How to connect a dishwasher

[MitchellMc]

Difficulty: Beginner

It's easy to connect a dishwasher to your existing sink's water and waste outlets once you know how. Follow our guide to ensure leak-free operation for many years to come.

To achieve a reliable installation, remember to always adhere to manufacturer guidelines, use proper tools, and ensure tight connections. Please engage a registered plumber if you need to change or install new fittings for the installation. 

Steps

Step 1

Review manufacturer guidelines and drill routing holes.

Begin by assessing the routing of your dishwasher's inlet and waste hoses. Refer to the manufacturer's guidelines regarding allowable elevations of the hoses and follow them closely during installation. Proper hose routing helps prevent kinks and ensures efficient water flow.

The allocated space for a dishwasher often has a cabinet panel between it and your connections. To allow access, this panel must have routing holes drilled in it. Take your 44mm hole saw and drill two intersecting holes in the cabinet panel for your hoses.

  

Step 2

Feed hoses through your holes and install the return bracket.

Push the inlet and waste hose through the holes in the cabinet panel.

Many dishwashers require you to elevate the waste hose before returning it back down and connecting it to your sink S-bend. Install any provided return bracket at the specified height by the manufacturer with the timber screw and drill driver. Clip the waste hose into it.

  

Step 3

Identify connections and connect inlet hose.

Dishwashers have a larger waste hose and a thinner inlet hose. Some models come with two inlet hoses for both hot and cold connections. The inlet hose has a screwed connector, and you'll need to connect it to the small tap located on the rear wall of the cabinet.

Take the inlet hose connector and align it with the tap threads. Ensure it is not misaligned and screw it onto the tap. If your machine has a hot water hose, connect it as above to the hot water tap.

You can use multi-grip pliers if you have difficulty tightening the connector by hand. However, do not overtighten the fitting as you could damage it.

    

Step 4

Drill out the S-bend trap spigot (if necessary).

The waste hose needs to be connected to your sink's S-bend trap. Most S-bend traps include a barbed spigot that the rubber end of the waste hose pushes onto. If a dishwasher has not been installed previously, drill out this spigot with a 13mm drill bit and your drill driver. Ensure you only drill out the internal blocking wall and do not drill further inside the pipe.

   

Step 5

Connect the waste hose.

Add your hose clamp onto the rubber fitting of the waste hose. Push the waste hose onto the barbed spigot. Tighten the strap hose clamp with your flathead screwdriver.

Run a cycle on your dishwasher and check for leaks periodically. Tighten the connections if any leaks are found.

You have now successfully connected your dishwasher. 

   

Materials

• 17 - 32mm Stainless steel hose clamp
• 20mm timber screw.

Tools

• Drill driver
• 13mm drill bit
• Flathead screwdriver
• Hole saw kit
• Multi-grip pliers.

Images

[Old-gal24]

Thank you for this post.  @MitchellMc   I found this handy as I've just moved into a home that the dishwasher was removed to update the flooring in the kitchen.  I came in here to see if just maybe someone had made a post on how to connect, and came across your Mitchell...

Many thanks

Oldgal

@MitchellMc   Many thanks.  Moving house and finding loads of things that need doing.  I always come in here, and see if someone has already posted about items I am tackling.. So many times, I have found posts on exactly what I'm needing to do.  Besides wanting to make my own garden shed, out of timber and corro I have discovered a few other things I will need to deal with.  Roof water being another issue.  The house I've purchased has been permitted to let the rain water run off into a sort of pit in the back corner of the yard.  So I've been researching water issues, as I'm not happy with what has been constructed.  I also plan on building my garden shed over the top of said pit, as it's a waste of yard.  

All in good time, sadly these days my head works faster the poor old body.. BUT I give most things a go..

Thanks again Mitchell.

This old gal

[MitchellMc]

Glad we could assist @Old-gal24.

Let us know if you need further assistance.

Mitchell

[stackhat]

Great post @MitchellMc 

Before I had a trap drill (or whenever I can’t find it) I use a piece of 1/2” copper pipe in my drill to make the hole in the trap spigot for the discharge hose. If you don’t have any copper, use a 13mm bit with your drill in reverse to make the hole. 

