Don Vandervort, Head Homeboy, has written more than 30 DIY home improvement books, been a segment host on HGTV, served as MSN.com's home improvement expert and written countless magazine articles.
Installing a dishwasher is a job that a competent do-it-yourselfer can handle. It involves plumbing connections in areas that are sometimes hard to reach (and a bit of heavy lifting), but that’s about it. The instructions given here are for installing a new dishwasher. Obviously, if you are replacing an old one, you will need to take it out first. To do that job, just reverse these installation directions.
Unplug the dishwasher or turn off the circuit breaker to disconnect the power before you do anything else. Next, shut off the water supply valve, which is typically located under the sink. If you can’t find a shutoff valve, you will have to turn off the main house water shutoff and then open a faucet to drain the pipes.
If the dishwasher does not have a dedicated shutoff valve, this would be a good time to install a special dual-outlet shutoff like the one shown in Step 1 below.
Use a power drill to bore holes for the drain hose, water supply tube, and power cord at the back lower corner of the sink base cabinet.
After installation, it is important to adjust the appliance’s front feet to level and align it with the cabinets and countertop. Screw the unit to the underside of the counter. Turn the water supply back on and look for leaks. See Installing a Dishwasher: The Basics for more information about plumbing hookups.)
Plug in the dishwasher. If hard-wiring is required, refer to the HomeTips section on Electrical Wiring.
1) To install a shutoff valve for the dishwasher, first shut off the house’s main valve. Disconnect the sink water supply tube from the valve, drain it into a bucket, and then unscrew the shutoff valve from the supply nipple with a wrench. Wind pipe-wrap tape around the nipple’s threads, and screw a new dual-outlet valve onto it.
2) Install the dishwasher’s air gap through a properly sized unused hole in the sink top (punch out the hole plug with a hammer). Insert the air gap, and then, using slip-joint pliers, secure it from above with a locknut, and push its cover into place.
3) Position the dishwasher near its opening, and then push the hose, supply tube, and power cord through holes drilled in the back corner of the sink base cabinet. As you walk the dishwasher into place, be careful not to pinch or tangle these connectors.
4) Reconnect the sink’s supply tube to the dual-outlet valve, and connect the flexible supply tube to the valve’s second outlet and the dishwasher’s inlet. Then tighten with an adjustable wrench until snug.
5) Slip one hose clamp over each end of the short drain hose that will run from the garbage disposal to the large outlet on the air gap, and cinch the clamps until tight. Then do the same with the longer drain hose, running it from the smaller outlet on the air gap to the drain fitting at the base of the dishwasher.
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