Dishwasher - a successful acquisition, it saves natural resources, time, money. The quality of its operation and the duration of operation depend on the proper installation of the unit. Connecting the dishwasher to the water supply and sewerage is carried out in several successive stages, and a completely separate action is connecting to the mains. But, before connecting the dishwasher, you need to make the right choice of a kitchen assistant.
Selection of dimensions of dishwasher
The purchase of useful household appliances is a step towards improving the quality of life. To use the equipment for a long time, it is worthwhile to understand which particular dishwasher is best for your needs. Do not rely on the advice of friends and acquaintances, everyone needs different needs, and there are many offers on the market. First, determine what type of machine your machine will be: freestanding appliances or built-in furniture kitchen units.
Now it’s the turn of another indicator: size. Dimensions are ranked in three types:
- narrow (overall dimensions: 0.45 x 0.6 x 0.85 m);
- full-sized (overall dimensions: 0.6 × 0.6 x 0.85 m);
- compact (overall dimensions: 0.45 x 0.55 x 0.45 m).
The size criterion is the volume of the room where the car will stand, the number of members of your family. If a large number of dishes are washed in a house at a time, then you should choose a full-size machine, and if there are three people in a family, then compact or narrow models will do. When purchasing built-in appliances, give preference to trusted brands, for example, Ikea. An important role in the choice is played by the connection of the dishwasher to the water supply and sewerage. Ikea is one of the leaders in terms of price and simplicity of the connection service.
Dishwasher specifications
For household appliances, the energy saving class, economical water consumption, and the dishwashing class are important. To understand which car to take, pay attention to the abbreviation pasted on the front panel of the device, most often there are three letters. The first indicates the class of washing dishes, the second letter refers to the class of the drying process and the last letter indicates the level of energy consumption. Best option: AAA or AAA +. The lowest quality indicator of all processes is indicated by the Latin letter G.
Washing programs
Modern technology is equipped with many useful functions, but sometimes you can find exotic ones. Therefore, it is important to choose functionality not by quantity, but by quality and demand for functions for your family. A minimum set of dishwasher procedures should include:
- standard dishwashing;
- intensive washing cycle;
- quick wash;
- automatic dishwashing process.
Such a number of programs usually covers all the needs of the family, but if there are special wishes, then the manufacturers of equipment will always satisfy the needs of the consumer. You can choose a unit with ozonation, Internet access or a sink with silver ions. If there are children in the family, then the “child lock” function will be an important addition, which will save the baby’s health and your nerves.
After you have chosen a dishwasher, you have to connect the dishwasher to the water supply and sewer. A photo of each stage will help you, it is also important to familiarize yourself with the instructions that come with the machine.
Tools and materials
Do-it-yourself connection of the dishwasher to the water supply and sewerage system requires materials, tools and desire. You will need:
- FUM tape;
- adjustable wrench;
- stop valves (ball valve on the tee);
- siphon with fittings or an additional elbow with a branch pipe;
- building level;
- inspiration and desire.
Before the dishwasher arrives at your home, determine where to install it. It should be in close proximity to water supply pipes and sewage pipes. The distance to them should not exceed one and a half meters. This is due to the operation of the pump built into the machine and the length of the pipes in the configuration of the apparatus.
The standard room for a dishwasher is a kitchen. Kitchen sets are most often equipped with niches for built-in appliances, otherwise you will have to redo any lower cabinet. If you will be installing a stationary model of the device, then take care of the length of the entire kitchen, a dishwasher needs a place.
Compact models of dishwashers require less installation effort. How to connect a dishwasher to the sewer and water supply with a modest size of the unit itself? Simple enough: they are installed on the countertop, next to the sink. Water is supplied through an additional tee mounted on the mixer, and water is drained into the sink. The larger dimensions of the equipment require a fundamental approach.
Mandatory conditions
So, the question has ripened on how to connect the dishwasher to the sewer and water supply. The instructions included in the mandatory equipment of the device give a lot of tips. Pay attention to what water should enter the machine: hot or cold. Most modern dishwashers are connected to cold water.
When choosing a place for installation, make sure that the surface is not sloping, the machine must be on a completely horizontal surface.
If the equipment is built-in, you will need to make holes in the back wall of the furniture in those places where the water supply and drain pipes will pass. Connecting the built-in dishwasher to the water supply and sewage system does not differ from the standard steps for installing the equipment. The only thing that needs to be agreed is the size of the furniture niche with the size of the unit that you intend to purchase.
Connecting the dishwasher to the water supply and sewerage has several options, each of them has its own nuances that must be taken into account.
A few words about electricity
The machine is connected to a standard euro outlet with a voltage of 220 V. The condition for safe operation of an energy-intensive unit is a separate outlet with grounding, if it is a private house, or zeroing, if the dishwasher is installed in an apartment building. Extension cords, tees are not acceptable for connecting to the network. Compliance with safety rules when installing electrical household appliances with water supply is the best condition for long-term operation of a dishwasher or washing machine and the safety of electrical networks throughout the house.
