The 2 Popular Home Appliances You Should Never Run Simultaneously

When it comes to cleaning, multitasking is the name of the game — running a load of laundry while vacuuming the living room floors or washing a load of towels while wiping down the bathroom. Both offer efficient ways to get more done in less time. However, completing multiple tasks at once isn't always the best route to take, especially when it comes to running the dishwasher and washing machine simultaneously.

There are several reasons why you might want to reconsider washing clothes and dishes at the same time. One of the biggest has to do with your home's electrical circuit. Both appliances — the washing machine and dishwasher — consume a lot of electricity, and if they are on the same circuit breaker, they can overload the breaker, causing it to trip (automatically shut off). Plus, in the off-chance that the breaker wiring is faulty, the circuit overload poses a fire hazard. Even if your washer and dishwasher are on separate circuits, running both appliances at once can negatively affect your hot water supply and septic system.

If you have a home septic tank, you're no stranger to the care that comes with maintaining it. Not pouring grease down the drain, having the tank pumped every few years, and being mindful of what you flush are a few tasks you've probably put into practice. What you might not know, however, is that running the dishwasher and washing machine at the same time can overwhelm your system. When too much water enters a septic system at once, hydraulic overloading occurs. Hydraulic overloading can cause wastewater emitted from your washing machine and dishwasher to back up in drains or overflow onto your yard, saturating the drain field. The key to preventing this is spreading out high-volume water usage, which means spacing out your use of the dishwasher and washing machine.

A less pressing reason not to use these two home appliances concurrently has to do with hot water. If you wash your clothes and dishes in hot water, both appliances will compete for resources, quickly draining your hot water supply and possibly compromising cleanliness. Here's the good news: if you don't have a septic tank and your circuit panel isn't overloaded, an easy solution is to start washing most of your clothes in cold water or upgrade to a larger water heater to meet the household demand. Still, the best time to run your dishwasher is when you're not using the washing machine. Then you can clean worry-free.