Dishwasher And Garbage Disposal On Same Circuit

Curious if it’s possible to run a dishwasher and garbage disposal on the same circuit. Many people try to run these on the same circuit to save energy, time, and money.

We’ve got you covered! Discover whether operating both appliances simultaneously is safe and the best practices to ensure efficient and trouble-free usage. Say goodbye to electrical suffering and find the answer you’re looking for.

Yes, running a dishwasher and garbage disposal on the same circuit is generally safe, but there are essential considerations to remember.

Don’t miss our comprehensive guide for a seamless and efficient kitchen setup.

I will reveal the answers to this question in this article with all the information. Just read along!

Can You Run a Dishwasher and Garbage Disposal on the Same Circuit?

Yes, the dishwasher and garbage disposal can run on the same circuit. But they prefer to be powered by two different circuits rather than one.

To run a dishwasher and garbage disposal on the same circuit requires some conditions.

It is essential to ensure that both appliances do not exceed the amperage rating more than the circuit amperage or even close to it.

Does Garbage Disposal have to be on a Dedicated Circuit?

Garbage disposals are highly preferred to be on a dedicated circuit. However, it is not like they cannot work on a shared circuit at all.

Many electricians connect garbage disposals and dishwashers in the same circuit. But this is very risky and requires a lot of attention.

When garbage disposals are connected to a dishwasher circuit or any other outlet, it is essential to ensure that the total amperage of the circuit is 20 Amp.

And it is essential to ensure that the total amperage of both appliances does not get more than 80 percent of the circuit amperage rating.

Generally, garbage disposals require 15 Amp, and dishwashers require 10 Amp. Therefore, they can be linked in the same circuit but with proper and specific system branch circuit design.

But if the garbage disposal is planned to be powered by a shared circuit, it must first know whether that area’s local code permits it.

Does a Dishwasher Need a Dedicated Circuit?

Like garbage disposals, dishwashers are also greatly recommended to be on a dedicated circuit rather than a shared one.

You might share the dishwasher circuit and garbage disposal circuit to save time and energy installing two separate circuits. But think twice about whether it will ease the trouble for you.

Because when you link the two appliances together in one circuit, you’ll have to pay extra attention and care with a risk of often facing malfunctions.

Still, if connecting a dishwasher and garbage disposal to a common circuit seems like a better option, you need to follow the requirements of amperage mentioned above.

Also, ensuring that your local code allows a shared garbage disposal and dishwasher circuit before taking any steps is essential.

Can You Run the Dishwasher and Garbage Disposal at the Same Time?

Dishwashers and garbage disposal can essentially run at the same time. But whether you should do it or not depends on several factors.

Firstly, you must ensure that your plumbing system is correct and supports simultaneously running the dishwasher and garbage disposal.

If the plumbing system isn’t proper, there is a risk that the dirt and debris from the garbage disposal unit shall start backing up to the dishwasher.

And this is very unhygienic since all the disgusting food waste will start to mix up with the dishwasher water, spoiling the dishes.

Also, determine the amount of power your circuit will draw while the dishwasher and garbage disposal run together.

But if your dishwasher and garbage disposal share the same circuit, running them simultaneously will complicate you.

Because in this case, you will have to take several measures to run the dishwasher and garbage disposal simultaneously, but it will still be risky.

As I have mentioned before, whenever a dishwasher and garbage disposal share the same circuit, it ought to be ensured that their amperage doesn’t exceed 80 percent of the total circuit amperage.

But when the dishwasher and the garbage disposal are run simultaneously, this phenomenon of maintaining the minimum amperage becomes almost impossible.

Because it is evident that when an appliance requiring an amperage of 15 Amp is run along with another device of 10 Amp at a time while connected with the same circuit of 20 Amp, the combined amperage will exceed 80 percent of the circuit amperage.

Hence, running a dishwasher and garbage disposal that shares the same circuit simultaneously might result in a tripped circuit breaker.

