DIY home guide: Winter
How to protect the value of your property, cut energy costs, avoid costly repairs, and spiff up your surroundings this winter.
Cost: $10 to $15 for a GFCI; $100 for an electrician
Any electrical outlets near water -- think kitchens and bathrooms -- should have ground fault circuit interrupters that protect you from a shock (these are the outlets with "test" and "reset" buttons).
Make sure the GFCIs you have work. Press the test button, and the reset button should pop out. Success? Push the reset button back in.
If you need to replace or install an outlet, you may want an electrician -- the wiring can be too tricky for a DIY job.
NEXT: Test your flood defense
Last updated January 28 2011: 4:46 PM ET