How to Remove an Integrated Dishwasher

A good integrated dishwasher should last a lifetime, right? Wrong! Even the most ambitious estimates indicate that, with good care, 8-10 years is all you’ll get. This isn’t so bad, only that you’ll have to contend with removing it. Fortunately, we put together a simple, 6-step guide to help you remove an integrated dishwasher.

Removing a dishwasher is a potentially frustrating exercise. It always seems intimidating since it’s usually conjoined with your kitchen’s cabinetry. But don’t be fooled, removing an integrated dishwasher is a simple task for any DIY enthusiast.

With just basic and common tools, you can dislodge an old or broken dishwasher like a pro and save yourself the cost of hiring a technician, who will inform you the second time you phone them to inquire of their whereabouts that they will “get there when they get there.”

Out with the old, in with the new.

There are a few scenarios, and they will come, that you will have to remove an integrated dishwasher or replace it. They include;

1. Your dishwasher has had its day: Integrated dishwashers, even the sleekest brands, don’t last forever. Sooner or later they will have their day. As a rule of thumb, most dishwashers will be due for replacement in 8-10 years.
2. Malfunctioning or faulty dishwasher: If your dishwasher doesn’t function properly, it may be time to replace it. Some of the signs include leakages, not draining completely even when the bottom drain is clear, the door doesn’t properly latch, the dishes aren’t hot after a washing cycle, signs of rust, cracks on the interior cabinets, and other signs of malfunctioning. It’s always best to replace a dishwasher with these signs rather than trying to repair it.
3. Upgrading your integrated dishwasher: If you still have the same integrated dishwasher that came preinstalled in the house, you may be missing out on newer, more efficient models already in the market.

What NOT to do when removing your integrated dishwasher

Before you get on with removing an integrated dishwasher, here are three things you should absolutely not do:

1. You may feel a bit impatient when it takes a moment longer than you anticipated to get the water out. Don’t tip the dishwasher to try and speed up the process. You may end up creating a glorious mess in your kitchen, or ruin the machine if you intend to reinstall it.
2. Don’t attempt to remove an integrated dishwasher without first disconnecting the lines and the supplies (power, water, drainage). Follow the step by step method outlined here.
3. Don’t try to do it on your own if, for any reason, you are unable to exert some physical effort. Integrated dishwashers are not exactly the most lightweight kitchen appliances. Get a helping hand.

 

How then do you remove an integrated dishwasher without creating a huge mess in your kitchen? When the time comes, follow these 6 easy steps:

 

Step One: Disconnect your dishwasher’s power supply

Safety first. Dishwashers are powered by electricity (surprise! surprise!) and the very first step is to cut out the power source. Find the power plug, which is often located in the cabinet, and unplug it. if you cannot see the power plug then it’s probably on the backside, in which case you’ll have to unplug it before you slide out the dishwasher.

It’s worth noting that some integrated dishwashers are hard-wired into an electric circuit during installation. These types of dishwashers aren’t plugged into an outlet and in such cases, we recommend engaging an electrician if you aren’t sure you can identify the circuit.

However, if you can identify the specific circuit breaker switch, only proceed into the next steps after you have shut off electric power for the dishwasher from the electrical breaker panel. All electrical circuits are often marked and you’ll just have to flip the connecting circuit to “off.”

Step Two: Cut the water supply

The next step is to disconnect the water supply to the dishwasher. For most dishwashers, it’s located in the cabinet, below the sink, and is often in line with the dishwasher.

This step is as simple as rotating the shut-off valve until the supply is fully cut off. If you can’t locate the supply valve then you’ll have to shut off the water supply to your entire home.

Step Three: Disconnect the drain line

For most integrated dishwashers, there’s often a large, flexible hose clamped onto the sink’s drain line. You have to grab the clamp and gently loosen it to remove the drain hose. But water often collects on the drain hose therefore, to avoid creating a mess, have a bucket or any kind of receptacle to catch the spilling water.

Step Four: Pull out the dishwasher

It’s now time to remove the dishwasher. Once you have disconnected the power supply, the water supply, and the drain lines, look underneath the cabinet for screws, hook-ups, or mounting brackets that hold the dishwasher in place and unscrew them.

If your dishwasher has threaded legs, twist them clockwise to lower it, until there’s enough space between the bottom of your countertop and the top of your dishwasher. Place a towel on the floor to avoid scratches and gently slide the dishwasher out of the space it previously occupied.

Note that dishwashers are pretty heavy so, prepare for some lifting exercise. You can place a flat piece of cardboard below the unit so that you can slide across the floor.

What to do if you still can’t pull out your dishwasher

If you are still struggling to pull out your dishwasher after disconnecting everything, it may just be the fact that it’s heavy. Get some help, especially when it comes to lifting the bottom. If this isn’t the case could be stuck because of the following reasons:

1. There could be an edge of flooring preventing the dishwasher from sliding out. In this case, you can have someone lift the dishwasher over slightly to get over the obstructing edge so you can slide it out.
2. Sometimes, the drain hose or the water supply tube can get caught as you try to pull out the dishwasher.

• If your dishwasher was screwed in place or latched with any kinds of hooks or brackets, you will have to ensure every one of them is undone before you can pull it out.

1. Finally, and perhaps more conspicuously, if there’s a kickboard blocking the dishwasher you will have to remove it to allow for smooth removal.

 

Step Five: Tidy up the area

Even if you have been careful and followed all the steps to the letter, you can’t completely avoid a little mess here and there. There’s bound to be some spillage or some other kind of a mess.

With the dishwasher now out of the way, clean up the space it occupied, especially since it will have never been cleaned since the old dishwasher was installed. Mop the floor area before you install the new dishwasher.

This is also a good time to check if there are any issues with your plumbing such as leaks.

Step Six: Applaud yourself

Congratulations! You just saved yourself and your family more than £100. The next step is to install your new dishwasher.

Please prepare to spend between half and three-quarters of an hour to go through the entire process. We promise you, the amount of personal satisfaction and the money you will save is worth every minute you will spend on this exercise.

What to do with your old or non-functioning integrated dishwasher

If you are not going to reinstall the dishwasher, you must decide what you are going to do with it. You can begin by contacting your waste disposal service providers to determine if they can collect and dispose of it on your behalf. Otherwise, you may need to carry your dishwasher to the nearest disposal or recycling plant.

Dishwashers fall under the category of “white goods,” which includes other home appliances such as stoves, freezers, and refrigerators. In the yesteryears, these devices were mostly white in colour. Of course, they now come in a range of colours to suit your décor and the colour scheme of your house.

Getting rid of white goods can be particularly hectic, mostly due to the laws and legal obligations within which they are tied up. The reason they have special disposal laws is the fact that they have multiple components which are made out of different materials.

Therefore, incorrect recycling can have devastating effects on the environment, not least of which is, toxic chemicals and substances finding their way into the soil of the surrounding ecosystem. The good news is that most of the metals in white goods can be recycled several times, which reduces the amount of overall waste that would have ended up in landfills.

Disposal service providers

Be a lamb and check with your local authorities how to best dispose of your dishwasher so that you can be completely confident that it will be ethically and responsibly disposed of. You will be doing your part to preserve the planet.

We recommend engaging professional waste management companies that are quick, dependable, efficient, and ethically responsible. For a service fee, these companies can arrange for collection, transportation, and recycling services.