Dishwashers have become an indispensable appliance in many households. To install one properly and protect the floor from scratches, get help from an assistant to unbox and place the dishwasher onto cardboard to protect the shipping box from being removed.
Unscrew and remove the access panel before visually inspecting its components such as power cord connection fittings, water inlet solenoid valve, and drain fitting. Connect all necessary wires using twist-on wire connectors as necessary.
Electrical
If you don’t feel confident working with electricity or plumbing on your own, it is wise to hire a licensed professional. Keep in mind that many appliances such as dishwashers require their own circuit in order to avoid overloading the household power source.
Before beginning, locate and switch off your home’s breaker box, as well as water supply lines under your sink. Also disconnect them before beginning work on anything.
Tip the dishwasher over so that it is easier to access its plumbing and electrical connections underneath it. Locate and unbolt its junction box (typically a square metal cover with wires coming out) then unfasten any screws holding it in place.
With wire strippers, remove approximately half an inch of insulation from each end of your power cord and thread its exposed wires through an opening in a junction box. Match colored wires according to their labels, then secure connections using wire nuts.
Plumbing
Installing a dishwasher without installing its plumbing can be done, but only if you want to spend hours cleaning up water and food gunk with bucket and sponge. Start by turning off both electricity and water at their respective breaker boxes or shutoff valves.
On your countertop, locate the dishwasher inlet. It will either feature a female thread (usually female) or a male thread that requires an adapter (available for purchase separately). Connect the drain hose of your dishwasher directly to this inlet; typically there should be no kinks.
Carefully install your new dishwasher into its designated spot, taking great care not to disturb its hoses or power cord. Make sure it sits flush against your cabinetry and use a level to check that its position is straight front-to-back and side-to-side before attaching its brackets with screws for secure attachment.
Drain
Before installing the toekick again, run your dishwasher through its full cycle to test both water and electricity are operating optimally and detect any small dribbles in plumbing or electricity that might lead to major damages in countertops or cabinets.
Water supply hoses connect to a round threaded inlet at the bottom of your dishwasher that may feature either female or male threads, making preparation easy with plumber’s tape to protect this essential line during installation.
The drain hose connects either to a garbage disposal, sink tailpiece (which may or may not require an air gap fitting depending on local codes), or drops directly into the sink trap via an access panel on the front bottom of your dishwasher. Please make sure that both electricity and water have been shut off from their respective sources before disconnecting any lines or taking other action with regards to this access panel.
Installation
Before beginning, place a blanket, old rug or cardboard on the floor to protect it from drips and scratches. Be sure to have several adjustable wrenches, screwdriver, pair of pliers, tape measure and level handy; these tools should all allow for easier work beneath your dishwasher. It is also preferable to connect power cord, water supply line and drain hose first before pushing it into position as this allows more easily work underneath it.
To gain access to the junction box (a square metal box containing electrical wires) on your new dishwasher, remove its kick plate at its base. There will likely be screws holding this plate in place and an opening for feeding your power cord into. Also feed water supply line and drain hose into their respective tracks with plenty of plumber’s tape wrapped around their ends to ensure watertight connections; or hire an electrical technician instead for assistance in running wires yourself.