Installing a dishwasher can be an efficient and time-saving appliance to keep dishes clean, making the task of installing one easier than ever if you follow these tips.
Before opening the appliance from its box and setting it down on cardboard to protect your floors, enlist a helping partner in lifting it out and unplugging its power cable connection fittings and water inlet solenoid valve. Next, take steps to dismantle its access panel for inspection of its inner workings – power cord connection fittings and water inlet solenoid valve must all be present visually.
1. Read the Manual
Electrical and plumbing connections for many dishwashers must be made, making preinstallation easier.
Connecting the power cord is easy by taking several steps: first, remove the thin access panel at the base of your dishwasher; locate and locate a junction box-a square metal box with three colored wires sticking out from it; loosen nut on cable clamp; push exposed wires into round opening in junction box and tighten nut on cable clamp again to connect power.
The drain hose connects from your sink drain trap to either your garbage disposal nipple or an air gap fitting that meets code requirements for dishwasher installations. Meanwhile, water can enter through either an inexpensive dual outlet valve (available at hardware stores) or by direct installation into your dishwasher inlet.
2. Prepare Your Work Area
Protecting the floors when installing or uninstalling a dishwasher requires proper planning and preparation. A towel or shallow pan should also be available to catch any leftover food particles that spill from drain hoses and supply lines during disconnection.
Lay a blanket or piece of cardboard over your sink, placing a shallow pan (plastic take-out containers are ideal) underneath its water connections and keeping a towel and multitester with an ohms setting of lowest ohms nearby. Once you’ve cleared the area, make sure all power and water connections have been switched off by finding and turning off appropriate breaker switches or valves, while finding out how your old dishwasher drains as well as where its drain hose plugs into garbage disposal or sink plumbing before clearing away anything further.
3. Remove the Old Dishwasher
Once the power has been switched off, you must then disconnect the water supply line and drain hose. To do so, first remove the access panel near your floor; then, locate and switch off your sink’s water supply valve (usually found beneath), which will shut off all of its supply to both your dishwasher and kitchen sink. This will stop all further water flow to either device.
Inside of a panel you will discover two components; power wire (usually yellow or white cord) and copper water supply line. Locate and loosen any nuts on either one with wrench.
Assemble a shallow pan, bucket and sponge to collect any leakage of water that may escape as you disconnect the line. Carefully slide out your old dishwasher on its drop sheet or cardboard without marking up your floor surface when finished.
4. Install the New Dishwasher
Installing a dishwasher can save time and energy in the kitchen, with installation being relatively straightforward for any homeowner with basic DIY skills. Just make sure that power (via circuit breaker box) and water (via shutoff valve under sink) is turned off prior to beginning installation.
Begin by sliding your new dishwasher into place, using cardboard, cloth or tarp as necessary for protection of both floor and cabinet base cabinet surfaces.
Connect the water supply line using a 90-degree fitting. Snaking 1/2-inch copper tubing from your dishwasher to the hot water valve (either sink drain or garbage disposal). Secure this tubing using wire nuts; make your electrical connections inside of a junction box.
5. Test the Unit
Make sure your dishwasher is operating optimally by running a test cycle according to its instructions in your manual. If any further problems arise, contact a plumber for help.
Most dishwashers connect their drain hose to either the sink’s drain or garbage disposal and feature a flexible U-shape with a stainless steel clamp to allow water to pass freely from its unit and into its drain pipe. Once connected, use a pan and rag to catch any remaining liquid before pulling the clamp off to unhook and unwind the tubing from your cabinet cabinet – just in case!
Read your manual carefully and be equipped with all of the basic tools, such as an adjustable wrench or box wrench, multi-bit screwdriver, multi-pliers, thread seal tape, flashlight and voltage tester for checking that power has been turned off at wire connection housing before beginning work.