Connecting the dishwasher: to the mains, sewer and water supply, common mistakes

While connecting a dishwasher to your home’s utilities may seem straightforward, there are a few common mistakes that should be avoided as they could result in expensive repairs or damage to your property. We’ll walk you through connecting your dishwasher to the water supply, sewage, and mains in this guide, and we’ll also point out some of the most common mistakes that homeowners make in the process.

It’s important to become familiar with your kitchen’s layout and the location of your dishwasher before you start. Since you’ll need to connect the dishwasher to the mains, sewage, and water supply, make sure you have easy access to the space behind it. The installation procedure will go much more smoothly and without any problems if this area is cleared out.

Your primary concern should be safety when connecting your dishwasher to the mains. Before starting any work, make sure the power is turned off at the circuit breaker. This will shield you from electric shock and stop any accidents. Following the manufacturer’s instructions with caution, you can safely connect the dishwasher to the mains once you’ve verified that the power is off.

It’s crucial to connect your dishwasher to the water and sewer supplies correctly to avoid leaks or drainage issues later on. Find the closest sewer drain and water supply line first. Prior to starting, make sure the water supply valve is off, and confirm that the sewer drain is clear and unobstructed.

What you need to connect the dishwasher

Only cold water is connected to the dishwasher. Although some models can be connected to hot water as well, experts advise against it.

Over time, the dishwasher pipes may become sludgy due to the quality of the hot heating medium. The installation will require the use of the following supplies and equipment.

Tee faucet for connection to the water supply pipe

Washing machines are fitted with such a fitting. Additionally, it fits the dishwasher flawlessly. It is tapped into a 15–20 mm-diameter cold water pipe. The tee with a ball valve is curved, with ½-inch male and female threads.

Coarse filter

A coarse filter is inserted in the supply pipe to guarantee that the machine’s water system will function for a long time without the need for frequent cleaning. The purpose of the apparatus is to clear the water of suspended particles. The filter is made up of a bulb that holds a changeable cartridge and a head with two spigots.

Plug

When the drain hose is inserted into the sewer pipe, the rubber corrugated plug acts as a sealing collar. Odors from the collector cannot spread if a plug adapter is used.

Siphon

A siphon with a diverter for connecting to the drain hose is placed beneath the sink to prevent the drain from being lowered straight into the sewer.

Drain hose

The dishwasher’s ability to operate without issue is dependent upon the strength and dependability of the drain hose. Its goal is to remove soiled water from dishwashing processes. When purchasing, it’s important to consider the diameter, length, and kind of material. An excessively long polymer pipe can obstruct the flow of water and become a hindrance to efficient work. One meter is the ideal size.

FUM tape

The purpose of film sealant is to seal threaded joints. Fluoroplastic sealing material (FUM) can withstand temperatures exceeding 200 degrees Celsius and is not destroyed in either an acidic or an alkaline environment. The material is hygienic; after winding, the worker’s hands are left clean. Tape is widely available and reasonably priced.

Polymer pipe welder

Installing the plastic pipes supplying the unit will require a welding machine if the water supply is made of PVC pipes. A variety of nozzles with varying diameters are included with the device. The welding machine can be used, in accordance with the instructions, to form a pipeline that turns in any direction while keeping the joints between the parts tightly sealed.

You will also need sections of plastic pipe, PVC corners, an adjustable wrench, a marking tool, and all of the above, which is required for the connection.

Types of dishwashers

The advancement of science and technology has created limitless possibilities for the manufacturing of different kinds of home appliances, such as dishwashers. A large selection of sinks enables the customer to select the model that best suits the unique characteristics of the kitchen area in terms of size, shape, installation technique, and function.

Depending on how often they are used, dishwashers are separated into two primary categories: industrial and household appliances.

Industrial units

When a lot of dishes need to be cleaned, they are necessary. The majority of these are sizable cafe and restaurant catering businesses. The apparatus comes in frontal, dome, and tunnel configurations.

• Front-loading units have a front loading hatch with dish baskets inside. All frontal industrial dishwashers are made of metal – food grade steel. The control panel is placed forward on the front of the appliance. The units are designed for simultaneous washing of several dozens of the same type of cutlery;

• Dome-type dishwashers are distinguished from other devices by the fact that the dishes in the loading basket are under the washing tank, which in its structure resembles a dome, which determined the name of the installation. As a rule, dome machines are mounted together with a sink and a table for sorting dirty dishes;

• Tunnel type of dishwashing units are oversized combiners combining a hand wash with a sink, a table for dumping large food waste into the tank, the washing unit itself and a table for drying dishes in a basket. This freestanding conveyor line works effectively in restaurants with more than one hundred seats.

