Residential Electrical Services
Bathroom Electrical
in Vancouver, WA
Bathrooms have more electrical code requirements per square foot than any other room. Every outlet must be GFCI-protected. The bathroom needs its own dedicated circuit. Exhaust fans, vanity sconces, shower lights, and heated floors each come with their own wiring rules. Newman Electric handles bathroom electrical for remodels and new builds across Vancouver, WA. Ryan has wired everything from quick half-bath updates to full master bathroom overhauls with multiple shower heads and radiant heat.
Bathroom Wiring
What Goes Into Bathroom Electrical
Water and electricity don't mix, which is why bathroom wiring has its own set of NEC rules. A bathroom remodel is the best time to get all of this right, because the walls are already open and you can run new circuits without cutting into finished surfaces.
GFCI Outlets
Every outlet in the bathroom must have GFCI protection. That includes outlets near the sink, behind the toilet, and anywhere else in the room. Newman Electric installs GFCI outlets or uses GFCI breakers at the panel, depending on your setup.
Exhaust Fan
Washington code requires mechanical ventilation in any bathroom without an operable window. Even with a window, an exhaust fan is the better call. We install exhaust fans with proper duct routing to the exterior, not just dumping into the attic.
Vanity Lighting
Sconces on each side of the mirror, a bar light across the top, or recessed cans over the vanity area. The wiring depends on the fixture type and where your mirror meets the wall. Newman Electric positions the junction boxes before tile and trim go up so the fixtures land right.
Shower and Tub Fixtures
Recessed shower lights must be IC-rated and wet-location listed. If you want a lighted exhaust fan in the shower, that has its own requirements too. All shower and tub lighting we install meets NEC wet location standards.
Heated Floors and Towel Warmers
Radiant floor heating under tile is one of the most popular bathroom upgrades we install. The heating mat gets laid down before the tile goes in, and it needs its own dedicated circuit with a wall-mounted thermostat. Towel warmers are simpler, but hardwired units also need a dedicated connection. Newman Electric handles both during the rough-in stage so the tile crew can work on top of it.
What to Expect
How Bathroom Electrical
Work Gets Done
Bathroom electrical is tightly coordinated with the rest of your remodel. The plumber, the tile installer, and the electrician all need to work in sequence. Newman Electric fits into your contractor's schedule so nothing gets held up.
Walk-through and layout
Newman Electric reviews your bathroom plans. Where are the outlets going? What fixtures did you pick? Do you want heated floors? We figure out circuit loads and switch locations before the permit gets pulled.
Rough-in after demo
With the old bathroom torn out and the walls open, we run all the new wiring. Dedicated bathroom circuit, fan wiring, vanity light boxes, shower light boxes, floor heat circuit, and anything else the plan calls for. Rough-in inspection happens before the walls get closed up.
Trim-out after tile and vanity
Once the tile, vanity, and mirror are in, Newman Electric comes back. We install the outlets, mount the light fixtures, connect the exhaust fan, and hook up the floor heat thermostat. Everything gets tested and the final inspection gets scheduled.
Code & Safety
Bathroom Electrical Code in
Vancouver, WA
Bathrooms are classified as a special area under the NEC because of the proximity to water. Washington state follows the 2023 NEC under WAC 296-46B. Newman Electric follows every bathroom code requirement on every project.
- GFCI Protection (NEC 210.8(A)(1))
All 125-volt, 15 and 20-amp receptacles in bathrooms must be GFCI-protected. This is non-negotiable. Newman Electric installs GFCI outlets at each location or uses GFCI breakers at the panel to protect the entire bathroom circuit.
- Dedicated Bathroom Circuit (NEC 210.11(C)(3))
At least one 20-amp branch circuit must be dedicated to the bathroom receptacle outlets. It can serve only that bathroom's outlets, or it can serve outlets in multiple bathrooms as long as it doesn't serve any other type of load.
- Tamper-Resistant Receptacles (NEC 406.12)
All 15 and 20-amp receptacles in dwelling units must be tamper-resistant. That includes the bathroom. Tamper-resistant outlets have built-in shutters that prevent objects from being inserted unless equal pressure is applied to both slots.
