For home code compliance do all electical outlets within 6 feet of a water source have to be on individual GFCI's, or can they be strung togther on one GFCI. In my kitchen, all the outlets within 6 feet of the sink are strung together on one GFCI outlet, but a home inspector sited this as incorrect. I don't know if the inspector just didn't notice that they were strung together on one, or if code is each one has to be a seperate GFCI. I live in Illinois.

Home inspector is wrong. Outlets must be GFI protected. One GFI outlet can protect itself and all outlets "downstream" from it. If he didn't know that he shouldn't be inspecting. If he didn't check to see it the GFI outlet was protecting the others he should have not have cited it.

We get quite a few incidents like this as a result of home inspectors.

Now what if they were protected by a GFCI breaker? See how it spells nonsense.

First of all GFCI protection is only required when the code calls for it at the time of the original home construction permit. If the home was built many years ago GFCI protection may not be required at all. A home needs only meet the code that was in place at the time of its original construction OR when a update or remodel has been made to a specific area.

Now with that being said therre is nothing wrong with GFCI protection and I can understand that some non-licensed state home inspector might recommend them to be installed for safety purposes but if the above rule is followed they cannot demand they be installed if the code did not require it durning the initial construction or remodel.

BTW the NEC has for sometime requires two separate kitchen circuits so he might be looking at it from that perspective. The codes are always evolving and the NEC changes every three years so this leads to some confusion especially among home inspectors who just a short time ago might have been a automobile mechanic and all they know about construction and electric is what they read out of a book or heard from one of there other home inspection buddys. I have been called into court on a few occassions to clairfy exactly what the rules are regarding the codes and exactly when the codes apply. My code compliance manuals go back to 1934 so the old codes can be recited in court to settle the arguement.

Home inspectors have caused millions of dollars to be spent each year by home owners to upgrade there homes for the next buyer when in all actuality they did not need to do the repairs to start with. Most cases are are judged for the original home owner and the home inspector is forced to pay for all sales delays and cost associated with there shenanigan.

Home inspectors have there place but they need to stay in there place and not wonder about giving false information.