Home Construction Improvement

How To Install A Dishwasher

By Todd Fratzel on Plumbing

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Installing A Dishwasher

Installing a dishwasher is a fairly easy to intermediate home improvement task. If you already have a dishwasher installed and you have the proper water shut off valves than installing a new dishwasher is very straightforward.

As with any home improvement project make sure you follow the manufacturers instructions carefully and obey all local laws involving plumbing and electrical codes. The first step should always be to shut off both the electrical power supply and water supply to the existing unit. The water supply shut off valve is typically located in the cabinets below your kitchen sink. The power supply should be hooked up to an independent breaker in your main service. After you shut off the electrical breaker make sure you test the power to verify that it’s shut off.

Remove the lower toe-kick cover plates on the old dishwasher. This is where you’ll disconnect the power supply and the water supply. The power is almost always located on the right hand side. There should be some kind of cover plate over the electrical junction box. Remove the cover and remove the wire nuts to the black and white leads. Disconnect the ground wire and make sure any bushings on the electrical box are removed as well. On the left side should be the water supply line. Typically the water line will be either soft copper pipe or a stainless steel braided water line. Disconnect the water supply line and have a small cup or bucket handy so you can catch any excess water in the line. Now you’ll need to disconnect the drain line. If you have a garbage disposal the dishwasher drain will be connected with a small corrugated white drain line. Disconnect the drain house and again drain out as much of the excess water as possible.

At this point you should be able to remove any screws holding the dishwasher in place. Typically the screws are either attached to the counter top or sides of the cabinets. Some dishwashers are now being screwed into the floor along the bottom steel runners (this is due to the popularity of granite counter tops that cannot be drilled into). Once you remove the screws you should be able to remove the old dishwasher from under the counter top.

To install the new dishwasher you’ll basically reverse the previous steps. Again remove the lower toe-kick cover plates so you can access the electrical junction box and the water supply line connection. As you slowly push the new dishwasher under the cabinet make sure you guide the drain line back through the cabinets into the sink base. Make sure you grab the electrical wires and water supply lines and pull them forward as you slide the washer back.

Reconnect the water supply line and the black, white and ground electrical wires. Re-install the electrical junction box cover and make sure everything is tight and cleaned up. Adjust the dishwasher feet so that the dishwasher will be within a 1/4″ of the counter top. Push back the dishwasher and install the screws that secure the unit (into the counter top, into the cabinet sides or screws into the floor along the runners). Now connect the drain line back into the back of the garbage disposal and secure the clamp. Turn on the water supply valve and check for leaks. Turn on the power and run the dishwasher through a cycle so you can check for leaks. If you don’t find any leaks than re-install the lower toe-kick cover plates and you’re finished!

Products You Might Need to Buy:

• Watts MFS SCC60-66EPB Floodsafe 3/8-by-3/8-by-60-Inch Stainless Dishwasher Connector with Elbow

• InSinkErator DWC-00 Dishwasher Connector Kit

• InSinkErator CRD-00 Power Cord Kit

As I said this is a fairly straight forward do-it-yourself project. Just make sure to take your time, shut off power and water and follow the manufacturers directions closely.