Dishwasher Installation

[Carbo]

Once again I turn to the collective gathering of geniuses here at Anandtech for assistance, this time for help on installing a new dishwasher.
I'll be replacing an older unit of 15 years with a new Kenmore model. It seems like a straightforward procedure. Should I be forewarned or wary of anything in particular when doing this job?
Should I call a handyman and watch him while I drink beers?

 

[bacillus]

is it a fitted or freestanding model??

 

[Carbo]

It's going into the existing opening, next to the sink and under the countertop.

 

[bacillus]

IME, if you can remove the old unit without destroying the surroundings then it shoud be a fairly straightfoward swap!

 

[Carbo]

It seems that way to me. Although, I figure with a 15 year old unit coming out, who knows what I'm going to find behind it. Also, do you think I need to be concerned with an air gap?

 

[Aceman]

Carbo,
Any dishwasher should be the standard size for the past 20 years or more. The only way it would get tricky is if it's a direct wire unit and you have no idea what you're doing with wiring. Otherwise, pay a little extra and get the flexible stainless steel hose instead of the standard copper tubing. That stuff just kinked on me as I was moving the dishwasher back into place.


And remember to put on the faceplates on the bottom within the first couple days. (My father and I both put in dishwashers at our homes at the same time and forgot to put on the bottom plate at the bottom. They're still off as we have both lost the machine screws that attach it. )

 

[Ornery]

Don't worry about an air gap. Make sure you do it while the local hardware store or Home Depot are still open. Is there a water shut off valve going to it? That would help a lot. You can now replace the copper tubing supply line with a flexible, stainless braid jacketed, hose. It will have threaded connection on each end to match the shut off valve and dishwasher supply inlet.

The drain hose may need adapters at either end, so know the sizes of the connectors on the trap and outlet of the dishwasher. With any luck, you'll just require one trip to the hardware store. Maybe none if it matches your old unit exactly.

 

[GasX]

A few things:

1. DEFINITELY get the flexible hose. It makes the job a 100 times easier.
2. The hose connects to the unit via an elbow that you should install BEFORE you push the dishwasher into the gap.
3. If the hose and wiring are long enough, connect them BEFORE pushing in the unit.
4. Make sure you read the instructions regarding hooking into your garbage disposal (if you have one). It is easy, but you don't want to screw it up.
5. Use thread tape

I installed mine a few months ago and until I bought the flexible tubing, I had no I dea how I was going to connect and tighten it reaching under the unit blind. With the tubing in hand it took less than an hour.

 

[Carbo]

Guys, so far so simple! I pulled the old unit and cleaned the 15 years worth of accumulated food, debris, and body parts that were found there.
The copper tubing from the hot water line to the unit was the first thing I trashed. I looked at it and it kinked. A big hurrah for flexible tubing. Since I'm there I figured I might as well replace the hose from the unit to the garbage disposal, as well, since that line was a patch job, too.
Finally, do new units come with the electrical supply line? The reason I ask is because a few months ago when I replaced the garbage disposal it did not include the electrical supply line. I needed to pull the existing line off of the old unit and patch it into the new unit. I wondering if the dishwasher is like that, too.

 

[GasX]

Didn't your wiring come from the wall/box and go into the old unit? What was left when you disconnected the old one? You should be expecting to use the old wires.

 

[GasX]

Oh - and I know the kinds of things you find when you pull out an old unit.

I found:

birdseed
peanuts
screws
dust bunnies
dust rhinos
rusty tubing
half rotted sponge
perfectly preserved mouse skull
etc...

The previous owner of my house was a dirt M@%#$ F$#%%#$

 

[Aceman]

Mwilding,
I got ya beat! Our dishwasher project found that and more. Dust Rhinos? Shhot, I had clay elephants from the dust and dirty mixing with the water! When we redid the kitchen floor and floor covering we pulled out the fridge to find all that and then found no decorative plate on the outlet. Upon further inspection of that outlet, we found 3 dead mice stuck in the box. Apparently electricuted trying to enter into the kitchen.

I hate the previous owners! Every remodelling job that should be a snap have taken 2-4 times the time because of these idiots! I do not run a tidy house and am by no means an expert, professional contractor, but I look like Martha Stewarts/Norm Avery offspring compared to these former owners!

 

[GasX]

I hate the previous owners! Every remodelling job that should be a snap have taken 2-4 times the time because of these idiots! I do not run a tidy house and am by no means an expert, professional contractor, but I look like Martha Stewarts/Norm Avery offspring compared to these former owners!

I know EXACTLY how you feel. The previous owner started a lot of really cool projects but never followed through or always cut corners.

Examples:

He built a fairly nice but large built-in bookshelf in the office. It's a small room and I pulled it out to open up the room. There was no drywall behind the shelf - framing, insulation and rodent droppings...

He installed marble tiling in the master bath room. It's very nice, but... it was never grouted.

He installed custom cabinetry throughout the kitchen. He never lined up all of the (adjustable) doors.

He installed a nice Anderson window in the master bath - it isn't framed on the outside.

I could go on and on...

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

Originally posted by: Aceman
Carbo,
... That stuff just kinked on me as I was moving the dishwasher back into place.

yeah, don't kink your hose while you are sticking it into the slot

 

[Carbo]

Didn't your wiring come from the wall/box and go into the old unit?

Yes, the existing wiring ran from the outlet that is located beneath the sink to the old unit's motor. However, I noticed that it is frayed where it passed through the cabinet hole that was cut out. So, I'm thinking do I replace this wire, or can I expect one to be included with the new dishwasher, (which is being delivered tomorrow, by the way).

 

[GasX]

Mine did not come with wiring.

(GE from Home Depot)

 

[JC]

Dishwashers don't come with a cord, sometimes they are hardwired to the house electrical system.

Ya, don't need an air gap, but make sure you run the dishwasher drain hose with a high loop (as far up under the sink as possible) then down to the garbage disposal. It's to prevent any possible siphoning of water out of the dishwasher, same function as the air gap.

JC

 

[GasX]

how did it go? You get it working?

 

[Thegonagle]

Originally posted by: JCYa, don't need an air gap, but make sure you run the dishwasher drain hose with a high loop (as far up under the sink as possible) then down to the garbage disposal. It's to prevent any possible siphoning of water out of the dishwasher, same function as the air gap.

JC

Actually, the reason is to prevent dirty water and crap from draining down into the dishwasher.