Installing dishwasher, question about power cord

10 years ago

My 4-year old dishwasher recently flooded my kitchen and didn't really work well before that so we just threw it out and purchased a new Whirlpool Gold dishwasher. The old dishwasher was installed just before we bought the house by the previous owners, and when we removed it, we noticed it was not connected to power via an outlet and cord, but rather simply connected to wires that went inside the wall, white to white, black to black and the green to the ground screw. We didn't think that was strange or problematic until we got the new washer, and it came with a power cord which will need to plug into an outlet.

I'm wondering, does the dishwasher NEED to be hooked up to that cord, which will plug into an outlet (which we will then need to have put in), or is it okay to simply hook it up the way it was before, directly connecting white to white, black to black and the green to the ground screw. I don't want to do this if it is an electrical/fire hazard, but I don't want to do/pay for extra work if installing an outlet is not actually necessary.

Hopefully I explained this well enough... I know very little about this stuff! Thanks for any responses!

Featured Answer

alroco
Original Author

10 years ago

To answer questions, the dishwasher (purchased new) just has the wires coming out of it, and came with a cord that, on one end, connects to the wires, and on the other end, has a 3-prong plug. It came with the dishwasher, no extra charge or anything. The guys who delivered it, who were also supposed to install, said they could not install it without an outlet.

We do have a garbage disposal, but that appears to be hard-wired as well. There is no outlet under the sink or dishwasher area.

I supposed I will check with our city code and go from there. Or just plan on hard wiring the unit since that seems common enough...

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Comments (7)

gwarstong
10 years ago
Check with someone who knows local codes. Where I live no installer will connect DW to hard wire. All require outlet in place.

In any event, since you already have a dedicated wire there, creating/installing an actual outlet would be a very simple matter, I would think.
tjmwine
10 years ago
The simple answer is no. It can be installed either way. The way you described the wiring of the old dishwasher it is called hard wire. I am surprised that the new one came with a cord. it's not used right? Are you sure the sales person didn't added it to the sale?? At any rate the dishwasher can be hard wired or a plug can be attached and an outlet installed in the wall.
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Fori
10 years ago
Do you have a garbage disposal? Or is that also hardwired? usually they go into the same outlet.

My new dishwasher came with a cord, and was not an additional purchase.
markb
10 years ago
FYI: many new dishwashers are now "plug and play" as opposed to previous versions that were hardwired into the homes electrical supply.

Most new construction includes a power outlet under the sink for a dishwasher hookup. Makes sense if you think about it. When it's time to replace the dishwasher in "x" number of years, the homeowner can easily do this without the expense of hiring an electrician.
gwarstong
10 years ago
Don't get the apparent resistance to installing outlets in your situation regardless of code. You already have power to both locations. Putting it into proper outlets and attaching plug-cords to DW and disposal would be the right way to do it. Simple. Cheap. Couple-hour job for yourself or someone you know.

What am I missing?
kaseki
10 years ago
The reason manufacturers have moved toward providing cords is for service personnel to be able to work on the dishwasher with it un-powered without having to have a disconnecting means in view of the appliance, or a lock-out/tag-out system at your breaker box. Just pull the plug.

Installing a receptacle box is not difficult in most circumstances, but if you are not aware of the code and safety requirements or confident in your skill, have an electrician do it. Given that you mention "city" in a message above, it is likely that the powers that be prohibit you from installing a receptacle yourself, in any case.

kas