Getting a dishwasher, you also need to think about installing it at your house. As the machine itself is quite expensive, it may not be affordable to hire specialists and pay for plumbing a dishwasher. Do not worry because it is easy to install the washing machine or dishwasher by yourself if you know the algorithm and have the necessary equipment.
Read this article if you want to plumb a dishwasher correctly and prevent the problems that can appear later.
Preparation for Dishwasher Plumbing
This procedure will take half of the day or a bit more if you have never worked with plumbing. Also, you should find or buy special equipment before starting the work. Ask the members of your family to help you if they can or prepare everything by yourself.
Firstly, you should not plug in the dishwasher before the full installment. Secondly, stop the water supply in the place where you will locate the dishwasher; usually, it is a sink. Thirdly, bring more towels because you can never predict the way the process will develop, and you may need to collect the water quickly. Moreover, as you will need to connect the pipes under the sink, you should take a lamp or flashlight to see the location of all pipes.
Here is the list of all the tools and materials that are required for the installation of a new dishwasher:
- Teflon tape;
- Electrical tape;
- Three-way shutoff valve;
- Wrench;
- Drill;
- Pliers;
- Canvas;
- Hose for water supply;
- Clamps for hose;
- The tailpiece of a dishwasher.
Some equipment presented above can be attached to a kit that you buy together with the dishwasher. The rest you should find at home or buy as well.
The preparation for plumbing operations is always important because, in some cases, you do not have time to search for tools or other material. Spend more time before the start of the installment to save the place clean and undamaged.
Start Dishwasher Installment
The first and the most important step is to stop the water supply in the kitchen. You have to find the shutoff valve and replace it with a three-way valve to make it more reliable. After this, you should go through several steps to connect a new dishwasher to your water supply system.
- Take the new valve and join it to the hot water line that you worked with before.
- Take the new hose with a stainless steel cover and connect it to the valve.
- Take off the tailpiece from your sink and put in the new one that is compatible with the dishwasher.
- Make all connections tight with pliers.
- Prepare the dishwasher and the place for it using the canvas.
- Apply Teflon tape for wrapping the brass adapter elbow.
- Connect the wrapped elbow to the inlet port which is usually located on the front side of the machine. Make this connection tight with the wrench.
- Connect the electricity lines to the dishwasher and tighten all wires together with wire connectors.
- Take the steel water hose that was under the cabinet and attach it to the machine.
- Apply electrical tape to fix all hoses and wires to the floor.
- Connect the water supply pipe to the machine and adjust the countertop for your dishwasher.
- Control the height of the machine using the wrench and by changing the height of the legs. Put a new front panel on the machine.
Setting Drain For Dishwasher
Creating a drain system for the new dishwasher you should work with the backside of the machine inside the cabinet. It is a complicated task, especially if you want to keep the drain pipe from the old dishwasher. Make sure it is suitable for the new model of the machine understanding the differences between drain hookups.
The four types of drain system hookups exist:
- High loop for drain;
- High loop for waste demolishing;
- Air gap for waste demolishing;
- Air gap connected directly with the gutter.
Furthermore, you have to adjust the hose length by cutting it and using the clamp if it is needed.
Prepare the kit for the installment of the drain in advance as well as the kit for joining the water supply and adapter for the drain hose. If you are not sure about the choice of the needed instruments and materials you should consult with the specialists in the store. Take a picture of the drain hookup before going to the plumbing store and ask the workers about its compatibility with the new dishwasher.
Also, it is more convenient to install the dishwasher under the sink because it can help you in setting the drain system. You can use the inlet of the sink to connect the machine’s trap there. However, you should attach the non-return valve to be sure about the direction of the waste drainage. The regulation of the height of the hose can also help here if you locate it lower than the overflow of the sink.
The installment of the drain system is the hardest part in the process of dishwasher plumbing. That is why the help of another person or the plumbing specialists can be important here.
Summing Up
Buying a new washing machine or a dishwasher you should think about its plumbing in advance. Ask the seller about the recommended approach to the installment of the machine when you buy it because it can depend on the model. Moreover, buy all needed equipment along with the machine to provide a reliable connection between all parts of the device.
Do not forget to equip the place where the dishwasher will be located to avoid mess. Maybe you will need the physical support of another person when dealing with the connection of pipes to the dishwasher.
By the way, you can use our service for plumbing a dishwasher if you think that this operation is too complicated for you. Our professionals have all the required tools and are experienced in different types of plumbing works. That is why they will install the new dishwasher in your house in several hours and you will be able to use it for a long time without any worries.