How close can a outlet be to a sink?

Every bathroom must have at least one electrical outlet. It must be a GFCI, and it must be within 3 feet of the edge of the sink. Either behind or beside the sink is acceptable — across from the sink on an opposite wall is not. If the bathroom has two sinks, each must have an electrical receptacle within 3 feet.

What is the maximum distance of the receptacle from the intended location of the washing machine?





6 ft

Appliance receptacle outlets installed in a dwelling unit for specific appliances, such as laundry equipment, shall be installed within 1.8 m (6 ft) of the intended location of the appliance.

How close can an electrical outlet be to a water source?

6 feet

According to the National Electric Code (NEC), GFCIs are required to be installed to protect any receptacles within 6 feet of a water source.

How far does GFCI need to be from sink?





6 ft.

Generally, all 15 or 20-amp, single phase, 125-volt receptacles “within 6 ft.” of a sink, tub or shower must be GFCI protected. For a sink, the measurement starts “from the top inside edge of the bowl of the sink”. For a bathtub or shower, the measurement starts at “the outside edge of the bathtub or shower stall”.

Does outlet under sink need to be GFCI?

210.8(A) requires receptacles serving the kitchen countertop to be GFCI protected. It also requires GFCI protection for receptacles within 6′ of a sink, but only sinks not in a kitchen.

What is the code for dryer outlet?

The National Electrical Code currently requires 4-prong dryer outlets in all new home construction. Existing homes may still use 3-prong outlets. The switch to a 4-prong outlet was due to a flaw in the 3-prong outlet design. In a 3-prong outlet, the ground and neutral wires are contained in the same prong.

Where are electrical receptacles not permitted to be located?



Receptacles are not usually installed in the ceiling because receptacles located more than 5.5 feet (1.7 meters) above the floor cannot be counted as required receptacles. Since no space is available in the walls, floor receptacles must be installed.

Can you put a receptacle behind a dishwasher?

The receptacle cannot be directly behind the dishwasher; instead, it must be in an adjacent cabinet so you can access the plug without moving the dishwasher. This requires drilling a 1-inch hole through the cabinet through which you can pass the plug. This can be problematic if the cabinet has metal walls.

Is there a difference between GFI and GFCI?

GFCI vs GFI. Ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) and ground fault interrupters (GFI) are the exact same device under slightly different names. Though GFCI is more commonly used than GFI, the terms are interchangeable.

Can an outlet be over a sink?



The only thing the NEC requires is that there must be one outlet within 36 inches of the outside edge of the sink, and it must be in the wall adjacent to the basin or countertop. It’s permissible to put a receptacle higher than that, as long as there is another one within the required distance.

Which location is not required to be GFCI protected?

GFCI protection is not required for receptacles that are not readily accessible, such as a ceiling-mounted receptacle for a garage door opener. Nor are they required for a receptacle on a dedicated branch circuit located and identified for a cord-and-plug-connected appliance, such as a refrigerator or freezer.

Do 220v circuits require GFCI?

Where GFCIs Are Required. GFCI protection is required for 125-volt to 250-volt receptacles supplied by single-phase branch circuits rated 150 volts or less to the ground. GFCI receptacles are required in bathrooms, garages, crawl spaces, basements, laundry rooms and areas where a water source is present.

Does a dryer need a GFCI?

There are no conditional distances in those spaces: if the receptacle is installed in the laundry room/area, it requires GFCI protection. Therefore, clothes dryers are now required to be GFCI protected because they are in the laundry area.

Does a dishwasher need to be plugged into a GFCI outlet?



Kitchen dishwashers installed in dwelling units require GFCI protection whether hard wired or cord and plug connected.

Does a refrigerator need a GFCI?

In a dwelling unit (residential), GFCI protection is only required for kitchen receptacles that serve the countertop surfaces. There’s no requirement to GFCI protect receptacles that serve a refrigerator. Unless the fridge is plugged into a countertop receptacle.

Does my laundry room need a GFCI outlet?

GFCI Protection:
210.8(A)(10) – All 125V, 15a and 20a receptacles installed in “Laundry Areas” shall have GFCI protection. The NEC doesn’t require GFCI protection for clothes washing machines specifically, but it does for “Laundry Areas.”

Is it against code to hardwire a dishwasher?

According to the National Electrical Code, all dishwashers’ outlets need to be accessible for the dishwasher to be hardwired.

Can a dishwasher and garbage disposal be on the same circuit?



Wiring a garbage disposal and dishwasher into the same circuit requires a 20-amp circuit breaker, like this one. You’ll also need to make sure the total amperage of the two appliances combined does not exceed 80 percent of the circuit amperage rating.

Does a dishwasher need a GFCI 2020?

Another revision to GFCI protection in the 2020 NEC is to section 422.5(A) dealing with appliances that require GFCI protection. This section was revised to include dishwashers. Yes, dishwashers!