- Exhaust Fan Ventilation (IRC M1507.2)
Bathrooms without operable windows must have mechanical exhaust ventilation. The minimum rate is 50 CFM for intermittent fans or 20 CFM for continuous fans. Newman Electric sizes and installs exhaust fans to meet Washington state ventilation code.
Customer Reviews
What Customers Say About Newman Electric
"Oh my gosh! I called Newman Electric about power to our bathroom outlets not working. They were in our neighborhood, North Image, and said we will be there in 15 MINUTES!! They diagnosed the problem (an outside GFCI outlet was tripped when our siding was washed) and put everything back together."
"Gary and Roman installed canned lighting and a floor electrical outlet, as well as wiring for an AC unit. They were the best! There was a hiccup with one of the projects due to the way my house was constructed. They took the time to ask which work around was preferred rather than just going ahead with what would be easiest for them."
"Garrett and Anthony came out and added some plugs and moved a couple for our remodel, they were on time, went above and beyond with helping move furniture, cleaned up their mess and were very professional, I will use Newman from here on out for all our future electrical needs and recommend them to anyone else needing electrical work!!"
Common Questions
Bathroom Electrical FAQs
It depends on the scope. A simple exhaust fan swap or adding a GFCI outlet costs a couple hundred dollars. Full bathroom remodel wiring with dedicated circuits, vanity lights, shower lights, fan, heated floors, and multiple outlets runs considerably more. Newman Electric gives free estimates. We look at your bathroom and your plans and give you a price.
Yes. The NEC requires at least one dedicated 20-amp circuit for bathroom receptacle outlets. That circuit can serve only bathroom outlets. It cannot share a circuit with the bathroom lights, the exhaust fan, or outlets in other rooms. Newman Electric runs a separate circuit for every bathroom we wire.
Yes. Newman Electric installs exhaust fans in bathrooms that don't have them. We cut the ceiling opening, run the ductwork to the exterior, wire the fan, and connect it to a wall switch. If you want a fan with a built-in light or heater, we handle those too.
Yes. Radiant floor heat is one of our more popular bathroom upgrades. The heating mat goes down before the tile, and it needs its own dedicated circuit with a thermostat mounted on the wall. Newman Electric installs the mat, runs the circuit, and sets up the thermostat so the tile crew can work on top of it.
Sometimes. If you just need a GFCI outlet added or an exhaust fan installed, we can do that without tearing anything apart. But if you want to add a dedicated bathroom circuit where one doesn't exist, that means fishing wires through finished walls. Newman Electric can do it, but a remodel with open walls makes it easier and cheaper.
Any new circuit, any new outlet, and any new fixture that involves running new wiring requires a permit. Swapping a light fixture on an existing circuit or replacing an outlet on an existing circuit does not. Newman Electric pulls all required permits and schedules the inspections. The permit cost is included in our estimate.
Related Services
Other Services for Your Bathroom Project
Kitchen Electrical
Full kitchen remodel wiring
Remodel Electrician
Whole-project electrical coordination
Lighting Installation
Fixtures, sconces, and recessed cans
LED Lighting Retrofit
Upgrade to LED recessed lights
Ceiling Fan Installation
Fan installations and wiring
Outlet Installation
GFCI outlets and receptacles
Dedicated Circuits
Separate circuits for heavy loads
Electrical Panel Upgrade
More capacity for your remodel
Service Area
Bathroom Electrical Across
Vancouver & Clark County
Newman Electric does bathroom electrical work in homes across Vancouver, WA and the surrounding area. We've wired bathroom remodels in older homes in Hazel Dell, new construction master baths in Ridgefield, and half-bath additions in Battle Ground. If your bathroom needs electrical work and you're in Clark County, we can get it scheduled.
We also serve Cowlitz County for bathroom electrical. Longview, Kelso, Woodland, and Kalama.
Remodeling Your Bathroom?
Get the Wiring Done Right.
Newman Electric wires bathrooms for remodels and new construction across Vancouver, WA. GFCI outlets, exhaust fans, vanity lighting, heated floors. The estimate is free.