How to Install a Dishwasher
If you are wondering how to install a dishwasher as I was this weekend, I can share what I learned during my first experience. I did buy a home warranty through American Home Shield and they offered a $306 credit towards a new unit of our choice or they would come and install a brand new unit with the same features as our old broken unit as well as dispose of our old unit. Since our old unit was black and we wanted to upgrade to a stainless steel unit with additional features to ensure that our dishes were spotless after a wash, we chose to take the $306 credit and go buy a unit of our liking. I was able to find a nice stainless, Kenmore floor model at OSH Hardware that was significantly reduced as it was last years model and they needed more room on their sales floor. It was marked down to $431 from over $800. I double checked with AHS and they could get the same model for $714 and install it for me, etc. I opted to pocket the $250 after taxes were thrown in and do a little home project of my own, replacing the dishwasher myself.
For those who know how to install a dishwasher, you know that the three main connections to a dishwasher are the electrical wires, water line and drainage pipe. I would recommend getting some plumbers tape to make the water line seals tight to prevent any future leaks. You will need some basic tools like big and small Philips and regular screw drivers and one or two pairs of channel lock pliers. You want to turn off the power to the kitchen completely at the breaker box to prevent electrocution or fire. Also, turn off the water main so that you don't flood the kitchen when you disconnect the water line from the old dishwasher. In addition, you need to open up all faucets and water lines that are near and below the dishwasher water line as there will still be water pressure which will force water to keep coming out of the dishwasher line to flood the kitchen. The water needs an escape route lower than the dishwasher line. For my project, the outside hose bib was a lower escape for the water and that is how I got my dishwasher line to stop leaking once it was disconnected from the old unit. Unfortunately, there isn't a small power cord to unplug from these units. They are hard wired at a junction box underneath the units. When the power is off, you can proceed to disconnect the black, white and ground wire from the junction box beneath the unit.
If you want to know how to install a dishwasher successfully the first time, you need the proper drain hose clamp that should come with your new unit. Mine was a floor model and the drain hose was missing so the sales rep threw in a new hose from a different unit. The problem with that (I learned the hard way), is that the manufacturer recommended clamp was not included so I used one that you torque down with a flat head screw driver. What I learned is that it will deform the plastic drain hose if it is tightened too much. As a result, my drain pipe leaked after the first use. I had to pull the unit out the next day, buy a new drain hose and install it. The old school DW drain hose is black and it looks like a heater hose that would be connected to the radiator in your car. If you use this kind of hose, be careful not to kink the hose or twist it as the dirty water will not drain from your unit after installation. I learned this the hard way too and had to pull the unit back out, cut out the kinked part of the hose and re-connect. Read the instruction manual before installing and enjoy your clean dishes!
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How to Install a Dishwasher
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Jason, I have installed many dishwashers and it is a reletivly easy project. Homeowners that are willing to learn about do it yourself projects will save lots of money!