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Anyone good at Plumbing?

H

hevnsnt

Lifer
Ok, trying to replace my dishwasher and I have run into a problem.

The dishwasher's main water feed is a copper pipe, which is apparently too long for my new dishwasher. Instead of just cutting the pipe to fit, I think I should replace it with a flexable hose. (any thoughts on this?)

So my problem, where it taps the water is off the faucet's pipe, which goes like this: Plastic(faucet)->plastic->copper fitting->valve->long copper pipe to dishwasher.

However the nut on the valve is on there TIGHT and it is corroded.. Is there any way for me to unscrew this without breaking the plastic? (the plastic gives when I try to unscrew it)

Or am I going about this all wrong? Any tips, hints, or suggestions?
 
having just replaced a dishwasher i feel qualified to advise you to do the following. However, I do not understand why there is plastic on your supply line? That makes no sense to me. Is this a new or used dishwasher?


1) buy a 6-pack of good beer

2) buy a 3/8 compression hose with a universal supply elbow (Home Depot sells these for about 8 bucks. (you may not need the elbow, if your dishwasher already has one). I think the basic design is that the supply line has a male fitting, whereas most compression flexible hoses are female on both ends.

3) drink a beer

4) on your supply line. Cut the 3/8 pipe and use a compression fitting that will give you a 3/8 male compression thread. A plumbing supply store will sell you this. No sweating involved. Easy installation.

5) drink more beer

6) connect your flex hose to both the supply line and the dishwasher.

7) pray. drink more beer. test.
 
HomeBrewerDude: The plastic is on the water feed.. Not part of the dishwasher.. As far as everything else goes.. I am right on track w/ya.. Thanks for the tips.
 
I would read the directions from your dishwasher. It will usually explain what you have to work with. If your water feed line is copper, go to Home Depot or Lowes and talk to the guys there to get something to covert from copper to plastic. It just depends on what the end of the copper pipe looks like. (whether or not it's threaded and whether or not you need to cut it) Remember that cutting copper pipe requires special tools because the pipe can get bent easily...
 
I'm guessing the supply line to your dishwasher is 1/4 inch copper, correct?

If so, it should be somewhat flexible, be careful not to kink it. You probably don't have to cut it. If the compression fitting on the end of the copper is correct for your new dishwasher, then just go with it.

On the other hand, if you have to mess around with fittings at the end, then replace it with a compression hose from the valve. Use TWO wrenches on the valve - one to loosen it, and one to hold the valve so you don't torque on the plastic. Thus, the valve held firmly, the plastic shouldn't even know you're loosening a fitting elsewhere.
 
Originally posted by: DrPizza
I'm guessing the supply line to your dishwasher is 1/4 inch copper, correct?

If so, it should be somewhat flexible, be careful not to kink it. You probably don't have to cut it. If the compression fitting on the end of the copper is correct for your new dishwasher, then just go with it.

On the other hand, if you have to mess around with fittings at the end, then replace it with a compression hose from the valve. Use TWO wrenches on the valve - one to loosen it, and one to hold the valve so you don't torque on the plastic. Thus, the valve held firmly, the plastic shouldn't even know you're loosening a fitting elsewhere.
Click to expand...


Well the copper fitting does fit the dishwasher, but the copper pipe is just such a PITA to work with.. I think what I am going to do is:

1) Try your two wrench method.. Hopefully I can get it that way. If I can pull off that valve, I already have all the replacement parts to replace it, and then use a flexable hose to connect to dishwasher.. If I can't break that nut loose, I guess I will cut the copper pipe (I bought a pipe cutter) and just install another valve.. The next people who buy the house will wonder wtf, but hey thats ok
 
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