Rebates, WaterSense and Water Savings for a Bathroom Remodel

A bathroom remodel is a natural time to cut water and energy use, but the incentives for doing it are thinner than many homeowners expect. This page sets out what exists for a Vancouver or Clark County bathroom as of October 2026, what has ended, and what Washington's code already requires of new fixtures. Programs change, so each item names its source and the status on the date this guide was checked.

What exists and what does not, October 2026

Fixtures: the code already sets the bar

Washington's amendments to the Uniform Plumbing Code (WAC 51-56-0400) put efficiency into the code itself, so every new fixture installed in a remodel has to meet it:

Two points follow. First, a shower with several outlets on one valve may not exceed 1.8 gpm combined unless only one outlet runs at a time (UPC 408.2.1 as amended), which matters if you are planning body sprays. Second, because the code already requires efficient fixtures, choosing one is not optional, and no local utility pays extra for it as of October 2026. The bathroom plumbing code page covers the rest of the rules, and toilets and showerheads and body sprays explain how to choose.

Utility rebates in Clark County

City of Vancouver water

The City's water conservation page offers advice, not money. It suggests water-efficient toilets, faucets and showerheads "as a water-saving investment" and links to WaterSense; no rebate, voucher or free kit is listed. The City notes that a five-minute shower with a water-conserving showerhead uses 15 to 25 gallons, and that a leaky toilet can waste as much as 200 gallons a day.

Clark Public Utilities

Clark Public Utilities' rebate list includes heat pumps, weatherization and heat pump water heaters, but no bath fan, showerhead or water fixture program. The utility also runs a water system in parts of the county; no fixture rebate was found on its site, so call 360-992-3000 to confirm for your address.

EPA's rebate finder

EPA says WaterSense itself "does not provide any rebates for products"; its Rebate Finder lists offers from local water providers. No Vancouver or Clark County offer appeared when this guide was checked, but it is worth searching your ZIP code before you buy.

Water heaters: the real incentive

If your bathroom remodel includes a new water heater, this is where the money is.

• Heat pump water heater, electric customers. Clark Public Utilities offers a $1,500 rebate for a qualifying Tier 3 or Tier 4 heat pump water heater (on the BPA qualified products list) replacing an electric storage water heater one-for-one in an existing home, and the same amount for split-system units. You must live in Clark County and follow local code and permitting. Self-install or contractor install is allowed, except that units needing ductwork in conditioned space must be contractor-installed. One rebate per home, with an exception for homes with two existing water heaters of at least 50 gallons each. Checks are mailed in 6 to 8 weeks.
• Retail markdown route. Purchases at participating Oregon Lowe's or Home Depot stores get an instant markdown in place of the full rebate: for purchases after April 30, 2026, a $1,000 markdown plus a $500 rebate.
• Gas tankless, NW Natural customers. NW Natural lists a $400 Energy Trust incentive for replacing a natural gas tank water heater with a gas tankless unit, for existing Washington and Oregon customers in existing homes. The offer expires January 31, 2027, and Energy Trust requires a carbon monoxide monitor on every floor with a bedroom.

Water heaters appear in the City of Vancouver's 2026 plumbing and mechanical fee tables, and Clark County requires a plumbing permit to install one in unincorporated areas. Plumbing permits covers the fees.

Exhaust fans: efficiency without a rebate

There is no local rebate for a bath fan, but an ENERGY STAR model is still worth specifying. Under ENERGY STAR Version 4.2, a bathroom fan of 10 to 89 cfm must reach at least 2.8 cfm per watt and be no louder than 2.0 sones; 90 to 200 cfm, 3.5 cfm per watt and 2.0 sones. A quiet fan is one people actually run, which protects the room from moisture. See bathroom exhaust fans and the ventilation code.

Federal tax credit: ended

The IRS says the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C) is not allowed for property placed in service after December 31, 2025; it was ended by Public Law 119-21. A heat pump water heater, fan or any other bathroom item installed in 2026 earns no federal energy credit.

Where the savings really come from

In a bathroom, the lasting savings are on the water bill: code-compliant fixtures, a toilet that does not run, and hot water that is not wasted waiting at the tap. Planning the remodel well does more than chasing rebates. If a water heater change is on your list, put it in the same written scope as the bathroom so the permit and the rebate paperwork are handled once. Read about bathroom remodeling in Vancouver or see how to save on a bathroom remodel.