Can a dishwasher be placed next to a refrigerator?

Dishwasher placement guidelines are easy to follow for owners of large kitchens. But what if the kitchen is very small and there's barely enough space to fit everything you need? You also need to consider what can and can't be placed next to what, so as not to inadvertently ruin an expensive dishwasher, stove, or refrigerator. Whatever you do, you'll have to place some appliances next to each other, but which ones? Today, we'll focus on whether it's okay to place a dishwasher next to a refrigerator, and we'll also consider other appliances.

What is the danger?

The manufacturer claims that installing a dishwasher close to a refrigerator can damage both appliances, but how real is this danger? The walls of modern No Frost refrigerators get quite hot, but not hot enough to cause any significant damage to the dishwasher. A water leak could theoretically damage the refrigerator, but the likelihood of this is very low. The vibration from the dishwasher is also small and it is also not capable of causing damage to the refrigerator.What conclusion can be drawn from this?

1. If the doors of the dishwasher and refrigerator do not interfere with each other, then the appliances can be placed next to each other.
2. Leave a gap between the machine body and the refrigerator wall. One centimeter is sufficient.
3. Don't plug these appliances into the same outlet. The refrigerator and dishwasher are heavy consumers, and the electrical network may not be able to handle the load. Furthermore, it's best to protect the electrical connection. dishwasher stabilizerto prevent power surges from damaging your devices.

The stabilizer is quite expensive, but not more expensive than all the appliances in the kitchen.

If you're particularly concerned about your refrigerator and dishwasher, place a thin layer of insulation between them. This will be sufficient to ensure the safe operation of these two essential kitchen appliances.

Unwanted neighbors for a car

As you've already figured out, the refrigerator isn't on the list of undesirable neighbors for a dishwasher. So what should a dishwasher stay away from? First and foremost, a microwave oven. Microwaves are generally very poorly compatible with any electrical appliances, as the radiation they emit is harmful to electronics. Only simple appliances like kettles, toasters, coffee makers, food processors, and so on tolerate being near a microwave more or less well.

Dishwashers, refrigerators, washing machines, multi-cookers, and so on contain electronic components, meaning microwave ovens should be kept at least 20-30 cm away from them. Washing machines are also considered "aggressive" appliances and should never be placed close to a dishwasher. This is because the machine's body vibrates heavily during the spin cycle. If placed too close to the dishwasher, the vibrations will be transmitted to the dishwasher, which could cause damage.

For a washing machine to function properly in the kitchen, there should be a gap of 2-3 cm between its body and the bodies of other appliances (or the walls of furniture). Provided that the washing machine is level, this distance will be enough to ensure that the body does not touch surrounding objects even when spinning at 1200 rpm.

Another undesirable neighbor for a dishwasher is a stovetop and oven. Placing the dishwasher and stovetop close together is dangerous because the oven overheats and transfers heat to the dishwasher, which is not designed for such use. This can result in damage to the dishwasher. If possible, it's best to separate the stovetop and dishwasher with a cabinet, but if this isn't possible, install reliable insulating material between the dishwasher and stovetop.

So, the placement of your dishwasher in the kitchen must be carefully considered. You need to consider not only where it will be placed, but also who its immediate neighbors will be. While it might survive close proximity to the refrigerator, close contact with the microwave could prove fatal. Good luck!

3 reader comments

1. January 25, 2019 at 1:02 AM

   Elena:

   Great article, really helpful! Thank you!

   Answer
2. January 27, 2020 at 11:44 PM

   Irina:

   This is a complete nonsense article. I have an expensive refrigerator and an expensive dishwasher. When the dishwasher opens, it releases steam and the refrigerator heats up so much that water drips into the freezer. Apparently, the author doesn't even have a dishwasher.

   Answer
   • March 6, 2021 at 6:00 AM

     Nata:

     I completely agree, a dishwasher heats nearby items more than an oven, so next to a refrigerator is definitely not an option; at a minimum, a 150-degree oven is needed between these appliances.

     Answer