Residential Electrical Services
Kitchen Electrical
in Vancouver, WA
Kitchens use more electricity than any other room in the house. The refrigerator, dishwasher, garbage disposal, microwave, range, and hood all need their own circuits. Add in GFCI outlets along the countertops, under-cabinet lighting, and pendant lights over the island, and you're looking at a serious amount of electrical work. Newman Electric wires kitchens for remodels and new construction across Vancouver, WA. Ryan knows what a kitchen needs because he's done hundreds of them.
Kitchen Requirements
What a Modern Kitchen Actually Needs
Most older kitchens in Vancouver were wired with one or two circuits for everything. That's not enough for today's appliances. The NEC requires specific circuits for specific loads, and a proper kitchen remodel means getting all of them right.
Countertop Outlets
GFCI-protected outlets every 4 feet along the countertop, plus at least one on any island or peninsula. Every countertop space wider than 12 inches gets an outlet. These run on two dedicated 20-amp small appliance circuits.
Refrigerator Circuit
Your refrigerator gets its own dedicated 20-amp circuit. It shouldn't share a circuit with anything else. If the refrigerator trips a breaker while you're on vacation, everything in it spoils.
Dishwasher Circuit
A dedicated 20-amp circuit for the dishwasher. It can be hardwired or have a receptacle under the sink, depending on the manufacturer's requirements. Newman Electric installs it per the dishwasher specs.
Range/Oven Circuit
Electric ranges need a dedicated 40-amp or 50-amp 240-volt circuit. Gas ranges with electric ignition need a dedicated 20-amp 120-volt circuit. Newman Electric runs whichever your range requires.
Under-Cabinet Lighting
LED strips or puck lights under the upper cabinets. Newman Electric wires these to a dedicated switch so they're separate from the overhead lights. Great for task lighting on the countertop.
Pendant and Recessed Lights
Recessed cans for general lighting and pendant fixtures over the island or sink. Newman Electric positions recessed lights to eliminate shadows on the work surfaces and installs pendant fixtures at the right height.
The Job
How Kitchen Electrical Work
Comes Together
Kitchen electrical is almost always part of a larger remodel. Newman Electric works with your general contractor, cabinet installer, and countertop crew to get the wiring done at the right stage. Timing matters because we need open walls for rough-in and finished walls for trim-out.
Plan the layout with you
Before anything gets torn apart, Newman Electric reviews the kitchen layout. Where are the appliances going? How many countertop outlets? What kind of lighting do you want? Where does the island outlet go? We figure all of this out before the permit gets pulled so the rough-in goes smoothly.
Rough-in the wiring
With the walls and ceiling open, we run all the circuits: dedicated appliance circuits, small appliance branch circuits for the countertop outlets, lighting circuits, and any low-voltage runs for under-cabinet lights. Everything gets labeled at the panel so your contractor knows what goes where.
Trim out after cabinets and counters
Once the cabinets and countertops are installed, Newman Electric comes back for the trim-out. We install the outlets, mount the light fixtures, wire the under-cabinet lighting, and connect the appliances. Everything gets tested and inspected before you use the kitchen.
Code & Safety
Kitchen Electrical Code Requirements
in Vancouver, WA
Kitchen wiring has more code requirements than any other room. Washington state follows the 2023 NEC under WAC 296-46B. Newman Electric follows every kitchen electrical code on every job.
- Countertop Receptacles (NEC 210.52(C))
Receptacle outlets must be installed along every wall countertop space 12 inches or wider, and no point along the wall can be more than 24 inches from a receptacle. Islands and peninsulas with countertop space of 12 inches or more need at least one outlet. Newman Electric spaces outlets per code and adds extras where your kitchen layout needs them.
- GFCI Protection (NEC 210.8(A))
All kitchen receptacles serving countertop surfaces must be GFCI-protected. That includes outlets near the sink and anywhere within 6 feet of water. Newman Electric installs GFCI outlets or GFCI breakers on all required kitchen circuits in Vancouver WA.
- Small Appliance Circuits (NEC 210.52(B)(1))
Every kitchen must have at least two 20-amp small appliance branch circuits. These are the circuits that power the countertop outlets where you plug in your toaster, coffee maker, and blender. They can't be shared with lighting or other rooms.
