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Setting up kitchen appliances for the first time? Unfortunately, not all are going to be as simple as just ‘plug and play’. Do you know what kitchen appliances need their own circuit?
Some kitchen appliances are always going to need their own electrical circuits – and most of the time, these are the appliances that are bound to draw an intense amount of power. If they are not properly connected, they can very easily become serious fire risks and are likely to break down.
Of course, if they need their own circuit, then you will need to have these appliances installed by a professional. Electrical circuits can be complex, and extremely deadly if you handle them on their own.
Here is a list of the kitchen appliances that you will have to have installed by a professional engineer onto their own, separate circuits:
The Oven
The main appliance that you will have to have installed onto its own circuit is your oven. Unlike microwaves, ovens cannot simply be plugged in as they do need to draw on an intense amount of power, sometimes for hours.
The cost of the installation will depend on the size of the oven, its position in your kitchen, and whether or not the space will need to be prepared before the oven is installed. However, this is not one that you would even want to try installing by yourself!
Given how frequently most of us use our ovens, it is essential that they are installed correctly. Their heating mechanisms, along with their sheer power, can be very dangerous if they are not installed properly and will put you and your loved ones in peril.
The Hob
The hob is very similar to the oven, in that it is an appliance that heats up to high temperatures and therefore needs a good amount of energy. Moreover, it too can be used for hours at a time. That is why it is equally essential for your stove to be installed by a professional onto its own circuit.
Whether it is an induction, ceramic, electric or gas hob, your top will need its own secure power source in order to function safely.
The Cooker
As a stand-alone appliance that combines a stove and an oven, you can easily see why cookers need their own circuits! That is especially important as you are likely to draw on both elements at a time and will therefore need a secure circuit.
The Dishwasher
Believe it or not, not all dishwashers can simply be plugged in. Beyond the fact that they generally need to be installed on a secure water source by a professional, some dishwashers also draw on a lot of power. They, therefore, also need to be installed onto a secure circuit by a technician.
The Washing Machine
We don’t all house washers in our kitchens, however, for those of us that do, it is essential to have it installed by a professional for many of the same reasons that your dishwasher should – it’s about connecting to the water supply and getting the right amount of power.
What Kitchen Appliances Could Need Their Own Circuit?
For the most part, the appliances in our following list can simply be brought home and plugged in, ready to go. However, that isn’t the case for all of them. In some cases, if these appliances are particularly big and/or powerful, they too will need to be installed by a professional.
The Microwave
One of the best things about microwaves is that they are so easy to use, from the moment you plug them into the moment you start using them. However, not all microwaves can be just easily plugged into any wall.
Some microwaves, especially high power models and multi-function ovens, need a strong, solitary power source and cannot be placed on a shared circuit. They, too, therefore, need to be installed by a professional.
The Fridge
We are all told to wait for about a day when we first bring our fridges home before plugging them into the wall and using them. However, as many modern fridges come with their own screens, adjoining freezers, ice makers, and more, it is possible that your new fridge will need to be installed by a professional – they need to use a lot of power.
The Freezer
Freezers tend to be appliances that we directly link to fridges – or, they come attached. Generally speaking, we expect to just come home and plug them in, but that isn’t always the case. In some cases, your freezer may have to be installed by a professional, especially if it is particularly powerful – check with your supplier.
The Heater
In some cases, powerful or specialist space heaters need the touch of a professional. Since they can draw a lot of power, usually for entire days (especially during the colder months), they are likely to need their own solitary power source and singular circuit.
How Do I Know if a Kitchen Appliance Needs to be on its Own Circuit?
Generally speaking, it will be easy to spot in store or online whether or not your chosen appliances have plugs – in which case, it is likely that your appliance need only be plugged into your a socket.
However, that does not mean that they can necessarily be plugged in just anywhere. Some appliances will need specific socket types and to be alone on a circuit – so they can get the power they need to run properly.
However, if you are unsure about how your appliance should be installed and whether or not it will need to be directly wired into the house’s main circuits, you should talk to the professionals at the store, or contact the online service from which you will be purchasing the appliance. Safety first!
