What Kind of Outlets Does My Appliance Need?
When you plug an appliance into an electrical outlet, it receives power from your homes power supply. What you may not realize is that electrical outlets can carry different voltage and current ratings and provide different levels of protection when it comes to electrical outages or shorts. This means that there are dedicated outlets in your home that will meet the power requirements for certain appliances such as refrigerators, dishwashers, washers, dryers, and stoves. If you are unsure of which appliance needs to plug in to which outlet you may want to contact the electricians at American Mechanical in Virginia Beach.
What Kind Of Outlet Should I Plug My Appliance Into?
It’s important to know what type of outlet your big appliances require before plugging them in – plugging an appliance into the wrong outlet may cause damage to the appliance.
Refrigerator – Most refrigerators work with a standard 100-120 volt electrical plug and outlet. You will notice that the electrical plug is made up of three prongs; this means you will need an electrical outlet that has three inserts. This third prong is used in most large appliances and is electrical ground, protecting your appliance if your electricity shorts out.
Dishwasher – A large range of dishwashers use the standard current of 110 volts. It is best to use an outlet that has a Ground Fault Interrupter or GFI. This will provide an extra precaution if the outlet gets wet. A GFI is designed to trip or disconnect power to prevent electrocution.
Washer –Washing machines are large appliances that do not require customized electrical hookups, they simply need a 120 volt outlet that can take 3 prongs. Washing machines come with a plug that has two regular prongs and a third prong which is rounded – this helps to ground the washing machine and prevent it from blowing out if your electricity shorts.
Dryer – An electric dryer outlet must be wired to a 240 volt circuit. The 240 volt circuits are spread throughout two wires, a neutral and a ground wire. If a dryer is plugged in to a 120 volt outlet and will not work correctly and will likely cause damage to the dryer. If this occurs call our electricians in Virginia Beach.
Stove – A large percentage of stoves will require a 200 or 240 volt outlet. Most building codes require the 240 outlet to be installed specifically for a stove. These outlets are usually round in appearance so that you can tell the difference easily when plugging up your kitchen appliances. Due to ovens taking up so much power, you will want to be sure that the outlet you use for your stove is grounded correctly.
Call American Mechanical Today!
If you have a kitchen that does not have the correct electrical outlets for your appliances or you are having difficulty knowing where to connect certain appliances, contact our electricians in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and Norfolk. American Mechanical can help you with all of your electrical, HVAC, and plumbing needs.
Call American Mechanical at (757) 703-1529 today or contact us online to schedule an electrical service in Virginia Beach!
