Two Dishwasher Questions

[James-W]

On a new installation of a dishwasher, do you hard wire it, or do you need to have it protected by a GFCI?

If it needs to be GFCI protected, can you install a short power cord or do you hard wire it and use a circuit breaker that has the protection?

 

[mc4life27]

Well it depends on how close the outlet is to a water source. If it’s within 6 feet then yes gfci. You can wire it either way with on outlet or a breaker but breakers cost more also you would still have to install some kind of junction box unless you just run a pig tail out from the wall into the dishwasher. I would suggest just using an outlet gfci for simplicity.


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[Terry D]

You can put the dishwasher on a cord, but it is not required by code. The dishwasher must be GFCI protected. It can be a breaker or receptacle. I have put a dead front GFCI in the backsplash or if you use a cord, the GFCI must be in the cabinet next to the dishwasher, so it is readily accessible for resetting. A lot of times it is just easier to use a breaker

 

[56Mark]

I built a new house last year. We put a receptacle behind the dishwasher and a cord on the dishwasher. The outlet is GFCI protected at the breaker. I like having them on a cord so they are easier to work on in the future and the way appliances are now days, you will be working on it sooner than you probably want to.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

If you hardwire it, you could use a dead front GFCI but cord and plug connected is easier for servicing.

 

[Meursault74]

Learned something new. I have never heard or seen these dead front GFCI.

I replaced a very old dishwasher that was hardwired in my house a few years ago. it isn't protected by GFCI, I'm sure this wiring was installed before code for those outlets. I put the new washer in as is.

If/when I need to service/replace this one, I'll put a junction box in the adjacent cabinet and hardwire with a dead front or put an GFCI outlet and use a cord.

 

[Mike Folks]

Home appliances are certainly not lasting as long as ones from the past, two years for some,"Built in obsolescence"?

 

[TRWham]

You can put the dishwasher on a cord, but it is not required by code. The dishwasher must be GFCI protected. It can be a breaker or receptacle. I have put a dead front GFCI in the backsplash or if you use a cord, the GFCI must be in the cabinet next to the dishwasher, so it is readily accessible for resetting. A lot of times it is just easier to use a breaker

A cord is not required, but a disconnect within sight is (see Article 422 Part III) so the breaker does not comply. We find it easier just to use a plug and receptacle under the sink to satisfy all requirements at once.

 

[Terry D]

A cord is not required, but a disconnect within sight is (see Article 422 Part III) so the breaker does not comply. We find it easier just to use a plug and receptacle under the sink to satisfy all requirements at once.

Agreed, we are in the 2014 code here in St Louis County, but the City is in the 2017. The breaker has always been ok to serve as the disconnecting means until 2017. I believe that's when they added the phrase " within sight". It also changed in the 2017 NEC that the receptacle can not be behind the dishwasher anymore. So yes, it would be easier to put a cord and a receptacle under the sink. The GFCI could be under the sink or a breaker. This is something I will have to get used to doing all the time.

 

[pattenp]

A cord is not required, but a disconnect within sight is (see Article 422 Part III) so the breaker does not comply. We find it easier just to use a plug and receptacle under the sink to satisfy all requirements at once.

Agreed

You two need to read 422 III again. It's not cut and dry that the breaker has to be in sight. Volts-Amps and HP of the appliance determine the requirements. The breaker can be lockable.

 

[56Mark]

If you hardwire it, you could use a dead front GFCI but cord and plug connected is easier for servicing.

I had to google dead font GFCI. I too have never heard of or seen one of these. Good tip, thanks. I don't do wiring, or plumbing, for a living but try to stay up on this stuff because I am always involved in friends and family member's repairs/remodels etc and am the person they call. Changed a broken GFCI for a neighbor this morning. Reset button physically popped off of it and we found it but not repairable....and I didn't want to risk something being stuck trying to make it work, so new one it was.

 

[Terry D]

You two need to read 422 III again. It's not cut and dry that the breaker has to be in sight. Volts-Amps and HP of the appliance determine the requirements. The breaker can be lockable.

It was merely said that one way is to put a cord on it and plug it into a gfci under the sink. You could install a permanent breaker lock. To be honest, i hardwire 95 percent of my dishwasher's. We have only been required to gfci protect them within the last year. My question is, what about electric cook tops and wall ovens

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[nadogail]

I guess I need to get up to date on dishwasher hookups, I have been installing the replacements the same as the originals were.

 

[James-W]

Thanks for all the replies gentlemen. I am helping a friend remodel his house and we will be installing a dishwasher. We weren't sure what to do about the power going to it but now I guess we will go with a short power cord on the dishwasher and put an outlet box under the sink with a GFCI outlet in it.

 

[Showkey]

The industry norm on replacement..........exactly the same as how it was done prior.

Especially when “free install” is included from the seller with free take away of the old unit.
Same for the drain line.

 

[larry4406]

A cord is not required, but a disconnect within sight is (see Article 422 Part III) so the breaker does not comply. We find it easier just to use a plug and receptacle under the sink to satisfy all requirements at once.

This is what our electrician does. GFI receptacle in sinkbase.

 

[TRWham]

You two need to read 422 III again. It's not cut and dry that the breaker has to be in sight. Volts-Amps and HP of the appliance determine the requirements. The breaker can be lockable.

I agree a lock is compliant, but that seems to be a rare solution and not one I am prone to apply in a residence. We simply provide receptacles for both the DW and the disposer under the sink and drive on down the road. Most new disposer installations we do are on air switches that plug into a receptacle anyway.

 

[rsparks64]

I built a new house last year. We put a receptacle behind the dishwasher and a cord on the dishwasher. The outlet is GFCI protected at the breaker. I like having them on a cord so they are easier to work on in the future and the way appliances are now days, you will be working on it sooner than you probably want to.

Nice car.

 

[engineer2]

When I re-did my kitchen I added a quad outlet with a GFCI on a dedicated 15 amp circuit under the kitchen sink for the dishwasher and disposal. I used one of those in-use outlet covers in case a water line lets loose or something gets spilled. The new dishwasher came with a power cord and I added one to the disposal. Very convenient!! I also have a motion detecting LED light under the sink.

I opted to wire the dishwasher to a dead-front GFCI at the kitchen counter so the ladies don't have to search for the reset. Someday I might get rid of the dead-front and put a regular outlet in its place because if the dishwasher trips a GFCI, you should probably stop using it. When my old dishwasher tripped the GFCI, I foolishly reset it and started it up again at which point its circuit board caught fire. There is a class action lawsuit on dishwasher fires. Lawyers will get millions and you'll get a coupon for dish soap.