This post will walk you through the steps of hooking up your dishwasher to the water, sewage, and mains supplies while emphasizing typical blunders to watch out for. For your dishwasher to operate safely and effectively, the connection must be made correctly. We’ll go over each step in great detail, ensuring you have all the knowledge required to complete the task correctly the first time. Following these instructions will guarantee a smooth installation process and avoid any potential problems later on, whether you’re replacing an old dishwasher or installing a new one.

Domestic dishwashers

They can be identified by characteristics like:

1. Dimensions;
2. Method of installation;
3. Layout level.

Dimensions

Sinks are separated into full-size, narrow, and compact units based on size.

• Full-size models are dishwashers with standard external parameters, where the height is between 800 and 900 mm, width is 600 mm and depth is between 550 and 600 mm. They have a large capacity. In one session the machine will wash from 10 to 20 pieces of cutlery. Models can be partially or fully integrated into the kitchen set, as well as in the form of freestanding cabinets. Devices can be produced in a combined form, that is, combined with other kitchen units. Comparatively recently on the market of home appliances appeared models where sinks are combined with a cooking surface, gas or electric stove, oven. They are quite expensive for the average consumer, which restrains the demand for this type of product;
• Narrow washing units are characterized by a width that ranges from 445 to 490 mm. Demand narrow machines are in demand among the owners of small-sized housing, where small kitchens can hardly accommodate the most compact sets;
• Compact or small dishwashers have only recently appeared on the household appliances market. Their small dimensions (height – 440 – 600 mm, width – 500 – 690 mm, depth – 500 – 550 mm) allow you to place the machines in a limited space. The peculiarity of the models is that they are mainly purchased by residents of still preserved panel houses of the 60s of the last century, called "Khrushchevka". In these homes, kitchens take up literally a few square meters. Also sinks of this type are installed in the kitchens of country houses and dachas.

Installation method

Based on how they are installed, there are two categories for modern dishwashers. These are freestanding and built-in models.

1. The dishwasher is installed in the floor part of the kitchen unit. The depth of the sink is 50 – 60 cm, which corresponds to the same size of the lower cabinets. The machine, with its facade, maintains the horizontal and vertical line of the unit. Such washing units in turn are divided into fully and partially built-in machines. The first ones are inserted between drawers or floor cabinets under a single countertop. The latter have a top cover that acts as a part of the countertop of the floor part of the set. All utilities are connected to both types of dishwashers from the rear wall.
2. Freestanding units are stand-alone dishwashers with a complete design of appearance. They can be full-size, narrow and compact kitchen appliances.

Location level

Here, everything is easy. There are two types of dishwashing units: tabletop and floor models. Small dimensions are a defining feature of compact sinks. Countertop sinks are always able to be hidden in the closet of the smallest set of cabinets or placed on a table, unlike floor-standing appliances.

It is attached to the mixer or faucet above the kitchen sink via a flexible hose. A flexible plastic pipe is used for drainage, and it ends up in a siphon or sewer outlet beneath the sink.

Installation rules

Prior to connecting the dishwasher, you should familiarize yourself with the ins and outs of kitchen communication setup, including the precise placement of the washing machine’s connecting nodes. You must adhere to specific installation requirements when doing installation work on your own.

Selecting the ideal location for installation is crucial. It is convenient to have a separate washing cabinet because its placement is independent of the other components of the kitchen furniture. The kitchen sink should be as close to the dishwasher as feasible. This determines how long the supply and drain hoses should be. The dishwasher will operate more effectively the shorter they are.

The configuration of the kitchen set’s lower cabinets directly affects the installation of the built-in washing machine. The amount of room needed for built-in appliances to be installed in sets is something that manufacturers frequently consider. This is typically the case with appliances that are partially built-in, meaning that their top surface serves as a portion of the kitchen furniture’s worktop.

Under the unit’s countertop, full-size and narrow models are fully integrated into the bottom row of furniture adjacent to the washing machine and sink. When custom-made kitchen furniture is produced, this is what happens. The machine is bought in this instance without a front panel. It is constructed like a door and a set of furniture. Underneath will conceal the dishwasher.

We attempt to locate the washing machine in a way that minimizes the amount of labor required to connect it to the utilities. Once a location on the kitchen floor has been selected for the dishwasher installation, a level must be used to ensure that the area is horizontal. The machine needs to be placed on a level, non-sloping surface.

Read the instructions before installation

The manufacturer affixes instructions on how to connect the dishwasher to each kit. Completing the manual’s requirements is crucial because the dishwasher’s 12-month manufacturer warranty is based on it.

