I see a ton of flipped houses where the flipper knows they need to put a GFCI in the bathroom, and it’s wired this way. I always call it out - it should never depend on when the house was built IMHO… that would mean you are looking at a code violation. Since we don’t inspect for code violations, I call this out as a safety concern. It’s also not the best installation, and I’ve been told is usually an easy fix. As clumsy as I am, I’d be in rough shape if the lights suddenly went out as I’m stepping out onto a slippery tiled floor…
Okay, playing devil’s advocate here for those who write up a bathroom GFCI receptacles that also turns off the light in the event it trips.
New construction in my area (for a number of years now) requires the overhead garage door opener receptacle be GFCI protected, if the gfci device trips, de-energizing and turning off the light in the opener as you’re half way between your car and the steps into the house, would that not be considered a safety hazard as well and would you write that up?
There are those that also install GFCI receptacles to replace 2 pronged receptacles, that are sometimes on switched receptacles at an entry door, as long as it’s properly identified, (GFCI protected) (No equipment ground), IMO it’s not a problem either, but it is indeed a scenario that can leave one in the dark if the GFCI devise were to trip.
I remember the day when light bulbs would burn out, leaving me finding my way in the dark to another light switch. It happens, not often, but it happens.
IMO it’s more important to have the receptacle GFCI protected than not, and I inform my clients that they can have it wired if they want, to not turn the light off if or when it ever trips.
You bring up a good point as to the possibility of the many other scenarios (code required GFCI protection) where someone could be left in the dark. IMO although possible the reality is that these GFCI devices don’t trip very often and would rarely cause a situation where someone is stumbling around in the dark.
For us and others I think it comes down to slip and fall issues in a bathroom. Personally I know I wouldn’t be thrown off much by a garage light going out, but a bathroom light going out while my mother in law was in the shower would be different.
I agree, IMO it’s not a big deal and something that I would not consider a safety hazard. But to each their own.
Along the same lines, I have found light/fan switches that were within reach while standing in a tub or shower that I do write up as potential safety hazards, and I tell my clients they can either leave it and live with a potential shock/electrocution hazard, move the switches, or put those circuits on a GFCI breaker.
Understood Michael, and that’s what’s great about being a home inspector, we can call out any item that we may consider a saftey issue.
I know the CEC has a prohibition about switch locations near tubs and showers, but the NEC is silent on switch locations so it doesn’t sound like the shock hazard you envision. The only time I have been shocked around a switch it has been static and a metal plate.
I’ll play devil’s advocate along with @kleonard a bit.
I would say the odds of the GFCI tripping while not in use (if the user is in the shower and not blow drying their hair) are about the same as the odds of a power failure or bulb burnout while you are in the shower.
As a home inspector, IMO a switch that can be reached while in the bathtub or shower stahl is a potential shock or electrocution hazard that I will call out every time, CEC and NEC be damned. A number of years ago I even saw a light switch installed inside a shower stahl.
I have a GFCI receptacle in my other upstairs bathroom which is installed (wired) between a two switch for the lights and ventilator fan. It will trip sometimes when I’m turning both switches off at the same time and light and fan will go out. Nuisance? Not really. One click…