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Appliance Installation Tips Every Homeowner Should Know

When installing electrical appliances, keep in
mind that most standard home electrical circuits are on a 120-volt
line. Conventional outlets have two places to plug in devices and
are called duplex outlets.
It's also important to note the quality
level of your appliance's) because the labor cost for installing
more expensive equipment will be higher than for less expensive
appliance's).
Appliance Power Requirements
Check the power requirements of each
appliance. To run major appliances and heavy electrical equipment,
you need 220-volt current in the house. And unless your clothes
dryer runs on gas, it will require a 220-volt outlet to operate, so
it's necessary to upgrade to 220 to handle these and other heavy
equipment.
Appliance Installation
When having an appliance installed be sure
it can be removed easily for service. Flexible hook-ups for
dishwashers and gas ranges can make repair jobs less labor
intensive. Also, leave extra electric cable when installing electric
wall ovens and cooktops. This will minimize the time the technician
spends on the job and reduce the cost to you.
Some other appliance installation tips to
keep in mind:
Dishwashers
If your kitchen floor is being tiled, make sure that it is tiled
beneath the dishwasher or at least raise its flooring to the same
height as the tiles. Once down, there may not be enough clearance to
remove the dishwasher for servicing. The only alternative will be to
lift the whole countertop off of the cupboards, a needless expense.
Wall Ovens
If you are installing a wall oven below countertop level, be aware
that small children could be exposed to a burn hazard. Wall ovens do
not have to conform to the same temperature standards that regular
ranges do. This is because they are designed to be installed above
counter height.
Washing Machines
When installing a washing machine, be sure water shut-offs can be
reached easily. Also ensure the water hoses are long enough to
remove the appliance when necessary. A floor drain may also be
necessary should the water pump or motor fail.
Washing machines are designed to be used on
solid flooring, like concrete. If it is being installed on a wooden
floor, extra joist bracing may be needed. The mounting of an
additional plywood section can also strengthen an existing wooden
floor. Severe internal suspension damage can occur if used on
unstable flooring.
Refrigerators
Refrigerators with forced air condensers are the only kind that can
be built in. Models with regular static condensers will not be able
to dissipate the heat if used in this application. This will result
in poor cooling efficiency and damage to the compressor. You can
tell forced air models by the fan, located in the compressor
compartment, used to circulate air through the condense.
AHAM appliance safety site |