When washing machines are installed incorrectly, against the guidelines, the owner loses the right to have the machine fixed or completely replaced with a new one in the event that the machine breaks down within the warranty.

The buyer can find instructions in the instruction manual on how to connect the dishwasher to the water and sewer pipes on their own. The required technical specifications for the communications are described in the manual. What matters most when installing a freestanding washing machine is the voltage in the power grid, the operating pressure of the cold water in the pipe, etc.

The manufacturer provides wiring diagrams for apartments and single-family homes in the accompanying documentation, which walk through the installation process of the washing machine in the kitchen.

Dishwasher wiring diagrams

There are multiple ways to link laundry machines to the kitchen area’s communications system. The integrated dishwasher’s connection points are hidden by the furniture and the appliance itself. This is the most effective method of connection in terms of aesthetics.

All communication and connection points for a freestanding washing machine are visible from the outside of the machine. In certain instances, hoses and electrical wiring on kitchen walls are concealed in wire channels and hollows and covered with plaster before finishing to preserve the interior’s aesthetic appeal.

Small (portable) dishwashing stations can be tucked away in the kitchen set’s floor cabinets or set on tables and shelves. Owners of tiny kitchens that are only a few square meters in size are big consumers of appliances.

Connecting to the power supply

The dishwasher needs to have a separate connection to the power grid, just like any other appliance whose operation involves water and electricity. There was concealed wiring running from it to the electric meter panel, from which wires are linked to an independent automatic circuit breaker (refer to the picture below). picture below).

1. A separate power supply line ensures safe operation of the washing system. From the RCD lead the line from the switchboard to the kitchen.
2. The wiring is laid with three-core cable of VVGng or PVS brand with a cross-section of 3 x 1.5. For this purpose, 25 – 30 mm deep grooves are punched in the walls. Sometimes the thickness of the plaster layer is enough to avoid using a perforator.
3. If there has been a recent renovation, the wallpaper is carefully cut and the edges are pulled apart to penetrate the grommet. After laying the wiring, putty is used to fill in the wiring, primed, covered with wallpaper glue and the edges of the wallpaper are glued back together.
4. Select a place to install the socket. The socket for the socket fitting should be located at a height of 20 – 30 cm from the floor. This distance allows to avoid water getting into the socket in case of emergency flooding of the apartment.

1. To install the socket you will need a hammer and a concrete drill bit. Drill a recess, insert a plastic box. Pull the wires through it. Insert the fitting. Connect the phase, neutral and earthing conductors to the terminals, having previously stripped their ends of insulation. Install the faceplate, turn on the RCD – the outlet is ready for operation.

How to connect the dishwasher to the water mains

1. Screw the coupling nut of the flexible hose onto the vertical socket with the thread of the faucet.

1. Turn the handle to open the faucet and check all connections for leaks. If there are no such connections, close the tap and proceed to the next stage of work.

Connecting the dishwasher drain to the sewer system

Installing a drain trap with a special spigot on the kitchen sink—which has a conical socket at one end—is necessary in order to connect the dishwasher to the sewer. It is attached to the machine’s drain hose, which is clamped tight.

• switch on the dishwasher by pressing the start button on the control panel. Idle operation is necessary to remove dust, dirt and bacteria that may have accumulated inside the machine during storage;
• During the entire work cycle, check the tightness of the connections once again. If leaky areas show up, they are repaired with FUM tape.

Connecting the dishwasher	To the mains, sewer, and water supply
Common mistakes	1. Forgetting to turn off the power before installation. 2. Incorrectly connecting the water supply hose. 3. Not properly securing the drain hose. 4. Overloading the dishwasher.

Although connecting a dishwasher to the water supply, sewage, and mains may seem simple, it’s important to do it correctly to prevent common mistakes that could cause issues later on.

First and foremost, make sure you carefully follow the manufacturer’s instructions when connecting the dishwasher to the mains. To avoid electrical hazards, make sure the dishwasher is properly grounded and use the appropriate power source.

Secondly, to avoid leaks and drainage problems, make sure you have the right fittings and that the hose is installed correctly when connecting the dishwasher to the sewer. Making sure the hose is not kinked or obstructed in any way is also crucial.

Lastly, to avoid leaks, make sure you use the appropriate hose type and that it is connected securely when connecting the dishwasher to the water supply. Inspect the hose for indications of wear or damage and replace it as needed.

You can make sure that your dishwasher is connected safely and effectively and enjoy its convenience without any concerns by following these easy steps and avoiding common mistakes.

Video on the topic

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