Does A Gas Range Need A Dedicated Circuit?

This is one of the common questions for the select concerned when it comes to rewiring your old house or moving into a new one. You know that heavy electrical equipment do need dedicated circuits.

But does a gas range outlet need a dedicated circuit? Let’s find out.

Dedicated circuits are electrical circuits that only supply one appliance at a time. So whatever appliance is connected to it is isolated from any other appliance. This is actually a good thing, because an overload in one appliance does not blow out the other one.

They are required to be installed as regulated by the National Electric Code. If you are wondering – does a gas range need a dedicated circuit, we have the answer. Read on.

Why do you need a dedicated circuit?

Picture all your appliances working on the same 15 or 30 Amp circuits. Just one circuit and many appliances.

When one of them malfunctions, the circuit breaker will trip and the entire line of appliances will shut off.

When a power outage happens, the circuit breaker will trip and again, the entire line of appliances will shut off.

Like a pack of dominoes. It could be any one of those appliances. And that makes it a pain to actually nail the culprit. Furthermore, the circuit breaker will eventually wear out and you’ll have to keep replacing the whole thing.

Doesn’t make much sense, does it?

So you can save a little time and effort right now and stare at the ball of snow rolling at you in the future, or stop that avalanche of failing appliances right in the root.

And you can do this by having a dedicated circuit for each of your load bearing appliances.

Does this list of appliances include the gas range? It depends. Normally you need dedicated circuits for heaters, toasters, ovens and refrigerators. Gas ranges are a bit different. And they come in different kinds too.

Understanding why your gas range needs a dedicated circuit

Traditional gas ranges do just what they are supposed to do. They burn fuel. There are hardly any electrical elements in them. The most common would be your pilot light that ignites the gas. It does not need a high voltage to create a spark. This isn’t an internal combustion engine. So you can avoid or defer using a dedicated electrical circuit for this gas range. Had it been an electrical cooking range, you’d bet your life on having a dedicated circuit for it.

However, when you start looking at the higher end or feature-rich models, they have fancy things in them working on electricity and have a higher draw. For example, if you buy a gas range that also has a convection oven or inbuilt extractors and additional lights, high cap igniters and such, then you should consider having a dedicated circuit for it.

What kind of equipment does a gas range need?

A gas range typically requires a 120/125-volt receptacle which can power both the range controls and the vent hood which carries cooking smells and smoke outside.

A range will typically require a 50-amp circuit, but depending on your unit it could require as much as 60 amps. If you are building a new home it will generally be equipped with 50-amp range circuits, as these will suffice for most home ranges.

If your range and your oven are separate units, they can both be powered by the same circuit if the circuit capacity is enough to safely handle the combined electrical load.

It’s easier than you think!

It may be possible that you may get away with not having one, and it certainly seems like you’d be saving a lot of money.

But when all your kitchen appliances get cut off for the umpteenth time, what can you endure? Inability to cook or a fridge full of rotten food? Hmm?

Ready to shop for a gas range outlet?

Now that you understand the circuitry requirements for a gas range, are you ready to buy? Check out our picks for the best gas ranges where we narrow down the best choices on the market right now.

(We also have a guide to the best electric stoves if you’ve decided to go that direction instead.)

Get educated on gas ranges

And before you buy a new gas range outlet, make sure you’re familiar with everything you need to know about them.

Read up on how to install a gas range and get educated on some safety tips for gas ranges including information on gas ranges producing carbon monoxide.

You’ll definitely also want to learn how to clean a gas range top to ensure your new stove stays looking good and working properly.