As we mentioned on Monday, before we hopped on a plane yesterday we tackled our bisque-colored dishwasher. The new stainless steel model is an immediate crowd-pleaser—our whole family likes it, but Clara absolutely loves it. Here’s a clear, step-by-step account of how we removed the old unit and installed the replacement, written in a natural, easy-to-follow style.
We had been telling ourselves it would be smarter to wait until after the new floors went in so we wouldn’t trap the dishwasher behind cork planks, but that felt like a flimsy excuse. Instead we realized we could set the new machine on a few of the cork boards so it would sit at the same eventual height, and prevent the boxed appliance from becoming a permanent side table in the office. The box had already become a magnet for clutter.
Neither of us had ever installed a dishwasher before, and the idea of plumbing plus electrical work in a tight space was a little intimidating—especially since the new appliance wasn’t cheap. After watching a couple of reassuring how-to videos, we felt ready. When Clara went down for a nap on Sunday, we took a breath and started.
First we turned off the hot water supply and cut the electricity to the dishwasher. Admittedly, this step took about 15 minutes because our two breaker boxes weren’t labeled correctly. There was a lot of trial and error, and several trips to the basement while coordinating over our phones, just to be sure the power was off.
With water and power off, I removed the access panel along the base of the old dishwasher. The floor beneath is a little messy from ongoing projects, so be prepared for realistic DIY photos; it was a reminder that projects aren’t always pristine. Behind the panel the connections were compact and a bit cluttered, but manageable.
Using a wrench I unscrewed the water supply, keeping a rag nearby to catch residual drips. The cramped space slowed us down, but patience and a steady hand did the job. I was careful not to undo more than necessary until I was confident we could move forward.
Next I removed the electrical connection. The wiring was housed in a small metal box that came off with a screwdriver. I unscrewed the wire nuts, separated the wires, and set the box cover aside. That completed all the disconnections from the old dishwasher.
To free the unit from its slot I lowered the adjustable feet so the dishwasher cleared the counter bottom. Ours was screwed into the adjacent cabinets rather than the underside of the countertop, so I popped off a plastic cover and removed those screws. After a gentle shimmy the old bisque dishwasher slid out, and I set it on a piece of cardboard to protect the current floor while we worked.
Before moving the new dishwasher in, I cut a few rough pieces of our cork flooring and slid them into the opening so the new appliance would sit flush with the future finished floor. This prevents the machine from being trapped behind floorboards once the final flooring is installed and avoids difficulty for future servicing.
The new energy-efficient unit was next. The installation instructions were confusing in places, and we discovered we needed to reuse a 90-degree elbow from the old machine to route the water supply properly. It’s surprising that some small fittings aren’t included, but swapping the elbow was straightforward with the dishwasher pulled out and fully accessible—definitely easier than working in the gap.
With the elbow in place I reattached the water supply. Because the supply line was long enough I could make this connection with the dishwasher still pulled out, which made maneuvering a wrench much simpler. I also disconnected the old drain hose from the disposal and attached the new drain hose in its place. I preferred routing the new hose to the visible under-sink area rather than hiding more connections behind the appliance, so any future leaks would be easy to find and fix.
On the electrical side I discovered we were missing a strain relief, so we made a quick hardware store run to pick one up. The strain relief secures the wire at the dishwasher’s electrical box so the connections don’t get pulled. Once installed, I reconnected the wires with new wire nuts, replaced the box cover, and went to the basement to restore power.
Power on and water turned back on, I closely inspected all plumbing joints. A minor leak at the 90-degree elbow required detaching and rotating the fitting, then retightening. After a final leak check I secured the dishwasher to the cabinet underside, adjusted the leveling feet, and confirmed it sat perfectly at the future floor height.
All told, the project took about three hours, including the unplanned trip for the strain relief. The end result is a stainless dishwasher that balances nicely with the sink, faucet, and pendant lighting, resists fingerprints thanks to its protective finish, and offers a handy countdown timer and “clean” indicator on the front—small features that make daily life easier.
Functionally it operates similarly to our old machine, but the updated look has refreshed that side of the kitchen and improved our appliance layout. And as a bonus, Clara found a paper towel and proudly “helped” by wiping everything in sight while we took progress photos—proof that some of the best parts of DIY are the little family moments that happen while you work.
Have you ever installed a dishwasher yourself? Did you encounter surprises, extra trips to the store, or minor leaks that needed correcting? If so, you’re in good company—this installation was a manageable learning experience that left us very happy with the final result.