Washgeek.com

Where to place my dishwasher

A dishwasher is a fairly large appliance, so you need to think carefully about where to place it in the kitchen. In addition, the installation of a built-in dishwasher is different from that of a freestanding one. This page contains all the information you need to make a good choice.

Where to place my dishwasher

Update

October

Yannick
Yannick

A wash geek since 2017

Where do I place my freestanding dishwasher?

A freestanding dishwasher can be placed anywhere, which is also its biggest advantage over the built-in dishwasher, as it always requires you to sacrifice a kitchen cabinet. However, there are a few things to consider when looking for the best place to put the dishwasher.

Firstly, you need to consider that the distance between the sink/trash and the dishwasher is not too great. If you have food leftovers on your dishes, you’ll want to rinse them off first, and it’s convenient if you can put everything in the dishwasher right after that without having to go through half the kitchen. A freestanding dishwasher in the utility room is only useful if you really don’t have room in the kitchen.

Secondly, a freestanding dishwasher does require the right connections for electricity and water supply and drainage. You also need to remember that a dishwasher uses so much energy that you will need to connect it to a separate outlet. If there are no water connections nearby, this is not a problem. You can always make a new branch from your existing drain using PVC pipes. The outlet should be at a height of about 60 centimetres, so that it can be properly connected. The wall socket should be placed slightly lower and preferably 30 to 40 centimetres away from the water pipes. Finally, you can also place a freestanding dishwasher next to your kitchen worktop, so that you can put things on it, for example. Your freestanding dishwasher then acts as a sort of under-counter dishwasher. Make sure that the top of your dishwasher matches the rest of your countertop. For example, you can order a piece of stone kitchen worktop of the same type. In this situation, it is better if your dishwasher extends to your worktop, so that everything is nice and level. If you can’t find a dishwasher of the right height, you can always put it on an elevation.

Where do I put my built-in dishwasher?

In the case of a built-in dishwasher, you also have a number of different options. You can plug your new dishwasher into the spot where your old dishwasher was built-in. All you have to do is unplug the old unit and remove it from the installed mounting brackets. When buying a new dishwasher, it’s a good idea to choose a similar model. If you previously had a fully integrated dishwasher it’s best to do so again now, so you don’t have to buy a new front panel. Going from a fully integrated model to a dishwasher with the control panel on the outside will require you to cut a new front panel from a sheet of plywood, and that may not match the cabinetry of your existing kitchen.

The advantage of installing your dishwasher in place of your old one is also that you can easily connect it to the existing water pipe. All the connections should already be in place, so all you have to do is connect the drain hose and plug it in.

Fitting a built-in dishwasher in a new kitchen is no problem either. Again, you need to make sure you have the right connections at your disposal. You can branch out just like the freestanding dishwasher and you need to hang the mounting brackets. Keep in mind that you can’t attach the brackets to every surface. For example, a brick wall is too hard, it is better to attach the brackets to the adjacent kitchen cabinets. Connect everything first and hold the dishwasher by its inside, this is the best way to slide it into place.

Make sure the dishwasher is level to prevent it from wearing out too quickly or leaking. Finally, snap the plinth back into place to hide all the cables.

Placing a new dishwasher high or low

Most built-in dishwashers are flush with the bottom kitchen cabinets, but it can be very convenient to place it just a bit higher. The dishwasher then reaches about waist height, making it easier to put in and take out the dishes. A tall dishwasher is also perfect with small children or pets, as they can’t reach it as easily.

The downside of a built-in dishwasher that is slightly higher is that you have to change the connections. This is because most kitchens have them in the lower cabinets. A tall built-in dishwasher also takes up a little more space, as it is placed on top of an existing kitchen cabinet. In a small kitchen, this can quickly become cramped.

Yannick
Yannick

A wash geek since 2017

Our research