Therefore, it is strongly recommended that if you plan to run the dishwasher and the garbage disposal simultaneously, keep them in two different circuits instead of one.

Moreover, it is further suggested to run the garbage disposal and the dishwasher together; the garbage disposal should be run for a while before starting the dishwasher.

This is to ensure that any food or debris isn’t obstructing the proper drainage of water from the dishwasher.

Although before deciding whether to run the dishwasher and the garbage disposal together, it is essential to confirm that your local code allows them to run together.

Can Garbage Disposal Affect the Dishwasher?

Generally, garbage disposal doesn’t affect the dishwasher. Even if they’re connected to the same circuit without any major malfunctions, they won’t be affected by each other.

Sometimes the garbage disposal might get damaged. That is when the garbage disposal motor no longer works or the blade doesn’t turn.

Even then, the garbage disposal will not affect the dishwasher because the water that goes down the sink passing through the garbage disposal moves to the drain out of your house.

It doesn’t generally move to the dishwasher upward. The dishwasher gets clean water from the same source as the sink’s tap.

The only reason garbage disposal might affect the dishwasher is when there is a plumbing defect.

As mentioned before, if the plumbing is improper, there is always a risk of debris from the garbage disposal backing up to the dishwasher.

It would help to observe whether your drain plug is covering the garbage. If so, then there is a possibility that the water from the dishwasher or sink will not drain properly.

When the water from the dishwasher or sink doesn’t drain properly and gets blocked, there is a risk that the water passing from the garbage disposal might back up to the dishwasher.

If the drain plug is the culprit, it can easily be fixed. All you have to do is move the drain plug from covering the garbage disposal. That’s it!

Dishwasher and Garbage Disposal on the Same Circuit Not Working: Causes and Solutions

There can be times when a dishwasher and the garbage disposal are not working simultaneously, exclusively when connected to the same circuit.

Causes:

This happens simply due to the risk mentioned several times before, for which a dishwasher and disposal are discouraged from being on the same circuit.

The load or amperage might have exceeded 80 percent of the amperage rate of the circuit. And so, the circuit breaker tripped or reset itself.

When the circuit breaker trips, the flow of electricity to the appliances it is connected to completely stops as it turns off itself.

And in that case, it is required to be turned on manually to reset the circuit breaker.

Solutions:

This problem can be easily solved by following the steps mentioned below:

Step 1: Check the electrical outlet under the sink with which the dishwasher and the garbage disposal are plugged.

Step 2: Unplug the garbage disposal and the dishwasher from the electrical outlet.

Step 3: Press the red button on the GFCI outlet to reset it.

Step 4: Plug the garbage disposal and dishwasher into the electrical outlet.

Step 5: Now check whether both your garbage disposal and the dishwasher are running correctly or not.

Step 6: If both turn on and work properly, your job’s done!

But if the garbage disposal and the dishwasher still won’t turn on, then you need to check the circuit box of your house to see whether the circuit breaker for the kitchen outlet has tripped.

If that’s the case, reset it to turn on, which should solve your problem.

Final Words

There is no doubt that a dishwasher and garbage disposal can run on the same circuit. But the problem is that it comes with many risks and complications.

Hence, it is preferred that a dishwasher and garbage disposal should be run with two different circuits unless it’s necessary.

Therefore, think deeply about it and choose wisely. I could help.

Thanks for reading till the end!

You May Also Like

• Can a Fridge, Microwave, Garbage Disposal, Small Appliance, and Dishwasher be on the Same Circuit?
• Does a Garbage Disposal Need Its Own Circuit?
• Does Garbage Disposal Need GFCI (Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter)?
• How Many Amps Does a Garbage Disposal Use?
• Do I Need a GFCI Outlet for a Dishwasher?

James Miller

James is an organic fertilizer professional who owns a successful organic fertilizer company in new jersey. He is an expert in waste management in both houses and community cases. In his free time, he loves to write about his experiences in the field.