How To Hook Up A Dishwasher Without A Garbage Disposal?

Learning how to hook up a dishwasher without a garbage disposal can be a rewarding skill if you have enough patience.

Despite it being a time-consuming process, you may need the aid of your friends. Let’s hack the full process.

How To Hook Up A Dishwasher Without A Garbage Disposal?

Generally, you don’t need garbage disposal to install a new dishwasher. You can bypass this optional appliance with specific piping attachments.

But the homeowner must attach an air gap inside the new dishwasher so the machine meets the local regulations.

Precise attention to the water supply line, drain, and electrical joins will culminate in a perfect installation.

Power Off The Water Supply

Start by turning off the water supply to the household at the main valve. You will mostly find this valve in an outside, secured area like the patio.

In some homes, it is also located in the garage or basement.

Disconnect The Circuit Breaker

The next connection is to turn off its circuit breaker from the main electrical panel, where the dishwasher gets its power supply.

Use a non-contact circuit tester to check the panel to ensure the power is off. 

Select A Location For The Hole

Choose a place for the wiring access and piping holes in the cabinetry that surrounds the new dishwasher position.

There should be a minimum of one access hole between the main piping of the kitchen sink and the dishwasher area.

Create an access hole near the rear side of the dishwasher opening nearly to the floor using a hole saw and power drill.

Remove The Faceplate

Use a screwdriver to remove the faceplate located at the bottom of the dishwasher so you can get access to the relation points.

The type of screwdriver required may vary from model to model.

So check the dishwasher’s user manual to know whether it requires a flat head, Philips, or other types of screwdriver.

Take The Dishwasher Near The Intended Opening

Place the dishwasher close to its intended opening. But don’t push the dishwasher to your desired place yet.

Keep the machine outside the cabinet to get a better entrance to the joint point.

Now pull the drain hose from the rear of the machine towards the back of the opening by stretching it.

Connect The Air Gap

Run an air gap into the hole on the top of the sink corner throughout the countertop. Then fix the air gap in place using a wrench and the supplied nut.

Though this air gap hole is mostly on the sinks’ right side, it can be on the left side based on the model. 

You should only notice the air gap from down under the counter.

Then add the air gap’s top piece following the user manual. Remember, you may need to apply a different process to add the different air gaps.

Connect The Drain Hose

Bend the drain hose from the machine upward near the top and back of the opening. Connect the hose to the straight pipe of the air gap using a screwdriver and hose clamp.

Connect A “Y” Fitting

Place the straight pipe at the rear of the sink drain over the trap.

Then detach the drainpipe from the trap using a wrench and connect a “Y” fitting between the trap and the drain. Fasten the fitting firmly using a wrench.

Attach Another Drain Hose

The next step is to attach another drain hose between the blend pipe on the air pipe and the open pipe end of the “Y” fitting over the kitchen sink pipe trap.

Fix both ends of the hose using clamps and a screwdriver.

Detach The Hot Water Valve

Now you have to remove the hot water valve from its hot water supply line using a wrench that is typically found on the back wall of the cabinetry.

Rotate a dual outlet shut-off valve onto the hot water supply line and secure it using a wrench.

Secure The Waterline Of The Sink Faucet And Hot Water Supply Line

Secure both the dual outlet shut-off valve’s male threads by wrapping the plumber’s tape.

Now tighten the waterline of the sink faucet to one outlet and the supply line of the dishwasher to the other outlet by hand. Then secure both the connections using a wrench.

Once again, cover the male thread inlet connection point of the dishwasher with the plumber’s tape.

Secure the hot water supply line’s other end to the male thread by hand and then applies the wrench.

Attach Electrical Wires

Place the two electrical cables extending from the rear of the opening and make sure the wires are standard within the new construction of the home.

Now pull the cables towards the machine, but don’t overstretch.

Turn the white cable from the dishwasher’s wall and secure the join using a twist-on wire connector. Then repeat the process with black cables.

Check All Connections

Now turn on the water at the main valve. Check all the water connections around the water supply lines and the dishwasher to make sure there are no leaks.

Run The Dishwasher

Turn back the circuit breaker at the main electrical panel and turn on the dishwasher. Run a complete cycle on the dishwasher to check its functionality.

Finally, move the dishwasher into the opening and make sure no hoses or wires are being pinched while you are installing it.

Finish The Job

Ensure the perfect level of the dishwasher and its plumb by raising and lowering the adjustable feet of the dishwasher with pliers.

Connect the dishwasher to the bottom of the counter using a screwdriver and screws. Finally, reattach the faceplate.

FAQs

Final words

Installing a dishwasher without garbage disposal can be beneficial at some point, but it’s a tricky task to handle.

However, we have described how to hook up a dishwasher without garbage disposal step by step to help you handle it successfully. Still, if you aren’t confident enough, hire a professional.