Removing a Dishwasher? Here are the Steps

Whether you’re removing a dishwasher to repair it or replace it, the task can be challenging if you aren’t prepared. Follow these steps to remove a dishwasher from your kitchen safely. Remember to always consult your appliance’s user guide for specific directions.

Before starting, gather the tools and equipment you’ll need to remove your dishwasher. These include:

• Gloves
• Voltage/current detector pen
• Cardboard (larger than the bottom of the dishwasher)
• Screwdriver
• Crescent wrench
• Old towel

Since a dishwasher uses electricity, it will be connected to a power supply. To disconnect a dishwasher, find its circuit breaker and flip it to the off position. If your dishwasher is plugged directly into a power source (often located under the sink), then unplug it.

The connection between a dishwasher and a home’s water supply is usually under the kitchen sink.

At your dishwasher, find the supply line that leads from your dishwasher and follow it to the supply connection on the wall. Tighten the knob turning it clockwise. This should cut off the water supply to the dishwasher.

Use a crescent wrench to remove the nut that connects the water supply line.

This is the hose that connects your sink’s drain to your dishwasher. You can disconnect the hose by loosening the screw on the hose clamp at either the drain or the garbage disposal.

Then, pull the drain hose below the sink but do so carefully as some water may leak through the hose. This is where a towel will come in handy.

Unscrew the screw(s) from the attachment bracket that connects your dishwasher to the underside of the kitchen countertop. Make sure to set the screws aside to keep them safe.

At the bottom of most dishwashers is a panel that covers the underside. Behind this panel, which is attached to the dishwasher with screws, are the drain, water supply and electrical supply.

Unscrew the screws from the frame with a screwdriver. And then set them aside and take off the panel.

With the panel removed, locate the water supply and the drain hose. To disconnect the water supply from the dishwasher, use a crescent wrench to loosen the nut until the water supply is detached from the dishwasher. Watch out for any water in the line.

Four legs hold up a dishwasher to the underside of a counter, so you’ll need to loosen these to remove the appliance.

Using a crescent wrench, loosen the leveling leg screw by unscrewing it counterclockwise. Once the screw is loose, you can try to turn the leg with your fingers.

Next, loosen the two front legs, creating roughly one inch of space between the legs and the floor. This will let you tilt the appliance and nudge it free from the kitchen counter.

Place an appropriately sized piece of cardboard in front of your dishwasher. Lift your dishwasher from the bottom and slide it as far out from the counter as possible. You can try to push the supply line behind the dishwasher so that it’s not in your way.

With the dishwasher pulled out, you may be able to reach under it and loosen the two back-leveling legs about an inch or so. It will probably take both a crescent wrench and your fingers to get the job done.

Use a voltage detector pen to detect if electricity is still being supplied to your dishwasher.

After confirming there is no power, follow the wire to the power box beneath the dishwasher. Next, open the dishwasher’s electrical box by unscrewing the screw(s).

Inside, you should find white, black and copper wires. Unscrew the nuts for the white and black wires and then unscrew the copper wire from the box. Make sure to replace the wire nuts on the wires leading from the wall.

To complete the removal process, slide your dishwasher out all the way, careful not to damage the floor.

Book a service appointment today if you need help removing or installing a dishwasher.