How To Look At A House
McGarry and Madsen's home inspection blog for buyers of
site-built, mobile/manufactured and modular homes
Does a garage door opener need its own separate dedicated circuit?
Sunday, October 10, 2021
No, a garage door opener is not required to be on a separate, dedicated circuit. But, the ceiling receptacle outlet that it’s plugged into must be GFCI-protected. Which leads to an additional requirement: since the reset for a GFCI device, either a GFCI-receptacle or breaker, must be readily accessible—which means below 6’-8” high—you cannot put a GFCI-receptacle with test/reset buttons on the garage ceiling. So the ceiling receptacle must be protected by GFCI-receptacle or GFCI-breaker upstream from it. Usually the garage door opener is on the same circuit as the garage wall receptacles and one of them is GFCI.
For a brief history of the GFCI requirement for garage door openers, go to our article Is a ceiling receptacle outlet for a garage door opener required to be GFCI protected?
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Here’s links to some of our other blog posts about GARAGES AND CARPORTS:
• Why is a garage floor sloped?
• What is the difference between a carport and a garage?
• Why is my garage ceiling sagging?
• Why are there score line grooves in the concrete floor of the garage?
• What are the common problems when a homeowner converts a garage to conditioned living space, such as a family room?
• What are the code requirements for fire separation between an attached garage and the house?
• Can a bedroom door open into the garage?
• How far apart should electric receptacle outlets be placed in a garage?
• What is the raised metal plate on the floor under the garage door?
• Why do I have to hold down the button to close the garage door?
• How can I check my garage door to make sure it is safe?
• What does a home inspector check on an electric garage door?
• Can the a garage door header bracket and torsion springs be mounted through drywall?
• How can I tell if cracks in the garage floor are a problem or not?
• Is tempered/safety glass required by the building code for windows and doors?
• Why can't I use my home's central air conditioning system to cool the garage?
• What is the unusual garage door opener mounted on the wall above the door and marked "Wayne Dalton”?
• When were GFCI receptacle outlets first required in the garage?
• Why are most pull-down attic ladders not approved by building code for installation in a garage?
• Is the wood anchor pad for a garage door rail and torsion spring supposed to be nailed or bolted to the wall?
• What is the minimum slope for a garage floor slab?
• Can you run exposed NM-cable (Romex) in a garage?
• What causes a garage floor to crack?
• What is the difference between an attached and detached garage?
• What is code for the fire rating for garage walls?
• What is code for the fire rating for a garage ceiling?
• What is code for air conditioning a garage?
• Can I use plywood between garage and living space of my house?
• Is an attached garage required to have a door to the house or exterior?
Visit our GARAGES AND CARPORTS page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.
Click Below
for Links
to Collections
of Blog Posts
by Subject
Top 5 results given instantly.
Click on magnifying glass
for all search results.
Search
This
Site
Buying a home in North/Central Florida? Check our price for a team inspection by two FL-licensed contractors and inspectors. Over 8,500 inspections completed in 20+ years. In a hurry? We will get it done for you.
