The dishwasher is an indispensable kitchen appliance, relieving much of the laborious work involved with handwashing dishes by hand. Before it can be put to use, however, proper installation must take place first.
Start by switching off both power (at the circuit breaker) and water supply (via the valve under the sink). Next, place your new dishwasher on some cardboard or an old blanket to protect the flooring while you work.
Get the Right Fit
Make sure that your new dishwasher fits seamlessly into its surroundings – be it portable, in-sink or countertop models – by measuring its height between it and cabinets or walls as well as space requirements to open and close its door.
Putting in a new dishwasher requires shutting off the water at your kitchen valve (Photo 1). Have a bowl or bucket handy to collect any spilled water as you disconnect its hot-water pipe from the sink’s hot-water tube; if your supply tube features threaded nipples, simply turn their lock nut counterclockwise with a wrench.
Place the 90-degree fitting that comes with your dishwasher into its hole on the back, and connect the flexible copper or braided stainless steel line from your water meter or kitchen faucet to both outlets of this fitting – then tighten with an adjustable wrench – before installing your appliance.
Get the Right Tools
Your dishwasher comes equipped with an instruction manual to guide the setup process, but having your own tools can speed things up. Pliers will come in handy to adjust the feet while a level will help make sure the appliance sits flat or drainage issues could arise.
You will also need a wrench to loosen the nut that secures the dishwasher water supply line in place, pipe-wrap tape to prevent leaks in copper lines, joint compound for older copper lines, pipe-wrap tape for newer copper ones or both.
Remove the power and water supplies (at your home breaker box and the valve under your sink, respectively). Place your dishwasher on its back to gain easier access to its connections underneath, unscrewing its front kickplate from its base, then pulling off its junction box cover (a square metal box containing electrical wires running through it). Position all three wires through their holes inside.
Read the Instructions
Be sure to refer back to your dishwasher’s product manual for detailed installation instructions, which include steps such as unpacking the packaging, installing plumbing and electrical lines, leveling your appliance and conducting tests.
Start by turning off the water at its source, and disconnecting your current dishwasher’s drain hose from either the garbage disposal or sink tail pipe (depending on how your kitchen is configured). Have a shallow pan or bucket handy to catch any dirty water that will drain from its disconnected end.
Locate your dishwasher’s water inlet, typically a round opening that may be threaded or smooth. If it is threaded, use either an adapter elbow included with your machine or purchase one separately to connect to your household water line.
Thread the power cord through your dishwasher’s wire connection housing and secure any covers that might exist on it, before connecting its green wire to its green grounding screw and white to its white dishwasher lead using twist-on wire connectors or wire nuts.
Plan Ahead
As you are preparing to install your dishwasher, it is recommended to put down surface protection such as a drop cloth in front of the area to prevent scratches. Doing this will also help make cleanup much simpler.
Be sure to turn off the power in your kitchen at the breaker box prior to beginning any electrical wiring projects, and loosening any countertop joints where possible to avoid damaging it when installing and removing your dishwasher.
Remove the kick plate at the base of your cabinet to gain access to your dishwasher’s junction box (a square metal box containing three colored wires that feed into it). Unscrew its cover, feed any exposed cable ends through an opening in its sidewalls, and reconnect all wires as before.
Install the dishwasher drain hose to the drain valve beneath your sink, taking care to loop it over in an arch shape to avoid sharp bends or twists that could potentially create leaks in your plumbing system.