only problem I see with your contractor, is that the panasonic needs a dedicated circuit for the electric heater, as it uses a lot of power. an electric heater has the same problem, it probably should be on a dedicated circuit.

can you double up one of the breakers downstairs and run a new line?

Yes - just found out that the electric spaceboard heaters present the same problem.

Checked the breaker board and there is a 20 amp dedicated line to an AC unit in the bedroom that we no longer use since we had central air installed. That was a really tricky installation since our attic is not a standup attic. So there would be a similar problem - that is, running the line from the bedroom to the bathroom.

Nothing is easy. I guess a real fall back is a space heater which we can turn off and on and connect to an existing outlet in the bathroom. Seems awfully lo-tech.

Here is my suggestion.

See if they can disconnect that un-needed available line at the breaker box, and run a new line from the box to the bathroom. Routing that way may be easier than extending the existing line.

Does your ducted HVAC system go into the space, but just not offer that extra warmth you need, or is there no other source of heating?

Also, it would seem to me that a space heater would be a poor makeshift solution to bathroom heating during a renovation. After all, it will draw a lot of power too. This is the time and place to get things set up the way they can best offer you comfort and safety over the years. Will the bathroom be able to support running the space heater and a hair dryer? Make the electrician and contractor do their job.

Not trying to be too forceful, but I just think that this is a compromise that you will regret.

Thanks Juliekcmo

The electrician should be stopping by today to check out the un-needed line. However, the box is in the boiler room off of the garage and this bathroom is on the 2nd floor on the other side of the house. We don't have a stand up attic or a basement so adding a new line is always a problem. It actually may be easier to extend the existing line. But we will see what the electrician says.

The ducted system on the 2nd floor is just AC. Heat is hot water / oil. The only source of heat in the bathroom will be a hydronic 2400 BTU Runtal towel warmer. There had been a small unit of baseboard but the contractor removed that thinking that the wall unit would be sufficient.

All of this was not a problem until the contractor recommended removing the door that existed between the shower/toilet area and the rest of the bathroom. With that door closed, one could shower and dry in relative warmth.

The bathroom and bedroom share the thermostat and we keep our bedroom at 60 degrees - hence the need to add some quick warm air to the bathroom when showering.

Sometimes low tech is best tech based on circumstances.

Since, however, you have a hydronic towel bar, why not tap off that and use the hot water for a hydronic under cabinet heater?

That wouldn't draw that much power, and you could put a separate thermostat right in the bathroom to control it.

How difficult would it be to add a stat and valves or whatever type of control that is needed to have the bathroom warmer? I bet the towel heater would keep it warm enough in the room if it had its own control.