How to integrate a dishwasher into a finished kitchen: installation options + work procedure

Complete installation of a new kitchen set with a set of equipment is an ideal, but not always possible solution. It happens that a dishwasher is bought later, and a special cabinet for its installation is not provided. What needs to be done so that the long-awaited acquisition successfully fits into the furniture module?

You will learn all about how to integrate a dishwasher into a finished kitchen from our article. We will talk about what options for the location of equipment are tested in practice. Independent home masters with us will find a detailed step-by-step guide.

Dishwasher Installation Conditions

Before you purchase and install a dishwasher, you need to find a suitable place for it.

The easiest way is with freestanding units - a piece of free space on the floor or table is enough for them. But what to do when you planned buy a built-in modelthat can be hidden behind a decorative panel?

The main advantage of built-in kitchen equipment is its “invisibility”. Powerful, multi-functional units hide behind furniture facades without overloading the interior with their technicality

It is necessary to arm yourself with construction tape and check which cabinets are suitable for installing PMM. It is not difficult to find out the sizes of dishwashers - information is available on the official websites of stores that sell household appliances.

In the manufacture of machines, manufacturers focus on human growth, the size of furniture, respectively, and adapt their models to common standards.

For example, most dishwashers of well-known brands have a width of 60 cm (more precisely, 598 mm) or 45 cm (448 mm).45-centimeter models are called narrow, and they have more options for embedding in the finished kitchen.

Functionally and in the number of programs, narrow dishwashers are not inferior to wide machines, so sometimes it makes sense to analyze the proposals of this type of equipment

In narrow models, as a rule, the height is from 815 mm to 875 mm, which equals the standard height of kitchen tables and cabinets. If the headset is made to order, the level of the countertops can be underestimated for technical reasons, for example, a pipe interferes, etc. Therefore, accuracy is needed when measuring - just one extra centimeter can be decisive.

Depth of cars - 550 mm. When installing, a few centimeters remain for a comfortable connection of hoses and wires so that they are not pinched. There is a category of compact machines that differ from full-size in height. For ease of use, they are usually built into the top modules.

The average size of a compact machine: 550x500x438 (WxDxH). Unlike a freestanding model, a built-in furniture module is required, suitable in size

If you find a cabinet that is suitable in size, then do not forget to consider the location of the communications:

• pipes with cold water;
• sewer pipe;
• free power line with a socket.

If necessary, an additional electrical cable can be laid, and it is hardly possible to transfer pipes in a ready-made kitchen, therefore the installation site of the machine is usually chosen next to the sink - this is where the main nodes of water supply and drainage are concentrated.

If at least one of the conditions is not fulfilled, for example, there is no suitable module or access to communications, you will have to postpone the purchase of the built-in dishwasher or think about remodeling the kitchen.

Embedded Options

Cabinet for embedding PMM may look different. We suggest considering several popular options that are convenient for installation.

Each type of installation is associated with difficulties. In order to minimize them, it is important to comply with the above conditions and requirements specified by the manufacturer in the instructions. We offer several recommendations for installing the dishwasher in different places.

Solution # 1 - integration into the cabinet

If next to the sink there is a cupboard with a width of more than 45 cm, then it can be used to install a dishwasher. An advantage of installation close to communications is the ability to integrate the machine’s hoses into an already installed system under the sink.

Dishwasher connection option: elongated cold water supply pipe with shut-off valve, drain hose outlet to the siphon, separate electrical outlet

Shelves and the back wall will have to be removed from the cabinet, if necessary, the bottom panel. The built-in housing must be brought into a strictly vertical position, for this, adjustable legs are used.

Then you need to take turns connect the machine to communications: sewage, water supply and power supply. If necessary, an additional water seal with a drain pipe should be installed.

The decorative front panel, which is mounted on the machine’s door, is usually assembled from removed cabinet doors or ordered separately. Partially built-in models do not need to be decorated, so their installation is a little easier.

Solution # 2 - installation in a stand-alone module

If no free cabinets for new equipment are found, but there is enough space in the kitchen, you can order a separate module, but you need to install it near the communication nodes.

Cabinet for additionally purchased equipment - a compact washing machine and dishwasher. The module is installed as close to the sink as possible, which makes it easy to connect

It is important to align and secure the unit so that it does not vibrate during operation and does not move the cabinet. Hoses and pipes run along the wall, but access to them is easier. To get to the communications, you can not dismantle the car, but simply move the cabinet away from the wall.

If the dishwasher is installed under a common kitchen worktop, you have to dismantle it for maintenance, as otherwise you will not reach the hose connection points.

Solution # 3 - Niche Mounting

If the kitchen has a niche for installing a microwave, oven or other small equipment, it can also be used for mounting a dishwasher. The dimensions of the compact model along with the drawings can be found in the installation instructions.

If the niche is located far from communications, you have to stock up on long flexible hoses for supplying cold water and draining used

Built-in compact models should not be confused with freestanding models. The latter do not have to be placed in a niche - any horizontal surface is suitable for their installation. So that the dishwasher does not catch the eye and is hidden, like the rest of the equipment, the front part is covered with a decorative overlay in the style of the facade.

Developers usually think over various options for installing equipment, so in the installation instructions they place drawings and diagrams with dimensions, useful tips, technical recommendations

It is easier to find a place for a compact model, but do not forget that the mini-car is not able to serve a large family.

