Dishwasher Replacement? - HomeModders.com

Shoobie · 11-23-2007, 03:00 AM

Hey guys, I'm not a frequent poster, but I have read nearly every post on this board. :P I still live with my parents, but I'm trying to learn about what it takes to maintain and upgrade a house (something my parents are not too good at). Speaking of which....

Our dishwasher stopped working recently, and knowing my parents, it wont get replaced for a while. After a quick search, it seems that a decent Maytag dishwasher can be had for $350. At this price point, I thought it'd be nice to get one for my parents for Christmas. How difficult is it to remove/install a dishwasher? Keep in mind that I know nothing about home improvement. I imagine that the unit slides out somehow, and there are some electrical lines and water lines that need to be unhooked from the old unit and attached to the new unit.

Any words of wisdom would be appreciated. Thanks!

ScrapinSTi · 11-23-2007, 03:34 PM

A Dishwasher is a VERY easy replacement, assuming the counters/floors aren't build around it (something that happened to my sister)... There is a water feed & drain that will already be there if you already have a dishwasher, and then you will just need to connect the 3 wires... (TURN OFF THE BREAKER FIRST)...

Shouldn't take any longer than an hour.

Shoobie · 11-23-2007, 07:29 PM

There is a countertop that goes over it, but I know that the DW has been replaced before without tearing it apart. I'm sure my dad knows how to do this, but how do you shut off the breakers? Are they in that big fuse panel thing outside the house?

briansol · 11-23-2007, 08:38 PM

yeah, go to the electric box and shut off the area. be careful, sometimes the range, washer and kitchen are all on separate switches, so make sure you turn them all off.

it SHOULD just pull out once it's unbolted and the pipes are disconnected. it's really not hard to do. even I would attempt it

simplegreen · 11-23-2007, 08:50 PM

yeah i replaced mine, wasnt that hard at all.

Konstruction · 11-24-2007, 01:37 AM

Like its been said kill the power, there are 2-4 screws on the bottom plate (toe kick) Remove those and then you will see the electrical box cover, remove that screw and disconnect the wiring. From inside the sink base, cut off the hot water valve feeding the dishwasher supply line. Disconnect the supply, also disconnect the drain line, if you have a garage disposal it will be attached to it, or be on a DW tee in the waste lines. Depending on what model dishwasher you have, there will be either 2 screws holding the dish washer in the counter top, or it will be screwed into the side of the frames of the cabinets. Once you remove the screws you can slide it forward. You might have to lower the feet in order to get it out.

Installation is opposite of removal, on the new dishwasher, youll need to reuse the brass 90 degree MPT adapter that screws in to the bottom of the dishwasher, connect the supply line and as you slide the dishwasher in place, feed the water and drain line through the cabinet. Connect the wiring, water and drain, before you mount the dishwasher, cut the supply valve back on and run 1 cycle to check for leaks. Raise the legs until theres about a 3/8 gap between the counter top and dishwasher. Screw it back in place. Put the toe kick on and I believe your done.

Chadwilliam1 · 11-25-2007, 11:52 AM

I need a new dishwasher. Mine is brand new it is an Americana (GE). It came brand new with the house so it is less than a year old. It is not worth a shit. Nothing gets clean. It is also very very loud. Youcan not run the thing and watch TV in the next room. I hate it.

briansol · 11-25-2007, 06:32 PM

yeah, my old condo had that same brand. when it drains, BAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW for like 30 seconds. lol

i REALLY want to upgrade to the GE profile series or the samsung's. but samsung doesn't have a full line yet

87vert · 11-26-2007, 01:22 PM

you guys are lucky, I have to use the sink.....

Shoobie · 12-16-2007, 09:05 PM

You guys are awesome. I hope everyone is still around when I move and need to maintain my own house.

