Your dishwasher plays an invaluable role in keeping your kitchen tidy. Its primary duty is to load and clean dishes and pans while eliminating food debris from them.
Installing a new dishwasher can be an intricate process. Here are some tips to make the task simpler.
Unpack the Appliance
An expensive investment like a dishwasher requires optimal performance to justify its purchase and enjoyment for years to come. One way of ensuring this occurs is to pay close attention to packing materials and organizing items in such a way as to prevent breakage during transport. With some simple tricks of the trade you can have your new machine up and running in no time; make sure that water and electricity testing takes place first so your new gadget works perfectly before taking charge of your kitchen’s latest gadget with both hands!
Disconnect the Water and Electrical Connections
Before installing your new dishwasher, be sure to disconnect its water supply and drain hoses from your old appliance. Be sure to have an absorbent cloth or shallow pan or container nearby so as to catch any drips of liquid that escape as you do this step.
Stop water flowing to your existing dishwasher at both its stop valve under the sink and its circuit breaker, depending on its style. Some appliances connect directly to a circuit while others plug directly into wall outlets with cord connections.
Hardwired connections require accessing wires inside an access panel at the base of an old machine (Photo 1). Thread an electrical cord through its housing, and connect each wired connection: green to grounding screw, white neutral wire to white dishwasher lead, and black hot wire directly.
Connect the Water Supply Line
A water supply line connects pressurized, treated city water directly into your home via pressurized pipes buried at least 3 feet underground.
Dependent upon its placement, water meter affluence may connect directly with either your well or water meter. Commonly constructed of copper or plastic and placed underground.
The supply line connects your dishwasher’s inlet valve to a shut-off valve on a hot water pipe underneath your kitchen sink, as well as to an adjustable wrench to tighten and tighten its compression connectors. To affix, simply twist them together with an adjustable wrench before tightening them with the adjustable wrench ring.
Connect the Drain Hose
As part of installing either a portable or built-in dishwasher, the drain hose needs to be connected. It connects directly with your sink drain tail pipe or garbage disposal unit and must connect properly in order to operate smoothly.
Loop the hose around itself to create an air gap and prevent back siphonage.
Plumbing codes mandate that any drain line directly connected to a waste line at or below 20 inches from the finished floor should have an air-gap device installed. If your sink does not already feature one, an air-gap can easily be added yourself or with professional assistance from a plumber.
Connect the Electrical Connections
Before installing your dishwasher back into its place, ensure all electrical connections have been made properly. Depending on its model, this may involve hardwired connections or appliance cords plugged into wall outlets.
If your dishwasher has a hard-wired connection, first turn off its circuit breaker at your main electrical panel and use a non-contact voltage tester to test for electric current in its wires.
Next, thread the power cord through the housing of the wire connection. Make three connections from the appliance cord to various leads: green to green grounding screw, white neutral wire to dishwasher lead and black hot wire (hot connection) on dishwasher lead.
Secure the Appliance
Utilizing the provided brackets, install your dishwasher securely under your cabinets for optimal kitchen safety.
First, using a level, ensure the unit is level both horizontally and vertically. Adjust its legs until they’re flush with your countertop surface.
Secure all electrical wired connections to your dishwasher as per its manual’s instructions, for instance by wrapping the ground wire around and tightening its green screw.