GFCI for two bathrooms - Can I use one in each place?

I have two bathrooms on different floors, with a GFCI in the main bathroom which used to act also for the other bathroom with a normal outlet. And it worked: from time to time, a hair dryer plugged in the normal outlet would trip the GFCI in the main bathroom upstairs. So I never questioned this.

Recently, we had the main bathroom stripped and completely remodeled, and the GFCI outlet was pulled a few feet away - apparently just pulling the same wiring within the wall, but I can't be sure (haven't done it myself, a gen contractor did it).

Last week, as we sold the house, an inspector pointed out that both outlets were not responding to the GFCI tester. So I purchased a new GFCI, replaced it (upstairs), purchased a GFCI tester, tested it, green light is on (on the outlet), tester responded as it should (tripping the outlet, correct lights on for the wiring). (By the way, only 3 wires were connected there, including ground, not 5... So I followed exactly the instructions for that situation).

HOWEVER: if I use the tester in the other ''normal outlet'' bathroom - the one which is supposed to be linked to the GFCI upstairs - the tester gives me correct wiring (lights), but DOES NOT TRIP the GFCI upstairs...

So I wonder:
1) is this normal that a tester would not react and could I expect the outlet to trip nevertheless if it receives ''water'' ??
2) Should I / Can I simply (and simplify life) replace the normal outlet for a GFCI one ? - I was told that there can be only one GFCI outlet on same wiring. (Indeed, if I go to main electric panel and shut down the breaker for the main bathroom's GFCI outlet, it also cut power on the normal outlet in the other bathroom, so can we call it ''same circuit'' ??... (Is it just a matter of ''code'' for contractors to justify saving money ? Or is it ''dangerous'' ? ) - Doing so would of course simplify life when my wife uses the hair dryer downstairs and need to go upstairs when she trips the GFCI...

The thing I am unable to verify with the contractor who moved the outlet in June 2019 is if A) he moved the same cable ? OR B) took wiring from the ceiling (light) ? OR C) just moved one cable (therefore making it a 3 wire-connection rather than a 5 ??)...

I would avoid to call-in an electrician for this, if I can make it safely. The very last thing I want is to have to take a new circuit from the basement all the way to the other floor/outlet...

Thanks,
JT

 

Apparently the regular outlet is not wired to the load side of the existing GFCI outlet. You can replace the regular outlet with a GFCI outlet if it is not protected by the existing GFCI outlet. It is olay to have multiple GFCI outlets on the same circuit as long as they are all wired from the Line side of other GFCI outlets.

 

It's my understanding you can put as many GFCI on a circuit as you like. But you can't connect any other GFCI devices via the "load" terminals of a GFCI receptacle. using more than one GFCI on circuit can be nuisance and can be called out by an inspector. But it's not illeagal to NEC code.

Electrician experts please correct me if need be.

 

Thank you both.
So I can assume that because the tester does not trip the CFGI upstairs, that outlet downstairs IS NOT (or no longer...) protected, correct ?

I was reading elsewhere, in order to insure compliance and safety, if no other way to make sure I connect LINE side (any way to ensure this ??...):
try both CFGI, once all installed, on and OFF (one tripped, the other ON and reversely, and then protection can be considered adequate and... legit . Would this be a reliable approach ?

 

Yes. With the GFCI outlets both wired from line side to line side they should test trip independently of each other.