- Dedicated Appliance Circuits (NEC 422.16)
Dishwashers, garbage disposals, and microwaves each need dedicated circuits. Electric ranges need a dedicated 40-50 amp 240V circuit. Gas ranges need a dedicated 120V circuit. Newman Electric runs all required dedicated circuits as part of every kitchen electrical job.
Customer Reviews
What Customers Say About Newman Electric
"Just had a Newman Electric crew fix a scary electrical issues in my Kitchen area. Two very efficient, friendly, & skilled gentlemen, James & Ryan G. - what a team! These are the guys you want showing up for the job. Also, the office manager, Ashley, who contacted me to schedule their work, was equally as efficient at aligning their schedule, and very pleasant while doing so."
"The best electricians in town! We loved working with Roman and Chris. Their expertise in wiring, solving problems and installing of light fixtures was impressive! Both are very professional and work well with the homeowner (us) and our dog who was always helping them out! We highly recommend Newman Electric!"
"Newman helped me with a new chandelier install and wiring in our restaurant. Roman and Chris were on time, knowledgeable, and worked quickly and cleanly so we could get opened for our lunch shift. Highly recommend the entire team at Newman Electric for any of your projects!"
Common Questions
Kitchen Electrical FAQs
It depends on the scope. Rewiring a full kitchen during a remodel with new circuits, GFCI outlets, lighting, and appliance connections is the biggest job. Adding a couple of outlets or swapping light fixtures is much less. Newman Electric gives free estimates. We'll look at your kitchen, your plans, and give you a number.
At minimum: two 20-amp small appliance circuits for the countertop outlets, a dedicated circuit for the refrigerator, a dedicated circuit for the dishwasher, a dedicated circuit for the garbage disposal (can be shared with the dishwasher under NEC rules), and a dedicated circuit for the range or oven. Add in a microwave circuit and a lighting circuit and most kitchens have 7 to 10 circuits running back to the panel.
All outlets serving countertop surfaces must be GFCI-protected. The refrigerator outlet and any outlets not serving the countertop don't need GFCI by code, though some homeowners choose to add it everywhere. Newman Electric installs GFCI protection on all required kitchen circuits.
Yes. Islands with countertop space 12 inches or wider require at least one outlet by code. Newman Electric runs the circuit under the floor or through the ceiling above, depending on what's accessible. The outlet can be mounted in the side of the island, in the countertop with a pop-up, or underneath.
All the time. Newman Electric coordinates with your GC on timing. We do the rough-in when the walls are open, then come back for trim-out after cabinets and countertops are in. We've worked with a number of contractors in the Vancouver WA area, including Fineline Construction on several high-end kitchen projects.
Yes. Newman Electric can retrofit under-cabinet LED lighting in an existing kitchen without opening the walls in most cases. We run the wiring through the cabinet boxes and connect to a new switch or dimmer. It's one of the most popular kitchen electrical upgrades we do.
Related Services
Other Work That Goes With Kitchen Remodels
Remodel Electrician
Full electrical for renovation projects
LED Lighting Retrofit
Recessed LED cans and dimmers
Dedicated Circuits
Separate circuits for appliances
Lighting Installation
Pendants, chandeliers, and fixtures
Outlet Installation
GFCI outlets and countertop receptacles
Electrical Panel Upgrade
More capacity for kitchen circuits
Bathroom Electrical
Remodel both rooms at once
Smart Home Wiring
Smart switches and lighting controls
Service Area
Kitchen Electrical Across
Vancouver & Clark County
Newman Electric does kitchen electrical work in homes all over the Vancouver, WA area. We've wired kitchens in new construction in Ridgefield, luxury remodels in Camas, and older kitchen updates in Hazel Dell and east Vancouver. Every kitchen is different, but the code requirements are the same.
We also serve Cowlitz County for kitchen electrical. Longview, Kelso, Woodland, and Kalama.
Remodeling Your Kitchen?
Get the Electrical Right.
Newman Electric wires kitchens for remodels and new builds across Vancouver, WA. Dedicated circuits, GFCI outlets, lighting, and appliance connections. The estimate is free.