A dishwasher is one of the most demanding appliances in our household, for it makes our chores easy. The installation seems a bit tricky if you are new to it.
Hence, we will be going through the possible ways a dishwasher can be attached to electricity. And if dishwashers come with power cords or not.
Do dishwashers come with power cords?
Dishwashers do not come with power cords. They usually have an electrical box attached with essential wires. A power cord is needed when an electrical outlet is accessible under the sink. Again, wires require connection to the wiring system of the house if a power outlet is absent.
Dishwashers are usually connected using two different systems, hardwired and cord-and-plug systems.
If you fail to locate any plug outlet for your dishwasher, then you can infer it to be hardwired. Again, when we find an outlet under the sink, it is a cord and plug system for sure.
Though power cords do not typically come with a dishwasher, you can buy them separately. Power cord kits from both brands and non-brands are available in the market.
The plug-in system is easy to install. With this, you do not have to rewire the existing wires in the house. It is also readily removable.
The hardwired system allows saving a lot of space. It is also easy to connect the wires of a dishwasher to the wiring of the house. This allows a low risk of circuit dangers.
| Brands | Comes with a Power Cord |
|---|---|
| LG | No |
| GE | No |
| Kitchen aid | No |
| Bosch | Yes |
| Maytag | No |
| Samsung | No |
| Frigidaire | No |
| Whirlpool | No |
Why do dishwashers not come with power cords?
Power cords are absent when you buy a dishwasher. Some possible reasons could be,
For system compatibility:
Different houses introduce electrical wiring differently. Some have accessible outlets under the sink, while some do not.
With a plug outlet, you can simply introduce the plug-in system in the dishwasher. Without an outlet, you need to go for a hardwired system.
Therefore, if all dishwashers come with a power cord, it will create difficulty for houses with wiring systems for dishwashers. So to avoid this confusion, power cords are not available with dishwashers. However, power cords can be bought alone.
Aftermarket add-on:
Both brands and non-brands offer power cords for dishwashers. It may seem like a market strategy. To some extent, it could be.
Nevertheless, this is also because different houses are designed with different kinds of electrical installation systems.
Personal preference:
Some people prefer the cord and plug system as it is easy to install and move. However, the installation could be tricky.
Some consider getting a connection from the existing wiring system for their dishwasher. They will choose a hardwired system as it could lower the risk of circuit-related accidents.
Do dishwashers come with plugs?
No dishwashers do not come with plugs. We know power cords are not provided with a dishwasher. A plug is an integral part of a power cord.
A house with an exposed electrical outlet under the sink needs a plug-cord system. Again, dishwashers are known to be heavy-duty appliances. So the plug and cord system has to be powerful.
The most common is the three-prong cord with 15 amperes. It not only supplies enough electrical power but is safe to use for a dishwasher.
How do you hook up a power cord to a dishwasher?
Connecting an electrical cord to a dishwasher could seem a little difficult. Here we jotted down steps on how to connect a power cord to a dishwasher.
Place dishwasher upside down:
Place the dishwasher upside down. Expose the outlet where you need to install the power cord.
Get the power cord:
If a power cord is missing, you have to get it separately. Make sure it is compatible.
Locate the electrical box/ junction box:
The electrical access or junction box is the place where the power cord needs to be connected. You will find it in the corner with the insulation pads.
Remove the insulation pads:
For this, you need to remove the cover first and then the insulation pads located near the junction box. Here a screwdriver or a hex driver is needed.
Open the junction box:
The junction box is small and placed just near the insulation pads. You may need a screwdriver or open following the Snap-On system.
Locate the wires:
There will be mainly two wires which are black and white. Again, there will be a green-colored ground connection.
Open power cord kit:
Open the power cord from the packet. The cord will have three colored wires white, black, and green.
Other accessories such as strain relief and wire caps will be there as well.
Place strain relief:
The strain relief will go inside the back hole of the junction box. There are two screws on each side of the strain relief. Loosen them.
Also, there will be a nut on the front part. Take out the nut from the threaded head.
Insert wires in the strain relief:
Place the three colored wires of the power cord through the strain relief.
Secure the strain relief:
Now place the entire strain relief through the back hole of the junction box.
Once in, take the nut and secure the strain relief tightly.
Again, tighten both the screws on each side of the strain relief.
Connect the grounding wire:
There will be a loop on the end of the green ground wire. First, unscrew the green ground screw.
Now place the screw into the loop of the green ground wire. Now screw it back again.
Connect the black and white wire:
Now, connect the black and white wires of the cord with the black and white wires of the junction box. Secure the connection with the wire caps.
Close the junction box:
Put the wires back inside the junction box. Place the cover over and tighten it with a screw.
Place insulation pads:
Place insulation pads back in their place. Now put the cover above and secure it with screws.
Ready to plug-in:
Finally, when everything is secured tight and safe, place the dishwasher in its designated area. You can now connect the plug to the outlet and start the dishwasher.
Why do dishwashers have to be hardwired?
Dishwashers either have a hardwired or cord-plug system. Though both of the arrangements have their advantages, we will discuss why dishwashers have to be hardwired.
Existing wiring of the building:
The wiring of a building is different between infrastructures. And your house perhaps is already wired. If the building has a wired system for dishwashers, choosing a hardwired system have to be your number one preference.
Also, if an existing outlet is missing under the sink, you will have to go with a hardwired system.
No extra space is needed:
When you connect your dishwasher with a hardwired system, there will be no need for additional space. Even after the installation, there will be enough spaces.
Less load on the circuit:
Many prefer a hardwired system over a cord-plug as it connects to the already installed wires of the building. This implies a low risk of accidents related to the circuit.
Are new dishwashers hardwired or plug-in?
Still, most brands do not provide a power cord with a dishwasher. This means you can choose either a hardwired or plug and cord system. This depends on the available wiring and electrical outlets in your house.
Houses with an electrical outlet under the sink can get a plug-cord system. Again, hardwired should be in homes with no electrical outlet for the dishwasher.
What type of plug does a dishwasher use?
Since a dishwasher is a heavy-duty appliance, the most common cord-plug system used is the 15 amperes three-prong cord. With a three-prong plug system, the electricity is supplied safely to the dishwasher.
The center prong is called the ground plug. This helps prevent electric shock if short circuit or loose wire cases appear.
Again the outlet should be a GFI or Ground fault interrupter. Using this, you get extra precautions when the outlet gets wet. Also, GFI helps disconnect power and prevent electrocution.
What size cord does a dishwasher need?
The ideal size for a cord of a dishwasher is 12 to 14 gauge. Since a dishwasher is a heavy-duty appliance, it is better to use low gauge wires. This will allow increased electrical supply.
For example, a 16 gauge wire usually transmits 22 amperes, while a 12-gauge wire can convey up to 41 amperes.
Again, if the wire gauge is too small, the appliance may overheat and eventually start a fire.
Final Thoughts
Most brands do not provide power cords with a dishwasher. This is either because your house may support a hardwired or a plug-cord system. You can always buy an electrical cord if needed. Also, choose wisely between hardwired or plug-cord according to the wiring of the house and your preference.