Down the Drain-Installing a Dishwasher Drain When installing

By admin on December 23rd, 2007

Down the Drain-Installing a Dishwasher Drain

When installing a built-in dishwasher, you will have a couple of options for the drain hose configuration. The instructions that come with the new dishwasher will explain both options in detail; however, this general description can help you to understand why there are two options and which one you should use for your dishwasher drain installation.

The first configuration uses an air gap. Whether you connect the drain hose to the garbage disposal or directly to the sink drain above the trap, you do not want the sink’s wastewater to be siphoned back into the dishwasher. The air gap prevents drain water from doing this. Basically, a small piece is attached to the sink or countertop to interrupt the drain water’s flow as it comes from the dishwasher into the drainpipe. It does this with two small pipes that come from the fixture acting as an inlet and outlet hose. The dishwasher drain hose is attached to the inlet pipe while the outlet pipe has a hose from it to the garbage disposal or drainpipe. If it goes directly to the drainpipe, the outlet hose must connect in above the trap. Air gaps are the best preventative method against wastewater siphoning back into the dishwasher, but if you use too much dishwasher detergent you may get bubbles coming out of the air gap.

In certain situations you may choose the other method to install the dishwasher drain. First, you should check with your local building codes to find out if an air gap is required. If the sink you are using does not have a hole for an air gap and you do not want to drill a hole in your countertop, you can use a loop method instead of the air gap as long as the building codes allow it. In this method of dishwasher drain installation, you will have only the one drain hose. As you run it from the dishwasher to the drainpipe, you will create a large bell-shaped curve in the hose. Try to run the top of the curve as high up in the cabinet as possible and attachž it with clamps to hold it in place. This upward curve will keep draining water from the sink from backing into the dishwasher since water will not run up the curve without some type of pressure forcing it. The loop method does not work as well as the air gap, but it can suffice if you are remodeling and do not have a hole for the air gap.

If you are installing a new dishwasher with a new sink, it is best to use the air gap fro the dishwasher drain installation. Building codes may actually require an air gap, so always check those codes before completing your dishwasher drain installation. The loop method can work easily in a pinch, but it may not give the same protection against drain water siphoning into the dishwasher as the air gap method.

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