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.
Hooking up a dishwasher is simple, requiring only basic skills, a few tools, and an afternoon.
For the average handyman or -woman, putting in a dishwasher is an uncomplicated process that takes only a few hours and some basic tools. The only consideration for installation is that the door be able to open fully without knocking into anything.
Before starting any work, turn off the power and place a 3-by-3 foot piece of plywood on the floor to protect it.
Dishwashers are accompanied with complete instructions for installation; make sure you follow them precisely. The guidelines here and in How to Install a Dishwasher will provide you with the basic parameters of the job.
Electricity You will need a GFCI-protected 120-volt electrical receptacle to plug the machine into. The most convenient location is against the back wall of the cabinet below the sink.
Plumbing The dishwasher must connect to the hot water supply of the sink. The hookup is generally a copper tube with an outside diameter of 3/8 inch. A flexible hose also goes from the waste outlet of the dishwasher to a tee above the drain trap of the sink or to the dishwasher inlet of the garbage disposal. You simply knock out the plug inside the dishwasher nipple.
If you are connecting to the drain trap of the sink, simply exchange part of the drain’s tailpiece for a dishwasher tailpiece, using a hacksaw or tubing cutter, and making the connection with slip nuts and washers. The dishwasher tailpiece will have a T-shaped nipple that connects to the drain hose of the dishwasher.
Air gap Many local building codes require a dishwasher to connect to an air gap before the connection to a disposal. This keeps wastewater from backing up into the appliance. You must purchase the air gap separately. Mount in on top or next to the sink. Connect one flexible hose to the drain of the dishwasher, and connect the other flexible hose to the trap of the sink or to the disposal’s dishwasher inlet. If your local codes do not require an air gap, shape the drain hose of the dishwasher into a high arc instead.
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