What to Know Before Installing a Dishwasher

Use these tips to determine the exact position of the dishwasher, water supply, drainage and electrical socket

Pooja Khanna Tyagi23 August 2021

Houzz India Contributor. An Architect , Interior Designer, Valuer, a Marathon Runner, and love Writing Poetry and Creative Stories on Building Design. Have been practicing since the year 2000 with specialization in the field of Corporate Interiors with projects extensively published in journals of national repute. Recently honoured with the reputed A3 Foundation award for Journalism for the year 2016 an for architectural poetry in the year 2018. Currently practicing and residing in Delhi and Noida. Website: www.khannaenterprise.com, Email: poojakhanna224@gmail.com, M:9891993392

For hassle-free installation of the dishwasher, here is what you need to know.

Showplace Cabinetry

1. Position of dishwasher

The dishwasher should be placed near the sink or under the kitchen countertop. One can go for a freestanding dishwasher or a built-in model.
When deciding on the position, make sure that it is easy to load and unload the vessels. Since the door of the dishwasher opens outwards, it should not block the circulation area of the kitchen when it is open.

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Miele USA

2. Making an opening

The standard size of a dishwasher is 24 inches in width , 24 inches deep and 35 inches high. It is essential to read the user’s manual to find out the exact size of the opening required for the dishwasher. Make a cut-out under the kitchen countertop as per the proposed size. This can be achieved by make space in the design of a new kitchen or by removing existing cabinets under the countertop.

Tip: If the water is hard and has a value of above 800 ppm, then it is advisable to install an external water softener with the dishwasher. Keep in mind that the hard water will leave white mineral marks on the utensils.

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Miele GB

3. Plumbing and water supply

It should be placed close to the sink to ensure easy access to the water supply line and the drain line.
The dishwasher, sink and garbage disposal should be close to each other because all their functions are interrelated. Note that very greasy utensils should be rinsed before putting them in the dishwasher. Additionally, one has to scrape off the leftover food particles into the dustbin before placing the utensils in the dishwasher.
It can be placed on the left- or the right-hand side of the sink as per the convenience of the user.

ASKO Appliances, Inc.

4. Power supply

It requires a 15 to 20 ampere electrical socket for plugging in the appliance.
The electrical socket should be easy to access. Do not fix the electrical socket behind the dishwasher, because one will have to move the entire dishwasher to unplug the appliance.
It is recommended to incorporate the electrical socket in the adjacent cabinet by drilling a hole within the partition between the dishwasher and the adjacent cabinet.

Natalie Myers

How to install a dishwasher within an existing kitchen?

Dishwashers usually come with adjustable and extendable legs so the first step is to check whether the dishwasher can be installed below an existing kitchen countertop or not.
Remove a section of the base cabinets or drawers to accommodate the width of the dishwasher.
The height of the countertop in most Indian kitchens ranges between 33 and 34 inches, while the height of the dishwasher is 35 inches, so a small section of the countertop will have to be cut and raised to accommodate the dishwasher.
If there is a blank wall near the sink, then go for a freestanding dishwasher or create an additional countertop to accommodate the dishwasher under it.
Appoint a plumber and an electrician to make provision for the water supply, drainage and electrical socket.

Tip: Appoint a good contractor to cut the countertop so that the entire countertop does not crack or get damaged.

How is the dishwasher better than manual washing?

When compared to manual washing, a dishwasher is specially designed to cut down the wastage of water.
Since a dishwasher uses hot water at 70 degrees Celsius for cleaning the utensils, it is hygienic and effective in killing 99.9 per cent of germs.
Unlike manual washing, the dishwasher does not use sponges for cleaning, which happen to be a breeding ground for bacteria.

Read more:
7 Factors to Consider Before Buying a Dishwasher
The New Normal: 9 Gadgets You Need to Buy Today

Tell us:
Have you installed a dishwasher in your kitchen? Did you face any challenges during the installation of the dishwasher? Share your experiences in Comments below.