled up some internet resources for a good reliable electrician.
The first one I found was a good rating I called and got a voicemail that says "Leave your name and number, nothing else" I left no message. Next I called Electric Experts, I was greeted warmly by a nice lady who told me the Dave was not in but would call me back shortly. I left my information and lo and behold, Dave called me back in 10 minutes. Dave reviewed the facts of my case. I could tell by the timbre of his voice over the phone that he too was a manly man with good electrical knowledge.
Dave then paused for a moment, and said "What else do you have the runs off to that circuit" I replied "Why nothing Dave, just the two plugs Dave pressed further "Do you have an outside water feature at your home?" That's when it hit me, I have an extension cord plugged in outside. I could practically hear Dave nodding his head in satisfaction as I walked outside to unplug the winterized water feature in my yard and, wouldn't you know it? No more electrical problem.
Here is what gets me, I'm the man with basic electrical knowledge, I was thinking fuse panel or something else along that line and I would have been perfectly happy to have Dave come out and diagnose the problem for me and pay him cash money for his work. By today's standards nobody would blame him, nobody would even comment on it. This could have easily been were a service person knows what the problem is, drives out there and collects a hefty trip fee.
Dave told me the problem. I fixed it. No charge. I'm a customer for life.
