Dishwashers are essential components in any commercial kitchen, helping keep sinks sanitary. But for them to work effectively, installation must be conducted correctly.
Before installing a dishwasher, first turn off both power (at your circuit breaker) and water (via your faucet under your sink). Next, clear away all cardboard or styrofoam from its surrounding area before beginning work on installing your machine.
Preparation
Before undertaking the installation of a dishwasher in your home, take the time to ensure it will meet all applicable codes and regulations. Dishwashers require access to hot water supply, drain connection, and an electrical outlet which complies with local codes and regulations.
Make sure there is a standard 110 V power outlet close by that can accommodate the dishwasher, and remove any cabinet doors in the area where you plan to place it. Also remove food items from cabinets in this area as steam and splashing can damage laminated benchtops.
Check your water supply line for a shut-off valve beneath the sink, connect a water hose and tape it securely in place. If required by local code, connect the dishwasher hose to an air gap fitting located beneath your countertop; tape down any exposed areas if leaking occurs during use. Lastly, secure the drain hose to its respective drain spigot.
Installing the Dishwasher
Before beginning installation of your dishwasher, switch off its electric power at the circuit breaker and disconnect its water source at its valve under the sink. Place a towel or shallow pan beneath your appliance so as to catch any excess liquid that may leak out from its drain hose during setup.
Use the instructions from your dishwasher to connect the copper hot water line to its dual outlet valve and make sure it is threaded tightly into its compression nut; otherwise it could leak.
Route a new drain hose from either the garbage disposer or sink pipe to the larger outlet on the air gap of your dishwasher and connect it with kitchen plumbing using a hose clamp and slip joint pliers if necessary. Arrange it so it arches higher than its drain inlet so as to help avoid backwash into your sink.
Connecting the Dishwasher to the Water Supply Line
Due to the intricate process involved, it is recommended to leave this step to a professional service provider.
At first, turn off both electricity and water using your circuit breaker and valve below your sink. Remove your old water line – which may be copper or flexible stainless steel – by loosening its nut at its 90-degree fitting and loosening it further by loosening any nuts that may need tightening for removal. If the existing nut is in good condition and can be reused with your new dishwasher then leave it alone, otherwise get another long enough hose so as not to compress or kink when reaching it’s an efficient option
Unscrew and remove the cover and locking nut from your sink’s air gap before using twist-on wire connectors to link it with your dishwasher. After reconnecting these, turn back on power cord, drain hose, water supply as well as the water heater before moving the dishwasher back into place to make sure that it sits flat against countertops.
Connecting the Dishwasher to the Electrical Connection
If the copper line connecting your dishwasher is angled to one side, you can straighten it using a wrench in order to prevent its compression nut from misthreading and leaking. This will allow it to thread correctly without leakage occurring later.
Most local codes mandate that your dishwasher must connect to an air gap in order to avoid backflow from wastewater into your appliance. You can purchase an air gap kit which mounts on top of your dishwasher and connects directly with the drain hose; or create your own by blowing up and shaping a balloon into funnel-shapes.
The dishwasher’s power cable passes through a junction box usually concealed behind a lower access panel in the sink cabinet. After unscrewing any screws holding down this panel, open it to reveal its wire connection fittings (typically green, white and black), secure its cover securely to complete connection of its cord’s wires following manufacturer specifications: Splice one branch-circuit black wire to one black dishwasher lead wire; cap with wire connector; connect white dishwasher wire from dishwasher directly into white kitchen appliance wire; connect grounding wire directly into green kitchen appliance wire or screw in junction box splice bare grounding wire into green grounding wire or screw in junction box splice bare grounding wire into green appliance wire or screw for connection of power cord’s power cord cord.