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Washing the kitchen utensils by hand is a thing of the past. Your existing dishwasher is there to do it all for you, to clean your dishes.
A kitchen without a dishwasher is unimaginable. But as efficient as most dishwashers are, they might also have to be replaced. And you might even need to install a dishwasher that is new and unfamiliar to you. So, how to replace a dishwasher?
Though you may have installed the older model on your own, replacing it with a new one might seem tricky with the dishwasher water supply line and electrical wires to consider, as well as if the new dishwasher fits. After all, you must remove parts like your old drain hose and retain some others, which you must be fully aware of. There are also several tricks to adopt and precautions to replace a dishwasher. And most importantly, you must use a method that’s not too complicated.
So whether you are renovating your kitchen or it’s just time for a new dishwasher, we’ve designed this guide. We’ve made the installation of a dishwasher effortless. You don’t have to worry about confusing your old drain hose with your new drain hose or where the water supply valve is. We’ll guide you step by step. So, let’s proceed and learn about the process, shall we?
Before discussing replacing a dishwasher, we’ll deal with certain aspects.
In most cases, you’ll find all the tools you’ll need to replace a dishwasher present in your household. So you can forget about fetching any specialised tools for your good old dishwasher. Plus, you won’t require altering the cabinets to fit the new one if the replacement is the same size as the older one. But if it’s not the same size, you will need some advanced carpentry skills for your DIY project to make the new one fit perfectly at the installation point.
Apart from this, you might find the floor portion in front of the old dishwasher raised slightly due to the additional flooring layers. This will ultimately make moving both the old and the new models difficult. And in a few cases, you might even have to remove the flooring or loosen the countertop for the replacement.
Also, remember to cover the floor with a rug or a blanket to protect it during work.
Now, it’s time to look at the details of the procedure involved and get it right the first time. Take note carefully of the procedure. It’s essential for you not to memorise but somehow to familiarise yourself with the ways so you won’t get confused later on when to disconnect the drain, connect the water supply line or install the new drain hose.
Initially, you’ll have to turn off the power to the dishwasher or unplug it from under the kitchen sink. Turn off the water to the dishwasher. It would be best to close the water supply at the shutoff valve nearest the dishwasher.
Plus, it would be best to consider removing the cabinet doors at the sink’s base. It’ll make it easy to disconnect the drain lines when you begin the task.
Turn off the power supply to your dishwasher and remove the access panel at the front. You can replace the access panel with your new dishwasher if you want. At this point, you must again use a voltage tester to verify whether the power supply to that part has stopped.
Then, you need to disconnect all the wires and pull the cable from the box. Readying the wiring will come much later.
And now, you’ll have to disconnect the electric power and water supply lines from the dishwasher. These connections are positioned underneath the old dishwasher, behind a lower panel at the front. So, you’ll have to remove the screws holding this panel to access them.
Follow this by testing the line again with a voltage detector to check that the power supply is off. Now, remove the electrical power line, leaving the cable clamp on so that you can reuse it on the replacement dishwasher.
Sometimes, dishwashers come in cord-and-plug connected forms instead of hard-wired ones. In that case, you can disconnect the cord to reuse it on the new model.
The water supply line is usually made from braided stainless steel or flexible copper. In both cases, you must remove the nut securing this line to the 90-degree fixture on the dishwasher.
If the ring and nut are in perfect condition, you can leave them on the water line for reuse later. After this, bend the copper line slightly while ensuring it doesn’t kink. If it does, you must replace the line with those made from flexible stainless steel.
The 90-degree fixture must be removed for use on the new model. Please make sure you orient it in the same direction in the new model’s case so that the water line feeds into it directly. Now, remove any stagnant water inside the old one. Most dishwashers discharge used water through a drain pipe or a dishwasher drain hose linked to a garbage disposer under the kitchen sink. Then, draw the drain line below the sink.
When you’re sliding out the dishwasher, you’ll have to push the dishwasher drain hose back through the hole in the sink cabinet. You can lower the dishwasher while taking it out to make the job easier.
At the start of this step, you must uncrate the replacement of your old dishwasher as per the instructions in the box. The installation instructions and the user manuals will be inside the dishwasher, so get them out, too. Review the instructions once before you proceed. On a side note, the steps might differ slightly from those we’ve included.
Tip the new dishwasher on the back and then attach the 90-degree fitting. Remember that you must not reuse the old sink dishwasher drain hose, as the dishwasher will surely come with a new hose. Loop the drain line up to the countertop bottom to keep the sink clogs from inundating the new model.
Some plumbing codes will require a specialised air-gap fitting in the line. That’s why it will be best to call your local plumber to ensure the rules for installing a dishwasher.
Then, adjust the feet on the dishwasher to ensure it sits level with the opening. Follow this by grasping the sides of the dishwasher, sliding it in, and finally setting it in place.
Also, you should connect the water line to the dishwasher so it doesn’t leak. The trick is to align the waterline to slide straightaway into the threaded portion of the elbow. You can opt to connect to the sink’s hot water supply.
Now that the electrical cable, drain, and water supply line are connected to the dishwasher, switch on the power and open the water supply. Finally, check for any leakages, scan the positioning of all the parts for one last time and screw the machine to the countertop. And your new dishwasher is ready for use!
So, don’t compromise the hygiene of your family members, and follow the steps for the replacement precisely as we’ve mentioned.
Remembering to practice some safe-handling procedures for dealing with the machine would be best. After all, most dishwashers are unwielded and heavy and have many sharp edges. And it’ll be best to rope in a family member or a friend to help you with the procedure. Have someone help you figure out the new drain hose and the old drain hose or where the water supply valve is.
But if you’re time-poor, you can get it professionally installed. Often, it’s an investment to rely on a highly recommended professional service for your dishwasher installation and other plumbing needs. So, call us – the Gold Coast Plumbing Company. We don’t only do dishwasher repairs and installations; we are all about plumbing. Did you get a new appliance to connect to your gas system? We’ve got you covered. Need to change some plumbing features in the old house you just bought? You can depend on us.
We’ve got more than just the essential tools like an adjustable wrench. We use state-of-the-art technology and tools for high-quality workmanship. So, if you need prompt plumbing services for your plumbing emergencies, trust our professional plumbers to get the job done and provide you with the best! We’ll get your plumbing system working correctly in no time.
That’s about it for today. We’ll be back with more fun content soon, so stay tuned. Till then, all the best!
