Electrical Wiring for a Laundry Room

Summary: Fully Explained Photos and Wiring Diagrams for Laundry Room Electrical Wiring with Code Requirements for most new or remodel projects*.
© By: Dave Rongey

How to Install Laundry Room Electrical Wiring

DIY Electrical Wiring Video

Wire a Dryer Cord and Outlet

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Considerations to help determine the required circuits for your Laundry Room

The first consideration will be your clothes dryer, will it be be Gas or Electric?

The electric clothes dryer will require a dedicated 30 Amp 4-Wire Circuit. Is the laundry room equipped with an area to iron clothes? If so a 20 Amp circuit should be installed as well. If the laundry room does not have a window, then an exhaust fan will be required along with a switch. Occupancy controlled lighting will be required too.

See the NEC Code requirements in the table below for more specific information.

Laundry Room Electrical Code Requirements
The Electrical Code requires that outlets within six feet of the laundry or utility sink must be GFCI protected. Important Factor: Find out if the Main Service or the Panel that will supply the home electrical wiring for laundry room equipment circuits has adequate load capacity and space for the circuits and breakers.

Laundry Room Blueprint and Wiring Design Layout

Home electrical wiring for laundry room electrical codes

All lighting must be either: all florescent, or provide a "manual-on occupancy sensor"

All room exhaust fans shall provide a min of 5 Air Exchanges Per Hour.

One outlet on a separate 20 amp circuit must be provided and be within 6 feet of the intended location of the laundry washing machine appliance.

A GFCI is required for all 120 volt receptacles installed within 6 feet of sinks for the home electrical wiring for laundry room. Receptacles installed for a dedicated purpose, such as clothes washer may have a receptacle which is not protected by GFCI.

Provide a 4-wire outlet for the electric dryer.

Electrical Circuit Wiring for the Laundry Room

Clothes Washer	Dryer Wiring	Exhaust Fan	Fluorescent Lighting	Utility Sink

Dryer Cords	120 Volt Outlet	Light Switch	Occupancy Sensor	GFCI Outlet

Laundry Room 120 and 240 Volt Electrical Circuits to Consider

120 volt devices

Washing Machine
Lighting
Under Cabinet Lighting
Exhaust Fan
Ironing Board

240 volt equipment

Clothes Dryer

NEC Code graphics provided by Mike Holt Enterprises.

Questions about Wiring a Laundry Room

Options for Installing Exhaust Fans

Dear ask-the-electrician: I am interested in installing the Air King BFQ50 into an Andy Gump Outhouse...for a client who does not wish to have the various construction workers destroy her bathroom again. I don't have access to a hard-line and i was hoping that you would be able to tell me how to convert this unit into a wall plug outlet set up...2 prong or 3... please let me know Thank you and best to you! Rich

Hi Rich, it may be possible to install surface conduit down to a wall outlet that is equipped with an extension box. This could get the power up to the unit, and you could run the power through a occupancy sensor as well. Another option is to install a solar exhaust fan with the small solar panel mounted on the roof. These units work well too, and end up paying for the initial cost, and then run for FREE! More about Solar Exhaust fans: https://ask-the-electrician.com/solarexhaustfansmain.html

Sharing an Outlet for a New Washing Machine

Jeff, from Eureka, California asks:
In my garage there is a single 20 amp outlet which is for plugging in a gas dryer. I have a new large energy efficient washer my question is can I put a 3 way plug in on that single 20 amp so I can run my washer and dryer at the same time?

Jeff,
Sharing this outlet with the new energy efficient washer and the gas dryer would depend on two things. First, is the outlet on a dedicated circuit that is not shared with any other outlets or devices. Secondly, what are the specifications of the new energy efficient washing machine as far as watts or amperage required. Knowing the limitations of the outlet circuit or available power, and knowing the total required watts or amps of both the washer and the dryer will determine if this is possible or if a new circuit for the washing machine will be required.

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