Last updated on November 26th, 2022 at 06:14 am
The styles of plugging our home appliances can be quite different. For example, we can plug them into a wall socket or hardwire them directly into the circuit box.
These styles are implemented because of the appliance’s varying energy requirements, which are to look out for during installation.
Dishwashers are hardwired. They consume a relatively high amount of power, so using the same method to connect your other household appliances is not advised. Hardwired dishwashers have full access to the current they require to perform efficiently.
What is Hardwiring a Dishwasher?
Hardwiring a dishwasher can be referred to as connecting your dishwasher directly to your power source.
This process is carried out with only wires and does not need a power cord since it will directly contact your circuit box.
Hardwiring a dishwasher can be very stressful and takes a little time compared to plug-ins.
Knowing what hardwiring will assist you in going about it with at least a little experience in electricity. It is all about opening your circuit box, joining your wires inside, and then covering it back.
Are Dishwashers Hardwired or Plug-in?
Dishwashers are preferably hardwired. It is a customary law of the National Electrical Code (NEC) to hardwire our dishwashers.
Although it can also be plugged into an electrical outlet and still function properly, it is against the law of the NEC meant to protect us and our household appliances.
Due to the heavy electrical energy a dishwasher uses has a high chance of causing an electrical accident at home.
To put this issue under control, the National Electrical Code (NEC) came up with the idea of hardwiring our dishwashers. This method is the best way to ensure electrical faults are minimized.
When you go against this code and take the risk of just plugging your dishwasher into the socket, you will face frequent electrical fluctuations. And it might cause your dishwasher to develop a fault that will threaten your life and other appliances.
Once your power cord touches water, it causes electric shock, and for a dishwasher, the level of shock is invariably high.
So Dishwashers are preferably wired directly for safety measures instead of a plug-in connection. Also, a plug-in dishwasher affects the efficiency of washing dishes.
There will be a limit as to the number of plates you can wash. The power cord connection is weak and limited in function, but a hardwired dishwasher does not have any specifications regarding its functioning.
It has direct contact with your power source, which makes the flow of the current flawless. Another good reason why dishwashers are hardwired. Dishwashers are hardwired to control the issue of children playing with the power cords.
Doing this goes a long way in preventing a child from mishandling and likely damaging your power cord.
If he does not see a cable to play in the first place, there is no need to think or worry about the child having an electrical accident and perhaps damaging your dishwasher cord.
Another relevant reason dishwashers are hardwired considering how neat and free your kitchen will be.
There will be no power cord hanging on the floor as everything will be neatly wired into the power supply box.
Are all Dishwashers Hardwired?
No, not all dishwashers are hardwired. It solely depends on the electrical standards of the location you are staying.
In areas where the electrical output is higher, dishwashers are not hardwired. Instead, they are plugged into the wall socket because they would not have electrical supply issues.
Some regions do not need their dishwashers hardwired because they have a circuitry of 120 volts and above.
This amount of voltage is enough to run a dishwasher without any breakdown. So there is no need to hardwire a dishwasher in such regions; that is why not all of them are hardwired.
There are instances where a person will not be staying long in a particular location, so he does not need a hardwired dishwasher in such scenarios.
So he will have to go for a plug-in dishwasher to save him the stress of needing an electrician to disconnect the appliance.
It is also the same for repositioning your dishwasher since you can not do this with a hardwired dishwasher.
All a dishwasher needs are the right current to function, which is why dishwashers are mostly hardwired. So a dishwasher with the right power cord that would regulate current effectively is not hardwired.
The main issue is wiring because the cord cuts part of the power supplied. You, as an individual, also have a choice in this. If you do not want a hardwired dishwasher, you can place an order for a power cord that will fit the dishwasher.
It all depends on what you want, but you will also bear the risk involved though these occur in isolated cases.
How do I Know if my Dishwasher is Hardwired?
A hardwired dishwasher usually does not come with a power cord. So if your dishwasher arrives without a power cord, it is probably hardwired.
It also has electrical wires that connect the dishwasher directly to your power source. Another way to know if your dishwasher is hardwired is when you do not find a socket where your dishwasher is connected.
Hardwiring does not require a cord, so it is easiest to identify your dishwasher’s connectivity. But the manufactured dishwashers no longer come with power cords, making it much easier to determine if your dishwasher is hardwired.
The connection of a hardwired dishwasher is all about the wiring. The wires are fixed directly into the electric power box according to the colors of the individual wires.
The green wire is the only one that does not follow the coloration rule; it is instead wired to the ground screw.
Both the white and black wires are connected to their respective color wire space. If your dishwasher is truly hardwired, it will come with those wires you require to connect them.
It can sometimes come with electric cables and a power cord, but that should not confuse you. The circuitry code of your location will help you determine if your dishwasher should be hardwired.
Also, your home’s wiring system is another good way to know if your dishwasher is hardwired. Typically, sockets will be provided for all the points needing an outlet.
The wiring code does not allow for an outlet for a dishwasher; that is why electricians do not fix a socket there. So we shouldn’t take that as a mistake; instead, it indicates that your dishwasher is hardwired.
Can You Put a Plug on a Hardwired Dishwasher?
Yes, you can put a plug on a hardwired dishwasher. But you must remember that it is not like the standard socket connection that you modify whenever you want.
So, putting a plug on a hardwired dishwasher requires expertise to be done effectively without causing any damage to your household electricity.
Most dishwashers of the present age are hardwired does not mean everyone likes and follows the trend.
Some people still prefer the old-fashioned plug-in style, which you can achieve, even with a hardwired dishwasher.
A hardwired dishwasher typically comes with wires, which should not discourage you if you want a plug.
The only challenge you might face is finding the correct power cord for a dishwasher. Unfortunately, you can’t just pick any cord because it fits into the space provided.
If you plug in a dishwasher, you will need a power cord containing the amount of current that flows into it.
Therefore, it should be the first thing you consider when putting a plug on a hardwired dishwasher.
The best power cord for this is a 15 amp three-prong cord. This cable can withstand huge currents and prevent shock and fire outbreaks in the house.
Conclusion
Safety should always be the first thing in your mind when wiring your house. For example, a dishwasher is a big necessity in the house and requires special treatment, unlike other appliances.
Because of this, dishwashers are no longer advisable for plugins and do not come with power cords. Instead, they are rather hardwired into your power source.