subject: Installing Electrical Appliances [print this page] What are the things you need to think about when installing new household appliances? It's not simply a matter of picking a model from the store bringing it home and plugging it right in. After you've measured and shopped and compared, there are still things you need to consider.
Power requirements. Most standard home electrical circuits are on a 120-volt line. Standard outlets are called duplex outlets and have two slots for plugging in devices.
Check the power requirements of your appliance before you purchase. Most major household appliances will require a 220-volt current. Likewise, unless your clothes dryer is powered by natural gas, it will also require a 220-volt outlet. In most cases homes are built with the appropriate outlet already installed in the right locations. But if you're doing a serious remodel or upgrade you may have to install, or have installed the appropriate outlet. If you don't have experience working with electricity, you're going to want to hire a licensed electrician to do this work for you.
The quality and design of your appliance is an important consideration when installing. While you may save on purchase price, you may end up spending more on installation.
Appliances are reliable, but not failsafe. So it's important that you installation allows for it to be easily removed and service. For example you can use flexible hook-ups for dishwashers and gas ranges. This will make any repair job less labor intensive, and if you're paying to have the work done, less expensive.
When installing electric ovens and cooktops, leave extra electric cable to help with access.
What else do you need to consider when you're installing appliances? Here are some considerations for some of the larger home appliances.
Dishwashers. You want the dishwasher to be on the same level as your kitchen floor. So if you're installing tile or laminate include the flooring under the spot where your dishwasher will rest. Otherwise when the inevitable time comes for repair, you'll have to remove the countertop just to get to the appliance. That's needless time, expense and mess that can easily be avoided.
When shopping for your dishwasher, research how many gallons of water it uses for each cycle. Many have features that reduce water use. That's good for the environment and good for your budget. Newer models have efficiency features and usually can withstand higher water temperatures which is important for removing bacterial and germs from your dishes.
Washing Machines. The first thing you will want to consider with washing machines is whether the water shut-offs are easily reached. In addition, the water hoses need to be long enough to remove the washer when necessary. Depending on where you install your washer, you may need a floor drain in the event the motor or water pump fails. By design, washers should be installed on solid flooring, such as concrete. Installing them on wood floors may require extra bracing for the floor joists. If your washer is installed on unstable floors you risk damage to both the appliance and your floors.
Keep in mind when purchasing that water level controls, large capacity settings and the ability to adjust the spin cycle help to control water use. Likewise you'll find that front-loading washers use about a third less energy and water than top loading models.
Refrigerators. Most refrigerators aren't designed to be built in with the exception of models with forced air condensers. Force air models can be identified by the fan which is located in the compressor compartment. This fan circulates the air through the condenser. For more energy efficiency, choose a model with the freezer on the top as opposed to side-by-side models.
