GFCI’s and Garages, got them all protected? Douglas County Home Inspection
As a requirement of Washington State SOP for Home Inspectors we are to identify any missing or inoperative GFCI’s per industry standards. With GFCI’s we are required to tell our clients that they should be installed in all areas missing them.
So lets talk about garages, accessory buildings (ground level) not intended as habitable rooms and used as storage areas, work areas, and areas of similar use are required to be GFCI protected.
It used to be that you could have one dedicated receptacle for a freezer but that has been removed. Another receptacle often missed is the receptacle for the garage door opener, yep it needs to be GFCI protected also. I found the best way to test for this is trip all the GFCI’s in the garage and then see if you can open the garage door. It open there most likely no protection.
The requirement for GFCI receptacles in garages and sheds is to improve safety for persons using portable hand held tools, string trimmers, snow blowers, and similar tools that might be connected to these receptacles. They are also required because auto repair work and general workshop electrical tools are often used.
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NCW Home Inspections, LLC is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Oroville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…
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www.ncwhomeinspections.com 509-670-9572
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