Not all appliances are created equal – some will require 220V while others will require 110V – and plugging the wrong appliance into the wrong plug or line will most likely result in a very frustrating consequence. Plug your 220V appliance to a 110V socket, and it won’t work as you desire. Plug a 110V appliance onto a 220V line, and you either burn your appliance or get an explosion. Anyway, always remember to read the manufacturer’s instruction before plugging anything into any socket to avoid mishaps and disappointments. To help lessen your worries, it is worth your while to know and familiarize yourself which appliances require a 220V line, and so here is a list of some of them.

Kitchen Appliances
Most kitchen appliances require a 220V power line, mainly because they are heavy duty appliances and require enough electrical power in order to run. This includes your cooking appliances, namely the electric stove and the microwave oven. Some (not all) electric thermos also require 220V, especially if they are made in foreign countries (plugging it in a 110V socket will take a long time for the water to heat up hot enough for a decent cup of coffee – if it heats up at all). Refrigerators and heavy duty freezers will also require a 220V line, and so will dishwashers and disposal units (although the last two can be wired on a single circuit).

Laundry Appliances
Washing machines, especially the heavy duty ones (like those used in laundry shops) must also be plugged into 220V sockets, so do dryers of the same built and make.

Heating and Cooling Systems
Water heaters, whether it be gas or electric, will require 220V to run, as well as other heating systems that you installed in your home. Cooling systems like air conditioners and others also need 220V, and on a side note, it is best to have a dedicated line or circuit for each of these.

Outdoor Appliances
Aside from your outdoor lighting fixtures and wall outlets, some appliances or fixtures used in the outdoors require 220V in order to run. These include pool heaters, Jacuzzi (if you’re lucky enough to have one), fountains, and appliances that you use in the workshop like welding machines, power saws and the likes.