How difficult is a dishwasher installation?

[Warren]

My 25 year old Whirlpool dishwasher finally stopped working and I've been shopping for a replacement. I've also been looking for special offers on the installation charge since the standard fee seems to be in the $150-175 range (Phila,PA suburbs). However, I have not been able to find a dishwasher I want which also is offering an installation special (i.e. $69 at Boscov's recently).

Is a new dishwasher install that difficult a procedure? I was looking at some YouTube videos and it doesn't look all that complex. Just a couple of connections? This is one of the videos I was looking at.

I'm not much of a handyman, but I have done simple stuff like installing a ceiling fan, garbage disposal, etc. What do you think? Is installing a new dishwasher using the existing connections a DIY project?

Thanks, in advance, for any info or advice. Warren

[professorpaul]

Pretty straight forward:

1. Turn off power

1. Turn off water (hot)

2. Disconnect drain, water feed, electrical connection.

1. Lower washer -- usually jacked up slightly with leveling jacks.

2. Slide out -- be careful you don't mess up your floor -- old rug, cardboard, piece of plywood, etc.

1. Slide in new washer - this might take some help.

2. Reconnect drain, water line, electricity. Make sure the unit is grounded.

1. Level washer (use a torpedo level, or the like) - you want door to behave itself.

2. Try it out.

The only problems will be if the water line is in a different location, or the like. Determine this first. Similar considerations for the electricity, but there should be some play in the cable.

Not a lot to it. If all goes well, and you don't have a last minute run to the hardware store, should be less than an hour, start to finish. If you can get the old washer pulled out first, they will likely take it away for a modest fee, otherwise you have to dispose of the old one, which is a PITA.

[trader4]

I'd say, in general, installing a dishwasher isn't any more difficult than installing a garbage disposal, especially replacing an existing one. It's probably easier because you don't have the sometimes tight angles and spacing to align the garbage disposal to the waste pipe, etc.

[Pete C.]

A dishwasher *installation* i.e. new installation where a dishwasher never was before, can range from easy to a royal pain in the butt.

A dishwasher *replacement* is typically very easy unless the original installation was really a hack job. You should be able to remove the old dishwasher pretty easily to assess the situation (water and power off of course).

If the electrical is neatly connected, and even more importantly the water supply and drain lines are neat with easy to disconnect connections, then installing the replacement dishwasher should take 30 minutes.

If you find corroded water fittings with no shutoff valve, duct taped drain connections and taped electrical connections hanging in space with no wire nuts or box then it's best left to a pro to rectify the problems and install the replacement dishwasher.

A home repair / electrical book from a library, or some printouts from DIY instructions on the Home Depot or Lowe's sites may be handy to have nearby.

[Tony Hwang]

Hi, Replacing existing one is not that difficult after turning the water and power to the unit off. Only thing is new style washers called tall tub ones maybe little diferent. Other than that go for it. My GE washer is getting old but after replacing pump assembly from eBay for ~30.00, it's warking again. On next trouble I am replacing it as well. Good luck. Good luck, Tony

[Paul Franklin]

All good points. I'll add one thing to watch for. If the kitchen floor was redone with the dishwasher in place at any time in the past, such that the floor level is higher now, it may be a royal pain to get the old one out and the new one in. Measure from the top of the finished floor to the bottom of the counter top. If it's much less than 34 1/2 inches you are probably in for a struggle.

If you can get the old one out, you will be able to get the new one in 99% of the time, so if you have any doubt, pull the old one before you buy the new one. This will also give you a sense of what you are in for, but as others have said, it's pretty straight forward.

HTH,

Paul F.

[SMS 斯蒂文?]

One problem I've run into is in a kitchen where the linoleum floor had been replaced a couple of times (without the removal of the older linoleum) and it was not possible to easily remove the old dishwasher which was now lower than the floor in front of it. I had to hacksaw part of the frame to get it out. The new one fit without a problem as it wasn't quite as tall (adjustable legs raised it once it was in place.

I'm in the process of remodeling that kitchen now (it's a rental now), and am putting in a tile floor, and the tile will cover the whole floor, then cabinets and appliances will go on top of it (the area under the cabinets and appliances doesn't have to be expensive tile, any tile will do).

As far as doing the plumbing and electrical, as you stated, it's easy.

For rental units, I find good appliance deals on FreeCycle, from people that have just redone their kitchens. I got bombarded with offers for dishwashers, and got a high-end Kitchen-Aid, almost new, for free. When people get the stainless-steel bug, they are anxious to discard their old stuff without paying to have it hauled away (personally I use my Sawzall to break up old appliances into small enough pieces to have the regular garbage pick-up take them away).

