How to Replace a Dishwasher – level the dishwasher, mount it to the counter top, connect the water supply and drain lines then wire the electrical connections.
This project is continued from Part 5.
Level the Dishwasher
Level the dishwasher by placing a carpenter’s level on the door and adjusting the front feet. Adjust the rear feet as needed to remove any wobble. Place the level on the bottom frame to check it’s level front-to-back and adjust only the rear feet.
Leveling the Dishwasher
Dishwasher Countertop Mounting Brackets
The dishwasher mounting brackets are highlighted in the yellow squares. The brackets are attached to the counter top with the two screws provided with the dishwasher.
Dishwasher Mounting Brackets
Set the dishwasher in the cabinet such that the sides of the tube (red arrows) is even with the cabinets face with an equal gap. The mounting brackets should be fully recessed under the counter top (yellow squares).
Careful! The dishwasher has a tendency to tip forward with the door open.
Dishwasher Tub Set Even with the Cabinets
Fasten the mounting bracket to the counter top with the screw included with the dishwasher.
Fasten the Dishwasher Mounting Brackets to Counter Top
Connect the Water Supply Hose
Thread the water supply hose to the brass elbow until hand tight and tighten an extra 1/4 turn with a wrench. Do not use plumber’s tape or putty.
Dishwasher Water Supply Connection to the Brass Elbow
The connections will be checked for leaks later.
Dishwasher Electrical Wiring Hookup
The dishwasher electrical connection is made inside the metal box on the right side of the dishwasher. Note the NM 14/2 house wiring lying on the floor.
Frigidaire Gallery Dishwasher Electrical Connection
The cover to the electrical box is fastened with a single screw.
Remove the Dishwasher Electrical Box Cover
The Frigidaire Gallery dishwasher has hot (black) and neutral (white) wires. Ground is made to the chassis via a ground screw. A pair of needle nose plies and wire strippers is very helpful.
Dishwasher Electrical Connection Wires
Twist the hot (black) and neutral (white) wires respectively together and fasten with wire nuts as shown. Form a small loop in the bare ground wire using the needle nose plies and fasten the ground wire to the frame with the green ground screw.
Dishwasher Wiring Connections – Hot, Neutral and Ground
Tuck the wires up against the frame to fit inside the electrical box cover.
Tuck the Wires Up to Fit inside the Box Cover
Reattach the electrical box cover.
Completed Dishwasher Electrical Connections
View of the completed water and wiring connections.
Dishwasher Water and Wiring Connections
View of the new dishwasher installation:
Frigidaire Gallery Dishwasher Installation
The dishwasher is almost ready for operation. The remaining tasks are:
- Connect the dishwasher drain line under the sink.
- Turn on the circuit breaker.
- Turn on the water, run the dishwasher and check the connections for leaks.
- Install the front access panel.
This project is concluded in Part 7.
Best Regards,
Bob Jackson
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My dishwasher came with an insulated green ground wire, rather than a bare one. My old dishwasher wiring, which was a wired in plug, also had a green insulated wire, so after joining the hot and neutral, I joined the two green wires and secured the connection with a wire nut. Is this ok or should I have attached each of them, with a small screw, to somewhere on the frame of the dishwasher?
If you wired the new dishwasher per the manufacturer’s instructions then you’re fine. It’s likely the green insulated ground wire on the new washer is connected to the dishwasher frame saving you the step of using a ground screw.