If your dishwasher installation requires plumbing and electrical work prior to installation, you are required to use the services of a licensed plumber and electrician.
If you are not too handy with tools or appliances, there is no shame in seeking professional dishwasher installation services. For the most part, dishwasher installation is pretty straightforward.
It is important to familiarise yourself with product warranty terms and conditions and any legal regulations or requirements. In Australia, for instance, if your dishwasher installation requires plumbing and electrical work prior to installation, you are required to use the services of a licensed plumber and electrician.
Also, note that the building code in Australia prohibits the installation of plumbing fittings and electricity appliances in the same cabinet void. This requirement is necessitated by the fact that risks increase in gadgets that use both water and electricity like dishwashers. Still, if the maker of the appliance requires that the services of a licensed plumber and electrician be used, failure to adhere to this will void the product warranty. Finally, your insurance company can turn down a claim if an unqualified person did the installation.If you are a DIY type of person, follow provided general and manufacturers guidelines, and you should be able to perform a dishwasher installation. First, start by bringing some tools into the room where you will install your new dishwasher. You will need an adjustable wrench or channel locks, screwdriver (flat head), pliers, power drill with a masonry bit and tape measure.
You will need to figure out how much room you have for your new dishwasher. Measure the width of the cabinet opening and mark this spot on the wall with painter's tape where you are going to install it. Then find out if there are any supply lines or power points in your way and their location. Turn off the water supply and disconnect the supply line and install a water pressure reducing valve if needed.
Suppose you have an older dishwasher installation that is mounted into a cabinet or onto a backer board. In that case, you will need to dismount it from its current location in order to install your new appliance. Lay down some old towels and grab a helper for this part.
Using your adjustable wrench (or channel locks), loosen up all of the connections of the old washer on the hot and cold water lines, drain hose and any other plumbing. Don't worry about spilling any water at this point as long as nothing is running through it at the time.If you have no existing dishwasher and have identified an installation point, proceed to the new dishwasher connection process.
After removing the old dishwasher:
Clear out all of the old materials from the inside of the cabinet.
Vacuum out all loose debris and sweep away any remaining material.
Wipe the walls down with a damp rag to remove grease or wax buildup, dust etc.
You need to unpack your dishwasher and lay all the parts out so that you can see what comes with it. Make sure you have an adjustable wrench or channel locks for this next part because you will want to remove all of the screws on the bottom plate. You need to remove the screws so that you can adjust them and line up with your cabinet opening. Once you have found the right position for the dishwasher, you will put those screws back in. This can be a little bit tricky if everything has not gone as planned because you might need to readjust it again by removing those same screws once more.
After finding where your dishwasher will go, attach the cold water and hot water supply lines to bring water into the unit. Some dishwashers come with a water heater component already installed. The cold side comes with an adjustable clamp that must be loosened beforehand. If taking off this clamp causes your water supply tube to bend at all, then replace it with a flexible supply line. Tighten down both clamps, check the connection with a little bit of water pressure and then do it up nice and tight.
Once complete, just attach the other end of the hose (or straight pipe) to the dishwasher and tighten up its clamp nice and tight.
You are now ready to connect the drain hoses, which will go from behind your machine over the top of your sink's garbage disposal before leading down through your sink drain. The included hose should be done up good and tight with a little bit of plumber's tape for good measure. If necessary, your vendor or plumber may indicate the need for extension hoses if the length of the standard inlet and drain hoses are too short, depending on the location of the machine. Remember that improper pipes or hoses installation can lead to the machine not working properly or water damage.
The next step is to connect your dishwasher to its power supply. This should be a matter of simply attaching the plug to your dishwasher and then connecting it to its power supply. If additional modifications, especially for a new installation, are required at the power outlet point, seek help or engage an electrician. Once the power point is ready, simply connect the dishwasher to power it up.
After everything is hooked up, just run a quick water cycle through the unit without any dishes inside. This way, if there are any leaks within your dishwasher's plumbing, they will be detected right away before you go ahead and mount up the machine itself. Mounting brackets come with most models of dishwashers, so those go on next by simply attaching them as required.
The next step is to put all of your plates, bowls inside and run a quick cycle to ensure everything is working as it should be. The last step is just to reattach your wall cabinets and the inner door of your oven before jumping in and running a nice hot cycle with some soap or whatever you need to clean those dishes. For more information about water saving white goods, take a look at the Australian Government's energy.gov.au website.The time it will take to install a dishwasher on your own is going to depend on what model you get and if you need someone's help or not. On average, it should only take about one hour before everything is up and running.
The cost depends on the contractor you hire, but prices can range anywhere from $75 - $100 per hour, bringing the total dishwasher installation cost into the ballpark of $150 - $200. This amount includes parts (hose, connectors etc.), labour and any materials such as sealant, plumber's tape, screws, that you might need.