How many circuits do I need to existing Laundry Room?

[JFletcher]

Hello all.

There's a older ranch, it has a laundry room. Theres a washer, dryer. Theres also a sink and a toilet.
It has a separate 120v 20a circuit to it.

A contractor will be adding a shower in the room.

Is it now a laundry AND a bath room ?? Will I need two circuits or is it now a laundry with a shower and one circuit will suffice?

I would just run the extra circ. but it would be VERY difficult to get back to a Packed Federal Pacific and the owners are elderly and are adding the shower cause they have difficulty walking and look a bit low on the $$.

Thank you

If you wind up having to go to the panel, I'd pull a feeder to a more accessible/centrally located subpanel, or replace the FPE. A panel change to a same-amperage panel is *usually* not a lot of labor or materials.

That said, I dont see you needing to run an additional circuit as it's already a laundry and bathroom. Adding the shower changes it from a half to 3/4 or full bathroom, but it's already an existing bathroom.

 

[retirede]

I think the inspector means that you can not hide the receptacles behind the washer and dryer. They are a disconnecting means so must be accessible. I put mine at 48" to the top of the outlet boxes…next to the water supply valves and standpipe.

I disagree.
A front loader on a pedestal will hide a 48" high receptacle anyway.