What Appliances Should Be On a Dedicated Circuit?

Proper electrical function and access in a home is pretty much completely necessary to support normal daily activity. We need power for lights, for cooking, security, entertainment, and even more! But though many of these can be wired to operate on the same circuit, there are some that absolutely must be placed on a singular, dedicated circuit. Want to know which ones? Find out by following along with th experts at Hoffman Electrical & A/C!

For dedicated circuit installation, wiring, and complete electrical services in Tampa and St. Petersburg contact the certified electricians at Hoffman Electrical & A/C today!

What Are Dedicated Circuits?

Dedicated circuits are ones that are completely devoted to powering a single appliance or electrical application. It has a singular purpose, and it’s own place on your breaker box where it is completely divorced from interacting with other circuits and outlets in your home. This is primarily a functionality measure, as well as a safety one.

You want to use dedicated circuits for anything that draws large amounts of power on a consistent basis (fridges, HVAC, etc.) or things that pull a sudden and heavy draw (hair dryers, microwaves, etc.).

Why Do I Need These?

Seems a bit frustrating to go through all of the effort to get a dedicated circuit for each and every one of these items, we know. But it’s very important! Ensuring the proper appliances are on a dedicated circuit prevents a lot of common home risks, helping keep you and your property secure. It’s also part of the standardized NEC safety codes. By using dedicated circuits you can avoid:

• Flickering lights
• Breaker trips
• Potential home fires
• Appliance damage
• Risks of electrical shock

Appliances That Need to be on a Dedicated Circuit

An easy rule of thumb to follow is that anything that is fixed (installed and not moved around) needs to be on a dedicated circuit. These sorts of things would include:

• Refrigerators and standing freezers
• Heating and cooling systems
• Ovens, stoves, and ranges
• Hot water heaters
• Sump pump systems
• Microwaves
• Plasma televisions

This is a good baseline to follow, however, there are actually plenty of smaller and mobile items that should also be used on dedicated circuits, such as:

• Portable space heaters
• Window air conditioners
• Hair dryers
• Toasters
• And more

Because of this need for dedicated outlets for smaller items our experts frequently recommend that a “general use” dedicated circuit be installed in many rooms throughout the home. A general use outlet in a bathroom, for example, allows the safe use of hair dryers when needed, while one in the living room allows for plugging in a space heater (or holiday tree!) come the winter.

Dedicated Circuits & Outlets in Tampa, Florida

Think your home need more dedicated outlets, or not certain and looking for a professional assessment? We’ve got you covered! Contact Hoffman Electrical & A/C online today to learn more about our wiring and outlet services, or to set a date for your consultation and home electrical assessment!