[Doug Miller]

Good list, except you omitted a couple steps:

3.1 Remove the screws holding the brackets at the top front of the dishwasher to the underside of the countertop. (Open the door and look under the countertop, and you'll see what I mean.)

8.1 Reinstall screws removed in step 3.1 above **before** you try opening the door all the way. (Unit may tip forward on its face otherwise; open the door just far enough to get the screws in place.) 8.2 Turn water and electricity back on.

[Phisherman]

I'd call it a "medium" job, perhaps the same order as an over-the-range venting microwave or water heater. Like any appliance task it can turn into a difficult job. Protect your floor, have plenty of lighting, and all the tools/materials you may need. My guess that it will take 1 to 3 hours (it's always easier/faster the

2nd time).

[Edwin Pawlowski]

If you can handle those jobs, you can handle the dishwasher. The difficulty is more age dependent since you have to get down on the floor to make the water connection. That sure seemed easier 10 years ago.

[DerbyDad03]

The unit may tip forward *towards* its face, but I don't think it can tip forward *on* its face if Step 6 has already been completed...unless it's a real short unit. :-)

[Ivan Vegvary]

Ah, you forgot 1 important step. Many dishwashers come with a plug installed on the pump output line. Stupidly, not knowing, I installed and pulled my dishwasher out 3 times trying to figure out why it wouldn't drain. Finally took it out in the carport (daylight) got it up on my hydraulic lift table and analyzed the problem. Felt like an idiot!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Note: While this washer was new, it did not come with instructions (third party). Said instructions probably mentioned the plug.)

Ivan Vegvary

[HeyBub]

In addition to the other excellent advice offered so far, consider improving things as long as you're under there...

If the electrical connection is hard-wired into a junction box, consider replacing the wire nuts, etc., with a plug and outlet.

Replace the solid water pipe with a longer, flexible hose and install a cut-off valve.

Give the project a try; can't hurt.

[professorpaul]

The electrical connection is a code issue??? I assumed that what was there was legal??

[scott21230]

If you can do a garbage disposal and a ceiling fan, you can do a dishwasher. Only real thing to watch out for is leaks.

[Warren]

You got that right! It's probably been 10 years since I did those jobs. My knees aren't what they used to be and it's harder getting down, working in cramped spaces, etc. With people living longer 50 may be the new 30, but somebody needs to convince my body of that.

[HeyBub]

I'm sure it was. But sometimes the configuration can be improved upon. For example, a very short connection from the washer to the wall such that you have to wiggle back and disconnect the wire nuts, solder, tape, and/or cover plate just to get the washer out.

The whole enchilada would be simpler if the junction box was equipped with an outlet and the washer was equipped with plug.

[Dave Martindale]

We had that problem with our old one. Some previous owner had added laminate flooring to the kitchen, raising the floor level about 3/8 inch everywhere except in the dishwasher compartment. The old one barely came out after screwing the adjusting feet all the way up.

Not wanting the new install to be a similar challenge, we bought a Whirlpool model that is 1 inch shorter than "standard" - it will fit into a 33.5 inch high space. It also has long adjustable feet, and an adjustable trim panel at the bottom, so it will fit into a standard-height space or even something slightly larger.

To help with installation, we placed some scrap pieces of laminate flooring and underpad along the sides of the dishwasher compartment, to bring them up to the level of the rest of the floor. That way, we could adjust the dishwasher legs by measurement, then just slide it into place in its compartment without much further leg adjustment. If we hadn't done this, we would have had to make the legs shorter initially (to get through the opening) and then adjust them longer when in place (to get the dishwasher to the correct height on the lower floor).

[Dan Lanciani]

It was easier 10 years ago. Some of the newer models have much less room to work around the water connection. I just replaced a reasonably high-end Kitchen Aid with another, and with the old and new side by side the difference was obvious. I think I would have needed a very special wrench to tighten the compression connection with the unit in place, so I replaced the copper with one of those flexible hose connectors that could be tightened before installation.

Dan Lanciani ddl@danlan.*com

[aemeijers]

I resemble that remark. Since I hit the wrong side of 50 and bought this house, I'm running through a lot more of the ibuprofen than I used to. Seeing small details in dark places is the hard part for me. I have this zone in-between what I can see without glasses, and what I can see with the reading glasses, and the stuff I need to work on always seems to fall in that range. A third hand to hold the light on the work would be a big help, too. (didn't used to need that, IIRC...)

aem sends...