Annoying GFCI trip

[Mark Forest]

In my new rental property there is a GFCI outlet in the living room. This is on the same circuit as the bathroom fan and the light in the shower stall. This living room wall is on the other side of the bathroom. When I first got the property every time I turned on the fan it tripped the GFCI and thus shut down the fan and the living room outlets. The fan did not vent to the outside so I just got a new fan and vented it out the wall as it should be.

It seemed to all work fine, but occasionally there is a problem. Sometimes when I turn the fan on it is all good, but the GFCI trips when I turn it OFF. First I do not even know why there is a GFCI in the living room, and second I do not know why turning a new fan off would trip the GFCI. I was thinking of just eliminating the GFCI and installing a normal outlet in the living room. Can any of you think of why the original owner would have put this GFCI there and is it okay to just simply switch it for a standard outlet?

[Dave M.]

Originally posted by Kyle J.:

Originally posted by Steve Might:

The bathroom has its own GFCI next to the sink and works fine. It is on a separate circuit from this issue. On this circuit I have in the bathroom an overhead light inside the shower, the bathroom fan, and inside the living room a regular outlet and the GFCI in question. I don’t know why the GFCI was put in the living room in the first place, but yes since it is tripping I am concerned.

Now I'm confused. You initially said the living room GFCI was on the same circuit as the bathroom fan and light. But now you're saying the bathroom has it's own GFCI next to the sink that is on a separate circuit. If that's the case, what fixtures are on the GFCI next to the sink?

Sounds like the fan and light fixture were added onto the living room circuit - perhaps it was easier than tying into the existing outlet in the bathroom which is a GFCI already.

My recollection is that any outlet that is within reach of a wet location is required to either by a GFCI or downline from a GFCI (further away from the circuit breaker). This would mean your fan and light fixture do not require a GFCI, but there is no harm in having one present.

Does it happen every time you turn the fan off? And is it immediate or delayed?

If a GFCI is tripping it could be a problem with the outlet itself as Brian Hoyt mentioned so replacing it would be a good idea. Also:

-Is the light fixture above your shower rated for a wet location? If not, perhaps steam/moisture from the shower is causing a short
-Check all the other connections on the circuit while you're at it
-Is there a leak behind the wall coming from the bathroom and getting to the GFCI wiring?

I agree with Shane Woods - I would not just get rid of the GFCI. Find out what is causing this problem first at the very least.