Can Dishwasher and Disposal Be On Same Circuit? | How Long They can Be on the Same Circuit?

Yes, as long as a load of both devices does not exceed 80% and you use the proper type of circuit breaker, the dishwasher and disposal can be on the same circuit.

It is not necessary to connect your dishwasher with your disposal, but it is recommended to do so to avoid issues with your sink and drainage system. In order to securely dispose of wastewater with food wastes, a disposer or garbage disposal connection installed under the sink is required.

Is It Possible Get Dishwasher and Garbage Disposal Be On the Same Circuit?

The dishwasher and garbage disposal can both be run on the same circuit. The dishwasher is primarily powered by 120/125 volts. To provide 15 amps of current to both the disposal and the dishwasher, 14/2 NM wiring is normally used, and to feed 20 amps, 12/2 NM wiring is usually used, and this is grounded wiring.

You must also ensure that the combined amperage of the two appliances does not exceed 80 percent of the circuit amperage rating. Most dishwashers use roughly 10 amps, whereas garbage disposals use far less, so you’re unlikely to exceed the 80 percent barrier.

Circuit Breaker for Dishwashers

Dishwashers are all powered by 120 volts. They do not, however, all consume the same amount of voltage, which is the primary decision element when selecting a breaker. The best thing to do is to check the appliance’s packing information to find out what the current usage is. 

It’s worth mentioning, though, that most dishwashers require a single-pole breaker with a minimum of 15 amps. You may adjust the amps to 20 just like you can with the garbage disposal. If you use a 20-amp circuit, you can also add a tandem breaker to better control the enormous load.

Circuit Breaker for Garbage Disposal

You must have an available outlet that is protected by a 120-volt, 20-amp circuit breaker in order to install a garbage disposal. It should be noted that a GFCI outlet will not sufficient. Once the right outlet is in place, make sure the electricity is turned off before gathering your tools.

Dishwasher and Disposal On The Same Circuit Not Working

In some rare cases, problems may occur with the same circuited dishwasher and disposal. Here, the causes and solutions are discussed.

Causes

The load or amperage may have exceeded 80% of the circuit’s amperage rate. As a result, the circuit breaker tripped or reset. When a circuit breaker trips, the flow of electricity to the appliances to which it is attached comes to a halt because the circuit breaker effectively shuts off.

Solution

Examine the electrical outlet under the sink where the dishwasher and garbage disposal are connected in. Unplug the garbage disposal and the dishwasher from the power source. To reset the GFCI outlet, press the red button. Then reconnect the garbage disposal and dishwasher to the electrical outlet.

Check to see if your garbage disposal and dishwasher are working properly. If both of them switch on and function properly, your task is complete! If these still don’t work, check the circuit box to see if the circuit breaker for the kitchen outlet has tripped. If so, then reset it to turning on, and this should cure your problem.

Circuits Of The Kitchen

To operate kitchen appliances securely, seven to eight circuits are required (one lightning circuit and the rest are for operating appliances). The circuits most commonly utilized in our homes are simple and not overly complex. 

Light bulbs, fans, fixtures, and outlets (including plug-in outlets) in our homes are powered by a single general circuit. However, a single circuit cannot support our kitchen or kitchen appliances such as the refrigerator, oven, dishwasher, and disposal.

Enough Outlet Space?

If you already have a lot of equipment plugged in your house, you might not have a lot of spare outlets. Particularly if you have all of your appliances plugged in at all times.

You might not have enough room to build a pigtail to connect your dishwasher and garbage disposal to the same circuit. That would, however, be a great cause to hardwire your appliances, so you don’t have to worry about not having enough outlets for other appliances.

Role of GFCI and AFCI for Dishwasher and Disposal

These types of kitchen appliances often include a plug and cord connection. According to the Local Interpretation Code, dishwashers require Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI).

While AFCI (ARC Fault Circuit Interrupters) and GFCI are the safest approaches for disposal, they are removed due to GFCI tripping, and only AFCI is dedicated to use. Because GFCI interrupts the flow of current if there is a problem with the circuit or breaker and the disposal cannot acquire the power to begin working.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is There Any Need For A Stabilizer?

It is not required to use a stabilizer for your dishwasher or disposal, but it would greatly benefit you if you do. A voltage stabilizer is used to keep a specified voltage level. Voltage stabilizers are used to prevent your home appliances from abrupt harm.

Some of the greatest dishwashing and disposal options for you are:

• Dishwasher Frigidaire Inch Built-In
• Filtration System — A self-cleaning filter removes food particles from the water, keeping dishes clean.
• Stay-Put Door — The door stays open at any angle for convenient loading and unloading.
• Heated Drying System – A heating element aids in the drying of your dishes the first time.
• Quiet Food Waste Disposer by HomeAid
• 2-Stage Multi-Grind Technology with a 1/2 HP AC Motor
• Grind Components Made of Stainless Steel
• Genuinely Ultra-Quiet Technology

Conclusion

If you currently have the dishwasher on a 20-amp circuit, you should double-check the amperage ratings for both appliances to see if you have enough headroom to add the garbage disposal to the same circuit.