I always put the hole to route the hoses/wire through the bottom of the cabinet - 125mm of the cabinet side & 60mm off the back to the centre of a 57mm or 70mm hole if the inlet hose has a solenoid. It’s best to route the power cord first, followed by the water/inlet hose and the drain/discharge. Any other order and you will lively have trouble getting them all to fit. 

To finish the job, I recommend installing a washing machine/dishwasher cover plate. This will stop mice from being able to enter the cabinet through the hole where the hoses pass through as well as making it look like a professional has done it. 

[JacobZ]

Hi @stackhat,

Thank you for that extra information. I'm sure our readers will find it helpful for their future dishwasher installs.

Were the cover plates you were referring to similar to this Kinetic White Round Cupboard Cover Plate or this Kinetic 295 x 210mm White Flat Self Adhesive Cover Plate?

Jacob

[stackhat]

Unfortunately Bunnings don’t sell them @JacobZ  

This is the what I use Dishwasher Hose Cover Plate

[JacobZ]

Hi @stackhat,

Thanks for following up.

Jacob

[lilnikoy82]

Can I ask, would an electrician need to install a power point in the cabinet? If there isn't a hot tap under cabinet is that also plumber? I worry that I'll have to get a cabinet maker out to get it in the cabinet, then a plumber andElectrician, the cost just puts me off. 

[EricL]

Hi @lilnikoy82 

If there are no power points to plug into near the area, it will be necessary to engage the services of an electrician. If your dishwasher produces its own hot water, then there would be no need for a hot tap connector. Please check your owner's manual to make sure it does produce its own hot water. The plumber would only be needed if hot water is necessary. 

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

[SuperDawn1]

Hi there! A quick question about the water for my new dishwasher, there isn't an extra tap, can I just add a T piece to my existing water supply under the sink? Thanks for your help

[MitchellMc]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @SuperDawn1. It's splendid to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about connecting a dishwasher.

Typically, it would be best to replace the single outlet mini cistern cock with a Kinetic 15 x 15mm Chrome Plated Double Mini Cistern Cock. That way, you don't have an additional joint that could potentially leak. You could try to add a T-piece, but it would need one female 15mm to two male 15mm outlets, and I am unaware of such a fitting.

Please be advised this is considered plumbing work with requires a licensed plumber to perform it.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell
 

[Lifacetsmoments]

Hello. This is the most basic question and I am ashamed I am stuck on it.  At step 3, which direction is the inlet hose tightened onto the tap please.  Asking as I am attempting to switch out the current dishwasher and cannot get the old inlet fitting off. Took the day off yesterday to receive the delivery and do the job.  For the sake of making some progress, I have cut off the old inlet hose to remove the old unit and I have positioned the new unit and connected the outlet into the S bend with the hose clamp.  I am simply stuck getting the old inlet connection undone ! Have tried with multigrips and assuming the tap is 'normal' ? As in, assuming it would be tightened by screwing clockwise if you are looking up at the thread of the tap, or anticlockwise if you are looking down from the top of the tap ?

It is not helping any that the old fitting is really close to the cabinet back wall and below the threaded join is a plastic protruding box the size of a match box (maybe a water filter?) and that box won't clear the cabinetry as you try to sweep backwards.  But someone obviously got it on in the first place. Wondering do I get a dremel with a grinding fitting and try to cut this box section off first.  I cannot believe how much trouble I am having with such an easy task. Any suggestions?. TIA  

[EricL]

Hello @Lifacetsmoments 

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us.

There is no need to be ashamed, we all run into challenging D.I.Y. situations. If you have a heat gun in your toolbox, I suggest heating up the plastic fitting to loosen it up. Please make sure to use your multigrips and to wear personal protection such as gloves and goggles. Once the old washing machine fitting has heated up it should become easier to unscrew.

Please note that turning clockwise makes it tighter and anticlockwise loosens it up. 

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric