No matter if you are adding or replacing an additional dishwasher, these tips for making connections between water, drainage and electricity should prove invaluable.
Before beginning installation, enlist the aid of another person to tilt back the dishwasher and place it on a piece of cardboard to protect the counter surface. Also use pliers to adjust its front leveling legs until they sit flush against your countertop surface.
Water Supply
Before beginning work on plumbing connections, turn off your sink’s water supply valve. If you don’t already have one installed under your sink, now would be an opportune time to do so.
Take care when installing a third-generation dishwasher; its access panel must be removed to access its interior for identification of its water inlet, where clean water enters. Place a length of Teflon tape around its threads before using an adjustable wrench to attach either a 3/8- or 1/2-inch brass elbow.
Attempt to hardwire your dishwasher. Before beginning work on it, ensure the relevant circuit breaker in your electric panel has been switched off, then verify with a noncontact voltage tester that there’s no power being distributed through it. If there still remains power at that breaker, temporarily turn off water supply to your sink while simultaneously turning on one faucet in your kitchen to drain its pipes before beginning your installation work.
Attach a short drain hose from your disposal or sink to the large outlet on the air gap of the dishwasher using two hose clamps, then reattach its panel cover, plug it in, and run a full cycle to check for leaks.
Drain Hose
As soon as your dishwasher begins operating, it is of vital importance that its drain hose remains leak-free. Not only can leakage lead to costly water damage and potential sewer gas intrusion into your home; additionally, regular check-ins on these connections will ensure they do not loosen over time.
Install an air gap, or alternatively use a high loop that provides air breaks to stop back siphonage, if possible. Both may be required by certain building codes and both can be installed relatively inexpensively.
Locate and clear away the drain connection point for your dishwasher, then remove any caps or plugs obstructing it. If using copper tubing, check that its appearance does not include kinks or nicks in its surface, while replacing an existing damaged line with one made from flexible stainless steel-braided hose long enough to reach between its smaller tailpiece in the air gap and garbage disposal’s inlet nipple is ideal.
Electrical Connections
Unless your dishwasher features rear hookups, reaching its water supply line and power cord connections will require you to crouch or lie on the floor. Remove the access panel on the front bottom of your dishwasher before visually identifying its water inlet solenoid valve, power cord connection fittings, and drain opening.
If you are hardwiring your dishwasher, consult the manufacturer’s installation instructions for detailed guidance in connecting the electrical wires. In general, remove the cover from the power cord’s junction box before threading its three wires (green/bare, white and black) through wire connectors and securing them with twist-on wire nuts.
Avoid excessively bending or twisting when handling cords to protect their internal wires and insulation. Overdoing it could damage performance issues or electrical faults. Also avoid overloading an electrical circuit by plugging too many appliances or devices at once as this could lead to overheating and trip circuit breakers.
Installation
A dishwasher is a convenient appliance that saves both labor and energy resources. Prior to starting up your machine, be sure to switch off power (at the breaker box) and water supply at its shutoff valve under your sink.
Before installing your new dishwasher, read its manual thoroughly. It will provide information on how to connect its drain hose, power cord and water supply line.
Start by unfastening the screws holding down the removable panel on the lower front of your new dishwasher, so you can access its junction box containing wires for its power cord and drain hose. Verify all three exposed wires are safe to disconnect using a voltage tester before cutting off and rerouting any old or nonfunctional ones to their correct locations. If your sink features dual outlet shutoff valves, disconnect existing supply tube by turning it clockwise with wrench then attach new tubing – wrapping Teflon tape around its threads prior to screwing on new tubing screws before attaching new tubing to their new locations.