Siphon drain connection
How to connect a dishwasher to the sewer yourself? A photo of the process will help you. If the choice fell on an independent solution to the issue, then stock up on patience and knowledge.
You can connect the machine to the sewage system in two ways: through the sink siphon and directly into the water drain pipe.
A siphon connection is convenient if the dishwasher is adjacent to the sink.
The installation process is as follows:
- The standard siphon is replaced with a model with an additional outlet pipe. There can be two: one is used for a dishwasher, the second for a washing machine. A simpler option is to supplement the existing siphon with another elbow with nozzles, the number of additional drainage systems varies at your discretion.
- A drainage hose is connected to the siphon (it is included with the machine), the distance to the drainage point must not exceed one and a half meters. With a greater distance, the pump built into the machine will not cope with its functions and may break.
- Consider the slope of the hose towards the siphon, if it is insufficient, then the drainage water and food debris will be drawn back into the machine, which will cause not only an unpleasant smell, poorly washed dishes, but also breakdown of the dishwasher.
Connection to the sewer pipe
This method is considered the simplest, since it is two minutes to connect the drain hose to the sewer. But there are some nuances, and if you do not take them into account, you will get a bad drainage system. Features of direct water discharge:
- The level of the drain point of the dishwasher should be at least forty centimeters from the level of the machine itself. Fulfillment of this requirement ensures the proper quality of water discharge, with other indicators waste water can be returned to the machine.
- If there is no direct opportunity to observe the height of the water discharge level, it is necessary to bend the pipe in the form of an inverted Latin letter U, it is advisable to fix the pipe configuration with a clamping plastic tape (but do not overtighten, but just give it a shape). Fix the structure on the inside of the furniture or on the wall.
- When connecting two drainage systems (dishwasher and washing machine) to one siphon, install non-return valves at each drain point. In this case, the wastewater will probably remain in the sewer, and not in expensive equipment.
Mixer water connection
Traditionally, the water supply is carried out in two ways: through the sink mixer or insert directly into the water supply pipes. The sequence of connecting to the mixer, we now consider.
To extend the life of the dishwasher, a good additional filter is a water filter. To connect to the mixer, you need a fum tape, a tap tee, shutoff valves, a flexible water supply hose, which is included in the equipment of the machine. Installation sequence for metal-plastic water supply pipes:
- disassemble the connection of the cold water supply hose to the mixer from the plastic water supply pipe;
- attach a tee to this place, having pre-wrapped the threaded connections with fum tape;
- connect the flexible hose of the sink mixer to the top hole of the tee;
- connect the outlet pipe of the tee to the filter for rough water purification;
- screw a ball valve to the outlet from the filter, it will be needed to instantly turn off the machine from the water supply;
- connect the water inlet to the dishwasher to the stop valves.
Do not forget to thread all threaded connections with fum tape.
Water intake from water supply pipes
How to connect a dishwasher to a water pipe assembled from metal pipes? It is necessary to stock up on additional materials. In this case, you will need a crimp coupling, a water adjustment valve, a drill.
Stages of the work:
- shut off the water supply;
- mount the crimp sleeve on a metal pipe and tighten it with bolts;
- drill a hole in the front wall of the pipe directly through the hole of the coupling;
- screw a shut-off ball valve or water filter onto the branch of the threaded coupling;
- if a filter is used, stop valves are installed at the outlet of the filter;
- to prevent leaks, wrap fum tape on metal threaded connections;
- attach the flexible water supply hose to the ball valve.
Installation Check
Before finally installing the machine in a permanent place, it is necessary to check how firmly all the pipes are fixed, for leaks at the joints. To do this, run the machine on a test run. During the test run, determine how the water intake pump works, listen to the noise of the machine - there should be no extraneous sounds. The test mode of operation involves the use of detergents.
When withdrawing water, check the connection between the pipe and the tee or crimp sleeve.
When draining water, also carefully inspect the junction of the machine’s drain pipe with a siphon or sewer.
In case of leaks, stop the machine, drain the water and disassemble the loose connection, reassemble, using fum tape or other gaskets suitable for your type of pipe.
Last installation step
At the last stage of installation of the dishwasher, you need to fix it in place. If you have built-in appliances, then it is mounted inside the furniture box. When installing furniture sets, aligning the furniture horizontally is a standard procedure, so you don’t have to worry about the position of the machine. If you have a free-standing equipment, then check the horizontal installation using the building level. Small errors are eliminated by adjusting the legs of the machine. Each time the legs are twisted, check that the level is level.
Installation independently and professionally
Connection of the dishwasher to the water supply and sewerage can be entrusted to professionals. There are many companies offering connecting equipment, but it is better to trust the advice of friends who have already used the services of a company and were satisfied with the result of the work. But, since the installation and connection of household appliances is not so difficult, almost everyone can do it on their own.