How to Replace a Dishwasher Air Gap
Dishwashers need three things to work: a water supply, electricity and a drain hose. The dishwasher pulls in the water supply from your home's plumbing, combines it with detergent and sprays the mixture over your dishes, cleaning and sanitizing them. The dirty water is then pumped out of the dishwasher through the drain hose and into your home's sewage system. Some municipalities require a device known as an air gap in the drain hose part of the dishwashing system. This prevents the dirty dishwasher from being siphoned back into the municipal water supply. Sometimes these air gaps can deteriorate over time, in which case you'll need to replace your dishwasher air gap. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Pull off the cap on top of the air gap located on the countertop. Unscrew the large plastic nut that holds the air gap in place on the counter.
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Turn off the electricity to the circuit that powers the dishwasher.
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Detach the dishwasher from any support brackets. These are usually located at the top of the dishwasher where they are screwed into the countertop above. Open the dishwasher door to get access to these.
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Pull the dishwasher out and away from the wall or cabinet where it is installed. Be careful not to pull it out too far, as you may disconnect the electricity, water supply or drain hose.
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Using your hands, trace the drain hose back to where it meets the air gap. Gently pull the air gap out of the hole on the countertop from underneath.
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Use the screwdriver to loosen the compression clamps on both the air gap inlet and outlet. Remove the drain hoses from either side.
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Attach the dishwasher outlet hose and the sink drain (or dishwasher) inlet hose to the inlet and outlet fittings on the new air gap. Align the compression clamps so they hold each of the two hoses securely in place. Tighten the screws on the compression clamps.
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Push the top of the air gap up through the countertop until it is flush with the bottom nut. If you can, reach over with your other hand and thread on the ribbed nut. If you can't reach the air gap, have an assistant thread on the ribbed nut.
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Push the dishwasher back into place. Reattach the support brackets. Insert the cap on top of the air gap.
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Run the washer through a short cycle. Check the drain hose. Tighten any clamps if necessary.
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Tips & Warnings
Always use caution when working with water and electricity.
The above steps are just a guideline. Always follow your manufacturer's instructions.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit modern kitchen image by Melking from Fotolia.com
