Residential Electrical Services
Outlet Installation
in Vancouver, WA
If you're running extension cords across the room, your outlets are two-prong with no ground, or you need a GFCI outlet installed in a kitchen or bathroom, Newman Electric can help. We add new outlets, replace old ones, and upgrade existing receptacles to meet current code. Ryan and the crew handle outlet installation for homes across Vancouver, WA. New construction outlets, remodel outlets, and simple add-ons for rooms that just don't have enough plugs.
Outlet Types
Types of Outlets Newman Electric Installs
Not every outlet is the same. The right one depends on where it goes and what you're plugging into it. Newman Electric installs and replaces all of these.
Standard 15-Amp Outlet
The standard three-prong outlet used in bedrooms, living rooms, and hallways. Most general-purpose outlets in your home are 15-amp on a 14-gauge circuit.
Bedrooms, living rooms, hallways
20-Amp Kitchen & Bath Outlet
Kitchen countertop and bathroom outlets require 20-amp circuits per the NEC. These outlets have a T-shaped neutral slot that accepts both 15-amp and 20-amp plugs.
Kitchen countertops, bathrooms
GFCI Outlet
Ground-fault circuit interrupter outlets trip when they detect current leaking to ground. Required in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, outdoors, and anywhere near water.
Kitchens, baths, garages, outdoor
USB Outlet
Outlets with built-in USB-A or USB-C ports so you can charge phones and tablets without a wall adapter. Newman Electric installs these in kitchens, bedrooms, and home offices.
Kitchens, bedrooms, offices
Tamper-Resistant Outlet
Outlets with spring-loaded shutters that block foreign objects from being inserted. NEC 406.12 requires tamper-resistant outlets in all new and remodeled homes with children.
All locations (code-required)
240-Volt Outlet
Heavy-duty outlets for electric dryers, ranges, EV chargers, and workshop tools. These run on a dedicated circuit with the right NEMA receptacle type for your appliance.
Laundry, kitchen, garage, workshop
Old two-prong outlets? If your home still has ungrounded two-prong outlets, you have options. Newman Electric can run a ground wire back to the panel (the right fix), install a GFCI outlet as a code-compliant alternative, or do a full rewire if the home needs it. We'll tell you which option makes sense for your house.
The Process
How Newman Electric Handles Outlet Installation
Outlet installation is one of the most common calls Newman Electric gets. Adding an outlet or replacing an old one takes about 30 minutes to an hour per outlet. Adding a brand new outlet where there wasn't one before takes longer because we need to run wire through the wall.
Figure out what you need
Ryan asks where the outlet goes, what you're plugging into it, and whether there's an existing circuit nearby. For replacements, we check the existing wiring to make sure it's safe to reuse.
Turn off the power and do the work
We shut off the circuit at the panel, verify it's dead with a meter, then cut in the box, run the wire, and install the outlet. For GFCI outlets, we test the trip function before we leave.
Test and clean up
We test every outlet with a plug tester and a multimeter. We check for proper grounding, correct polarity, and tight connections. Then we clean up and move on.
Code & Requirements
Outlet Code Requirements in
Vancouver, WA
Outlet requirements are covered under NEC Article 210 (Branch Circuits) and NEC Article 406 (Receptacles). Washington state follows the 2023 NEC under WAC 296-46B. Newman Electric follows all outlet and receptacle code requirements.
- Outlet Spacing (NEC 210.52)
In habitable rooms, no point along a wall should be more than 6 feet from an outlet. Kitchen countertops need an outlet within 2 feet of any countertop edge, and no more than 4 feet between outlets. If your home doesn't meet these spacing rules, Newman Electric can add outlets to bring it up to code.
- GFCI Protection (NEC 210.8(A))
GFCI outlets are required in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, crawl spaces, unfinished basements, outdoor areas, and laundry rooms. If you're replacing an old outlet in any of these locations, the new one needs to be GFCI. Newman Electric installs GFCI outlets and tests the trip function on every one.
- Tamper-Resistant Receptacles (NEC 406.12)
All 15-amp and 20-amp outlets in dwelling units must be tamper-resistant. That includes new outlets and replacements during remodels. Tamper-resistant outlets have internal shutters that prevent kids from sticking objects into the slots.
- Replacing Ungrounded Outlets (NEC 406.4(D)(4))
If your home has old two-prong ungrounded outlets, the NEC allows three options when replacing them: run a ground wire back to the panel, install a GFCI outlet and label it 'No Equipment Ground,' or install a GFCI breaker and label all downstream outlets. Newman Electric can advise which approach works best for your house.
Customer Reviews
What Customers Say About Newman Electric
"Anthony was awesome! Professional, courteous, efficient and friendly. He was careful to ensure accurate placement of a new outlet prior to starting work. He performed the work quickly, safely and cleaned up when he was done. I have worked with Newman Electric on multiple projects and I appreciate the quality of each of their team members that has served us. I will continue to refer them to friends, family and colleagues."
"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!!"
"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."
Common Questions
Outlet Installation FAQs
It depends on the type of outlet and whether we're replacing an existing one or adding a new one. Replacing an old outlet with a new one is the least expensive. Adding a brand new outlet where there wasn't one before costs more because we need to run wire through the wall and connect it to a circuit. Newman Electric gives free estimates.
Yes. Newman Electric adds outlets to rooms all the time. We tap into a nearby circuit, run wire through the wall to the new location, and install the outlet. If the existing circuit is already loaded, we may recommend adding it on a dedicated circuit instead.
Two-prong outlets have no ground wire, which means your devices aren't protected from electrical faults. The best fix is running a new grounded circuit. The NEC also allows installing a GFCI outlet as an alternative, which protects against shock even without a ground. Newman Electric can look at your wiring and tell you which approach makes sense.
Yes. The NEC requires GFCI protection on all kitchen countertop outlets. If your kitchen outlets aren't GFCI-protected, they don't meet current code. Newman Electric installs GFCI outlets in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and anywhere else the code requires them.
Yes. We install outlets with built-in USB-A and USB-C ports. They replace a standard outlet and charge your phone or tablet without needing a wall adapter. They're popular in kitchens, bedrooms, and home offices.
Replacing an existing outlet takes about 15 to 30 minutes. Adding a new outlet where none existed takes 1 to 2 hours because we need to cut the box into the wall and run wire. Multiple outlets in the same room go faster because the wire routing is done once.
Related Services
Other Wiring and Outlet Services
Dedicated Circuits
Circuits for heavy appliances
Electrical Repair
Fix dead or faulty outlets
Kitchen Electrical
Kitchen outlet upgrades
Bathroom Electrical
GFCI outlets for bathrooms
Whole House Rewiring
Replace old wiring throughout
Surge Protection
Protect your plugged-in devices
Smart Home Wiring
Smart switches and outlets
Remodel Electrician
Outlets for your remodel
Service Area
Outlet Installation Across
Vancouver & Clark County
Newman Electric installs and replaces outlets for homes across Vancouver, WA and Clark County. GFCI outlets, USB outlets, new additions, old outlet replacements, and two-prong to three-prong upgrades.
We also serve Cowlitz County. Longview, Kelso, Woodland, and Kalama.
Need an Outlet
Added or Replaced?
Newman Electric handles outlet installation for homeowners across Vancouver, WA. New outlets, replacements, GFCI upgrades, and USB outlets. The estimate is free.