Dishwashers can save time in the kitchen. Whether it’s your first dishwasher or one that’s simply giving out, here are a few helpful hints that can make installing or replacing one easier for you to complete the job correctly.
Start by marking the channels along which water and electrical cables should run, feeding these through your cabinet’s hole and joining them up under your sink.
Water Inlet Hose
Before installing a dishwasher, be sure to inspect its water inlet hose. This hose connects your machine directly to the under-sink supply of water while also connecting with its drain hose for efficient functioning.
Depending on the size and layout of your kitchen, inlet hose length varies. Some homeowners opt for longer hoses such as 25 feet.
Inlet hoses are typically constructed from braided steel or rubber for flexibility; reinforced hoses may eventually lose strength over time.
Some inlet hoses feature built-in water stops to protect homes from flooding; however, this feature is fairly uncommon.
Your new dishwasher may come equipped with at least one inlet hose; either use this original one, or buy an additional longer inlet hose and attach it to its reel.
Many dishwashers feature a 90-degree fitting on the back that connects directly to your water inlet, so first secure this component before attaching the rest of your water supply line that came with your appliance.
Before connecting your water inlet fitting to your dishwasher, be sure to add pipe joint compound. Tighten the fitting fully by hand before making one more quarter-turn with a wrench.
Be mindful not to overtighten the fittings as overdoing so can strip their threads and damage your equipment.
Once the water inlet hose is installed, run your dishwasher through its full cycle to make sure everything works as expected. If everything does work as intended, congratulations – your installation should now be ready to use.
Installing a dishwasher can be accomplished using simple tools and techniques; however, be prepared for some hard work as this may take multiple days to complete.
Before installing or replacing an old dishwasher, it will require basic hand tools and experience in repairs. In addition, unplug or switch off the house circuit breaker before getting started.
Drain Hose
The drain hose is the largest of three hoses coming out of your dishwasher’s back panel and connects directly to a drain pipe rather than faucet; thus making it one of the most crucial hoses that should always remain in good condition.
Drain hoses serve two primary functions. First, they prevent sink clogs from flooding your dishwasher during its drain cycle; and secondly they help contain any potential odors or bacteria leakage from leaving.
Dishwasher hoses come in various lengths, so always purchase one long enough to reach the bottom of your sink. Otherwise, standing water may accumulate in your kitchen sink and reduce efficiency of your dishwasher.
Drain hoses should typically form a high loop beneath your sink that runs to your garbage disposal to prevent clogs and stop wastewater from entering it, potentially leading to it clogging up over time. This helps ensure smooth running drain hoses with minimum obstruction.
Vertical air gaps may also be implemented, which are safer and more effective than high loops; however, their installation requires additional work.
Before disconnecting any water and electrical connections from your sink, begin by turning off the shut-off valve at its source. Next, disconnect them via your circuit breaker.
Air Gap
An air gap is an integral component of installing your dishwasher, located alongside its drain hose underneath the sink. It helps protect against potential sewage backup, keeping contaminated water away from entering your dishes and utensils and away from being spread around by spills during use.
Air gaps are commonly used as anti-backflow devices and may even be required by local plumbing codes in some locations. However, other solutions for backflow prevention may exist if an air gap isn’t necessary in your location or you prefer taking another approach to stopping backflows.
In the event that your sewage line backs up, an air gap can send wastewater straight to the garbage disposal instead of directly into your dishwasher, making the situation simpler to manage while protecting family health from being compromised by toxic sewage.
Your air gap connects your dishwasher’s drain hose to one that leads directly to your garbage disposal, preventing backflow into your dishwasher by keeping these two hoses separate and from mixing together. It also keeps any water that collects in between from collecting in your machine itself and overflowing into it from accumulating.
Install your air gap yourself or hire a plumber to do it for you, making sure to keep it clean regularly and test its tubing connections for leaks.
Clogged air gaps can be quickly solved by blowing into them using an empty paper towel tube and bottle brush, to dislodge any food debris which might be blocking up your hoses. This should dislodge any blockages and release air flow.
Clean the Air Gap Regularly Many homeowners find cleaning the air gap tedious, yet essential to their family’s wellbeing. By regularly maintaining your dishwasher and keeping its filters clear, regular maintenance of both will keep the air gap free of blockages.
Some gaps have covers that you can remove to gain access to hoses, then blow into them to dislodge any debris and inspect your drain line below your sink for any obstructions.
If you are installing an air gap yourself, ensure to use an appropriate size hose and place it where it will be easier for you to reach it when the air gap spits out. A high loop can also be useful; just avoid placing one directly under your sink where it could accidentally release water into your plumbing.
Electrical Connection
Installing a dishwasher requires making several electrical and plumbing connections. For instance, its water supply line must connect to your hot-water faucet; its power cord must also plug into an electrical outlet.
As for electrical connections, you have two options for hooking up your dishwasher: hard wiring it directly to an electrical cable coming out of your wall or installing plug and receptacle adaptors. Either way, make sure you switch off the circuit breaker for your home’s electrical panel before starting this step.
Beginning by taking steps to remove the kickplate (thin rectangular access panel), which will enable you to more clearly see inside your dishwasher’s electrical wiring and make sure all wires are tucked neatly out of sight.
Locate and open up the junction box, a square metal box containing three colored wires running to it and possibly covered by plastic or metal sheathing. Slide a cable clamp over any exposed wires as soon as they penetrate their protective sheathing and replace with plastic or metal sheathing sheathing.
Once the wires have been fed into the junction box, secure their clamp with a nut. Once complete, connect your electrical cord to the terminal block on the back of your dishwasher – connecting a green grounding screw from your appliance’s power cord, while white neutral wire goes to white dishwasher leads and black hot wire goes to black leads on either side.
If you are using a plug-in cord, thread seal tape can also help secure the connection between your outlet and the dishwasher. Hand tighten and tighten further with wrench as necessary – this will protect both power and water lines from being damaged by your connection to it.