Solution # 4 - if embedding does not fit

What to do if there is absolutely no place in the kitchen for installing an embedded model? It remains to consider stand-alone options, the design of which does not require special installation.

They can simply be installed on the floor, countertop or in a niche, aligned, and then connected.

There are still ways to fulfill your own dream of installing an integrated dishwasher - facade installation on a stand-alone model, a complete reorganization of the kitchen set, with the possible repair or transfer of communications. It is more costly, requires not only financial investments, but also time.

Embedded Model Installation Procedure

The algorithm for installing the dishwasher is prescribed in the instructions provided by the manufacturer. Usually it consists of several stages, the first of which is preparatory.

In advance, you need to purchase some parts for connecting to the pipes, take care of the device outlet, prepare a tool - a screwdriver, a screwdriver, a hammer, as well as flax or fumlent for plumbing connections, sealant, double tape.

Step 1 - Checking the PMM Package

In addition to the dishwasher, the kit usually contains templates for installing decorative pads, fixing tools, a protective rubber apron, gaskets, hoses.

To make sure everything is in place, you need to find a list of component parts and check the presence of each of them. If something is missing, you have to buy it.

The unpacking stage is often carried out in the presence of employees of the company that implements the equipment. If you have problems with a complete set, they can be quickly solved with the help of additional delivery.

Be sure to check if there is an installation instruction in Russian. Famous manufacturers duplicate the description of the installation process on official sites in special sections.

Step 2 - Field Installation

Before starting to install the built-in model, you need to make sure that the cabinet is sized and that there are holes for hoses in its walls.

Procedure:

• park the car in front of the niche for embedding;
• pull the drain and inlet hoses through the holes to the connection points, power cord - towards the outlet;
• gently push the machine body in the place intended for it and make sure that the length of the hoses suits;
• extend the machine and prepare it for installation - carry out the procedures described in the instructions: stick a vapor barrier film to the inside of the countertop, attach sealing tapes to the edges, install a mounting plate, damping elements, etc .;
• adjust the height of the legs so that the case is strictly vertical, check the distance to the walls of the niche with a tape measure;
• attach noise protection to the bottom, if included.

Next, you can proceed with the installation of decorative overlays. So that they do not differ from the kitchen facade, you can take the removed cabinet door and the panel from the drawer and fix them one by one on the machine door, pre-processed and sized.

Some tips for installing homemade linings.

Usually, for fastening decorative pads, the machine is equipped with long self-tapping screws - they need to be inserted in place of short ones that are initially twisted. When the dishwasher is fully installed, it remains to connect to communications and testing.

Step 3 - connection to the sewer

This is the easiest and fastest stage. Connection is performed in one of two ways:

• insert the drain hose directly into the cuff of the drain pipe;
• connect the hose to the sink drain system.

The first option is possible if the sewer pipe has a free additional hole, which is located under the sink or near it.

Variant of integration into the system with a water seal. Regardless of the method, the dishwasher drain hose is equipped with an Aquastop device and a stopcock to prevent leaks

A ¾ inch tee is usually used for tapping into a pipe. If the hose is installed in a siphon, then it is better to purchase a special model with a bend.

Step 4 - connection to the water supply

Even if the model involves connecting to hot and cold water, in Russia it is recommended to equip the supply of only cold water. This is due to the inability to adjust the temperature of hot water and the lack of special filters.

A filter is required to supply cold water, otherwise the equipment will quickly fail.

The insert occurs in the standard way: a tee is installed and, necessarily, a stopcock. Water cut-off is useful during repair or replacement of parts

Places of threaded connections are best left detachable, but sealed with fum tape or linen thread. Sealant is used as a last resort, usually dispense with it.

Step 5 - Connect to Power

The standard length of the power cord for the dishwasher is one and a half meters. Therefore, the distance to a separate outlet should be no more than 1.5 m.

It is not recommended to use a filter or extension cord - for the operation of powerful kitchen appliances, according to the rules, separate supply lines must be paved.

It is not possible to lay the electric cable inside the walls of the kitchen with a fully installed set, so it is laid in a box or inside the baseboard

For a separate line device, a copper wire VVGng 2-2.5 mm, circuit breaker 16 A and socket with grounding.

During dishwasher installation, repair or maintenance, the supply of electric current must be interrupted. To do this, a separate supply line that serves the kitchen is switched off on the electrical panel. And if this is not available, then de-energize the entire apartment / house.

After installing the dishwasher, it is necessary to carry out a functional check - connect the power supply and activate the machine in test mode to prepare for first launch.

The installation of equipment in the finished kitchen is not fundamentally different from conventional installation, but it may be difficult to connect communications.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Tips for installing and replacing the decorative panel:

Recommendations for connecting to the sewer and water supply:

The rules for self-connecting a dishwasher are given in the following video:

The package and documentary support require the independent installation of the dishwasher by the owners. However, it is not always that the owners of a new car have enough skills or knowledge for DIY installation.

If you doubt your own skills, it is better to ask for help on embedding the dishwasher in the kitchen set and connecting it to a service center or to a trusted private owner.

Want to talk about how you installed your dishwasher or a neighboring unit in the kitchen module? Do you have useful information on the topic of the article, which is worth sharing with site visitors? Please write comments, ask questions, post photos in the block below.