How Many Outlets For an Outdoor Kitchen?
There are countless considerations when it comes to an outdoor kitchen. Besides the location, design, and construction of your outdoor kitchen, you must consider various aspects. One of the major considerations for an outdoor kitchen is the installation of utilities, particularly electricity. Your outdoor kitchen must accommodate all your electrical needs to ensure optimal use of the space.
Any outdoor kitchen will need outlets for one appliance and a light at least. Most outdoor kitchens will require more than this. You may also want to accommodate other appliances like fridges, dishwashers, ice machines, wine coolers, blenders, deep fryers, rotisserie systems, and keg machines.
Before building your outdoor kitchen, you should consult with the relevant industry professionals to establish your needs and how all of these can be accommodated in your outdoor kitchen. Because the kitchen is located outdoors, there are several considerations to be made that will differ significantly from an indoor kitchen.
How Many Outlets For Outdoor Kitchen?
An outdoor kitchen is a great asset to have, no matter how small it may be. Outdoor kitchens offer the ultimate outdoor entertaining, allowing you to serve your guests and cook for them without the need to move back and forth between the indoor kitchen and your outdoor entertainment area.
Outdoor kitchens can vary drastically in terms of their offerings. Simple outdoor kitchens may feature only a grill and a countertop. On the other hand, high-end outdoor kitchens can feature various amenities such as keg machines, wine coolers, and outdoor dishwashers.
Before deciding how many outlets you will need for your outdoor kitchen, you must think about how many appliances you will use. This will also depend on how you use your outdoor kitchen. If you are the type of person to entertain larger groups, your electrical needs for your outdoor kitchen will grow substantially.
If you prefer to have small, intimate dinners with your direct family, your needs will be significantly reduced.
Most outdoor kitchens will need at least one electrical outlet to allow you to plug in a single appliance or task light if there is no task light already installed as part of the kitchen setup. However, you may need several more outlets if you plan to use your outdoor kitchen to prepare entire meals.
Consider installing outlets above the counter level for smaller appliances and lights. You will also need to consider installing outlets below the counter to accommodate larger appliances such as refrigerators, barbeque lights, gas igniting systems, and potentially a water heater.
A fully equipped outdoor kitchen can include an array of powered appliances such as:
- A wine cooler
- A refrigerator
- An ice machine
- A Dishwasher
- A keg machine
- A deep fryer
- A rotisserie system
- A blender
- Warming drawers
Almost any other appliance used in your indoor kitchen may be required in your outdoor kitchen. This need for appliances generally depends on how you plan to use the space. You must decide how you plan to use your outdoor kitchen and how many appliances you will require before deciding how many outlets will be needed.
In most cases with an outdoor kitchen you can get away with approximately two above-counter outlets provided there are sufficient under-counter outlets for the larger appliances. This will allow you to plug in different appliances as the need arises.
Other Electrical Considerations For Outdoor Kitchens
It’s important to consider electrical safety in your outdoor kitchen. Unless you have significant knowledge regarding electrical installations, you will be far better off hiring a professional to do the work. This will ensure that your outdoor kitchen is safe for use and does not pose a hazard to you, your family, or your outdoor kitchen guests.
Several permits will be required for any electrical installations in your outdoor kitchen. It’s important to comply with these to ensure that your outdoor kitchen installation remains on the right side of the law.
A qualified electrician will know and understand the codes related to the electrical installations for an outdoor kitchen.
There are certain requirements for GFCI outlets that should be considered. An outdoor kitchen should be on its own GFCI circuit board connected to your mains. This will allow you to reset the entire system from inside the house if required.
A GFCI system is required to protect against any risk of shock. These are essential in any application where water is involved. This outlet type will monitor the amount of electricity that flows in a particular circuit. If there is any imbalance detected, the outlet will automatically shut down.
This precautionary measure helps prevent electric shock and the potential for fires.
Other Utilities For Outdoor Kitchens
Outdoor kitchens will require various other utilities in addition to electricity. Firstly, your outdoor kitchen will require plumbing. An outdoor kitchen without a sink is simply not a great idea. With this in mind, you will need to have sufficient plumbing installed to include a sink in the design of your outdoor kitchen.
You may need to insulate the pipes if you decide to run hot water to your outdoor sink. When considering the plumbing for your outdoor kitchen, you should always consult with a professional to ensure optimal results.
Gas is another utility worth considering for your outdoor kitchen. Unless you only use charcoal for your grill, you will benefit from having an efficient gas installation for your outdoor kitchen. Suppose natural gas is available in your area. In that case, you can run a gas line directly to the grill station in your outdoor kitchen.
If no natural gas is available in your locale, simply allow for installing two propane tanks to ensure that you will always have spare gas when your tank runs out. The last thing you want is for your gas to run out while cooking a delicious meal.
Conclusion
The number of outlets required for your outdoor kitchen project will vary depending on your needs. You will need consider carefully how many appliances and other electrical items you will use in your outdoor kitchen at any given time. Be sure to consult with – and hire – professionals to ensure your outdoor kitchen is safe and fully usable.
Sources
- https://www.doityourself.com/stry/how-to-install-electrical-for-an-outdoor-kitchen
- https://www.angi.com/articles/how-accommodate-outdoor-electrical-needs-summer.htm
- https://www.thespruce.com/building-an-outdoor-kitchen-4779117
- https://mrelectric.com/blog/setting-up-an-outdoor-kitchen-understand-electric-essentials
- https://www.hgtv.com/design/remodel/kitchen-remodel/utilities-in-an-outdoor-kitchen
- https://www.hgtv.com/outdoors/outdoor-remodel/choosing-outdoor-kitchen-cabinets
