Home: Installing a new dishwasher

When purchasing a new dishwasher the process of installing it is usually included free in the price, or for an additional fee. If the installation is an add-on fee and you are considering saving yourself a little money, then this page will highlight a simple guideline for installing a dishwasher.

First things first, installing a dishwasher is not child's play, and for the novice budding engineer, it is as complicated as some retailers would lead you to believe. But, once you do understand the in and outs of how's a dishwasher is installed, repairs to simple malfunctions may also be a possibility.

The process for installation is highlighted below. However, it may not apply to all homes, and it is far from being comprehensive enough to help those with zero diy experience.

First the electricity for your home needs to be switched off. You will need to locate your circuit breaker box to achieve this.

The next thing that needs to be achieved is to switch off the water supply to your home. The primary water supply is normally routed through the kitchen. A valve to shut off your water supply should be located under the sink in your kitchen. Once you believe you have achieved this, then try turning your taps on and off around your home.

The above two steps will make sense now. You will now need to connect the water supply and electricity to the dishwasher. A corner piece with a 90 degree 'T' angle is needed for the water supply. This part may not have been included with your dishwasher. One end of the corner piece is installed into the dishwasher and the other to the household water pipe. A dishwasher should only need a cold water supply.

Now, if your dishwasher has a plug attached, then the process of connecting electricity to your dishwasher has been simplified greatly. If not, then you will need to double check you have definitely switched off the electricity supply to your home. Then you will need to connect a electrical wire to the junction box on your dishwasher. If there is no wire behind your dishwasher, then you will need to run a cable from your breaker box to the position behind your dishwasher.

Finally you will need to connect drainage for the waste water. How you proceed with this part will depend on the configuration of your home. But it should come down to one of two things. Connecting a waste hose from your dishwasher to the standpipe of the sink in the kitchen. But if the dishwasher is too far from the kitchen sink, then a waste pipe will need to be fitted on the wall behind the machine, your waste pipe will be connect to this outlet instead.

So to sum up. First turn off the water and electricity supply to your home. Then connect the water and electricity supply to your dishwasher. Then install a drainage hose. After that you simple need to push the dishwasher back into place.

The manual with your dishwasher should include any intricacies your machine may have in it's installation. And likewise the above guide is only a rough outline for an atypical home. This guide may not apply to your home. If you are in any way uncertain, then either research the above steps in-depth from other online sources or simple pay for the installation from a professional.