11-23-2007, 03:00 AM	#1
Shoobie Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 17 Rep Power: 0	Dishwasher Replacement? Hey guys, I'm not a frequent poster, but I have read nearly every post on this board. :P I still live with my parents, but I'm trying to learn about what it takes to maintain and upgrade a house (something my parents are not too good at). Speaking of which.... Our dishwasher stopped working recently, and knowing my parents, it wont get replaced for a while. After a quick search, it seems that a decent Maytag dishwasher can be had for $350. At this price point, I thought it'd be nice to get one for my parents for Christmas. How difficult is it to remove/install a dishwasher? Keep in mind that I know *nothing* about home improvement. I imagine that the unit slides out somehow, and there are some electrical lines and water lines that need to be unhooked from the old unit and attached to the new unit. Any words of wisdom would be appreciated. Thanks!

11-23-2007, 08:38 PM	#4
briansol Administrator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Central CT Age: 30 Posts: 482 Rep Power: 10	yeah, go to the electric box and shut off the area. be careful, sometimes the range, washer and kitchen are all on separate switches, so make sure you turn them all off. it SHOULD just pull out once it's unbolted and the pipes are disconnected. it's really not hard to do. even I would attempt it __________________ 1997 2050sqft Split Level

11-25-2007, 06:32 PM	#8
briansol Administrator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Central CT Age: 30 Posts: 482 Rep Power: 10	yeah, my old condo had that same brand. when it drains, BAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW for like 30 seconds. lol i REALLY want to upgrade to the GE profile series or the samsung's. but samsung doesn't have a full line yet __________________ 1997 2050sqft Split Level

11-23-2007, 03:34 PM	#2
ScrapinSTi Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: In Debt. Posts: 252 Rep Power: 4	A Dishwasher is a VERY easy replacement, assuming the counters/floors aren't build around it (something that happened to my sister)... There is a water feed & drain that will already be there if you already have a dishwasher, and then you will just need to connect the 3 wires... (TURN OFF THE BREAKER FIRST)... Shouldn't take any longer than an hour.

11-23-2007, 07:29 PM	#3
Shoobie Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 17 Rep Power: 0	There is a countertop that goes over it, but I know that the DW has been replaced before without tearing it apart. I'm sure my dad knows how to do this, but how do you shut off the breakers? Are they in that big fuse panel thing outside the house?

11-23-2007, 08:50 PM	#5
simplegreen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 50 Rep Power: 4	yeah i replaced mine, wasnt that hard at all.

11-24-2007, 01:37 AM	#6
Konstruction General Contractor Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Richmond, VA Age: 27 Posts: 249 Rep Power: 4	Like its been said kill the power, there are 2-4 screws on the bottom plate (toe kick) Remove those and then you will see the electrical box cover, remove that screw and disconnect the wiring. From inside the sink base, cut off the hot water valve feeding the dishwasher supply line. Disconnect the supply, also disconnect the drain line, if you have a garage disposal it will be attached to it, or be on a DW tee in the waste lines. Depending on what model dishwasher you have, there will be either 2 screws holding the dish washer in the counter top, or it will be screwed into the side of the frames of the cabinets. Once you remove the screws you can slide it forward. You might have to lower the feet in order to get it out. Installation is opposite of removal, on the new dishwasher, youll need to reuse the brass 90 degree MPT adapter that screws in to the bottom of the dishwasher, connect the supply line and as you slide the dishwasher in place, feed the water and drain line through the cabinet. Connect the wiring, water and drain, before you mount the dishwasher, cut the supply valve back on and run 1 cycle to check for leaks. Raise the legs until theres about a 3/8 gap between the counter top and dishwasher. Screw it back in place. Put the toe kick on and I believe your done.

11-25-2007, 11:52 AM	#7
Chadwilliam1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 42 Rep Power: 0	I need a new dishwasher. Mine is brand new it is an Americana (GE). It came brand new with the house so it is less than a year old. It is not worth a shit. Nothing gets clean. It is also very very loud. Youcan not run the thing and watch TV in the next room. I hate it.

11-26-2007, 01:22 PM	#9
87vert Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Age: 24 Posts: 25 Rep Power: 0	you guys are lucky, I have to use the sink.....

12-16-2007, 09:05 PM	#10
Shoobie Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 17 Rep Power: 0	You guys are awesome. I hope everyone is still around when I move and need to maintain my own house.