Installing a new dishwasher starts by purchasing a stainless steel water supply line and the appropriate gauge power cord, then switching off both electricity and water at their respective sources – the circuit breaker and valve under your sink respectively.
Call on a friend to help move and remove the appliance to its final location, before turning off both electricity and water for safety purposes.
Make Sure the Water is Off
Before installing your dishwasher, be sure to switch off both water and electricity; otherwise, there could be an unwelcome display of water flooding through your kitchen and drenching everything nearby. In addition, make sure your breaker box is off as well as disconnect the drain hose that currently connects under your sink.
Keep small pails nearby to collect water as you disconnect the old line, then remove screws holding your dishwasher to cabinetry before sliding it out and outwards from its slot. Be sure to lay towels or cardboard down first in order to protect the flooring and prevent scratching when moving your appliance.
Alternatively, if you prefer direct wiring of power cords instead of plug-in cords, begin by unhooking and feeding the power cable through its strain relief. Once complete, use a wire nut or terminal screw with green grounding wire (if applicable) to connect black and white wires together (or connect via terminal screw & green grounding wire, if applicable) then tighten down strain relief before reattaching terminal box cover and tightening strain relief tighter.
Don’t Reuse the Old Drain Hose
Your new dishwasher should drain through either your garbage disposal or directly into the sewer line, but if this doesn’t happen automatically you may require installing a drain hose long enough to reach from one tailpiece on an air gap fitting (mounted on your sink deck or countertop) all the way to its drain nipple on your garbage disposal.
Unplugging an old dishwasher requires loosening screws that secure its thin rectangular access panel at the front of its cabinet, to expose a junction box with three exposed wires: black, white and, depending on its model, sometimes even green grounding wire.
Protect these wires from the elements by taping over them with electrical tape. Later on, when it comes time to cut the power off to them, be careful and follow your manual’s exact measurements for this task. Ideally, route both electric and water supply lines down towards the floor in accordance with its indications.
Read the Manual
Before beginning installation of your dishwasher, always read its manual thoroughly. The instructions provide important plumbing and electrical requirements necessary for successful setup.
Your dishwasher may require that its copper water line is threaded directly into a threaded part of an elbow, and any deviation may cause leakage and need for adjustment. Usually this can be corrected by turning the elbow slightly with a wrench or by gently bending the copper line about eight-12 inches from its end.
Now you can begin the process of unboxing and installing the dishwasher from its cardboard box, including unwrapping any styrofoam and wrapping from inside, as well as unpacking any parts or tools packaged separately. After mounting it securely on its place, route its drain hose and power cord towards its back where they will connect with its terminal box.
Get Help
Dishwashers can be great labour-saving devices, but its plumbing should be done correctly to maximize their benefits. If plumbing tasks are beyond your scope, consider hiring a plumber to ensure the correct water and drain connection is made for your dishwasher.
Electrical wiring can be difficult for those without much experience in this field, so seeking professional assistance for this task is highly advised.
Once your electrician is finished, you can connect your new dishwasher. Be sure to follow the installation manual’s directions when connecting electrical wires and power cord, such as taking care with terminal box covers, strain reliefs, joining black and white wires together using wire nuts, as well as connecting green grounding wire either via its screw in terminal box cover or directly with copper supply line of your dishwasher.