Hot and neutral reversed on a GFCI outlet
The hot and the neutral wires are reversed on the garage GFCI.
Less commonFix nowSafetyOutlets
Why it matters
Swapping the hot and neutral wires on an outlet, also known as reverse polarity, can be dangerous because it can create a shock or electrocution hazard. When the polarity is reversed, the neutral wire is connected to where the hot wire should be, so there's always electricity flowing through the outlet, even when an appliance is supposed to be off.
How common is it?
Found in 1% of the homes HomeCloud evaluated, Sep 2025 to Oct 2026.
Counted by the finding's name on HomeCloud reports, so the true number can be a little higher.
How soon to fix it
HomeCloud reports list this as a fix-now item.
More electrical resources
What kind of electrical panel do I have?How to find your panel's brand and size, fuse vs breaker panels, and what reputable sources say about Federal Pacific Stab-Lok and other older panels.GFCI and AFCI protection explainedWhat GFCI and AFCI protection do, where homes usually have them, how to test them each month, and why many older homes don't.Aluminum wiring in older homesHow to tell if a home has aluminum branch wiring, why the connections are the concern, and the repairs the CPSC considers permanent.
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