How To Install A Dishwasher

When you purchase a new dishwasher, you’ll probably have to pay a fee to have the dishwasher installed by a professional. Performing the installation on your own can help you save money and may also give you a sense of personal satisfaction. While dishwasher installation is a multi-step process, it’s not as complicated as you might think. The following tutorial will help you remove your old dishwasher and hookup the new unit.

Get Prepared

Before you can get started on your installation, read the manual that came with the unit. Not all dishwashers are the same and some units may have special requirements. You’ll also need to gather the tools recommended by the manufacturer. A few good tools to have on hand include:

Teflon tape
Drill
Hole saw
Screw driver
Clamps
Supply lines

Dishwasher Installation Procedure

Disconnect the old dishwasher from its location and pull it out. To do this, you’ll need to cut the power to the circuit, shut off the water feeding the appliance and unscrew the dishwasher from the underside of the countertop.
Remove the base plate on the front of the new machine. This will allow you to access the supply lines and electrical box.
Attach one end of the drain pipe to the discharge pump, then mount the air gap to the sink and attach the drain pipe to the air gap. If there are no extra holes in your sink for the air gap, then you’ll need to cut a hole in your countertop. If no air gap is required for your model, pull the drain hose up and attach it to the wall of the cabinet to prevent back flow from the sink.
Attach the other end of the drain pipe to the garbage disposal. Use a clamp to attach the drain pipe to the inlet on the garbage disposal. If your sink doesn’t have a garbage disposal, there should be a branch tailpipe under your sink where the old dishwasher hooked up to the drain. Attach the drain line to this branch tailpipe. Note: you may need to drill new holes into the cabinets in order to connect these drain lines and other lines leading to and from the dishwasher. This is when the hole saw will come in handy. If you don’t have a a hole saw, use the ordinary drill bits to make holes in your cabinets.
Connect the water supply line to the shut off valve and to the water inlet under the dishwasher. Wrap plumber’s tape around the threaded ends to create a good seal and to prevent leaks. Tighten the supply lines with a wrench.
Connect the dishwasher to the power supply. Connect the cable to the electrical box on the dishwasher. Match the black and white wires and use wire nuts to connect them. Connect the green wire to the ground screw.

Once this is done, turn on the power and the water to the machine and run a cycle. Watch for leaks. If the dishwasher runs for a full cycle without problems, slide it into place and attach the dishwasher to the underside of the counter.

If you need to see a visual example of this process, we recommend watching this helpful YouTube video:

Contact Terry’s Plumbing for Dishwasher Installation

At Terry’s Plumbing, have all the skills needed to perform dishwasher installations. We’re also reputable and respected in Pittsburgh, so we’re the go-to plumbers for many people in the community. If you need to have a dishwasher installed in your home and would like it to be installed by a professional, contact us today.