Dishwasher drain lines are not commonly included in kitchen settings. As a result, dishwashers are typically installed beneath countertops next to the sink cabinet, with a drain hose running through the cabinet’s side.
Drain water and food particles are pumped into the garbage disposal by the dishwasher’s hose. Its debris can’t get back into the dishwasher because of an air gap fitting in the drain system.
To connect the hose, the fitting attaches directly to the back of the sink and has a nozzle for each one. Installing garbage disposal makes it easy to connect your new dishwasher drain hose.
Table of Contents
Understanding How Garbage Disposal Works
Knowing how your garbage disposal functions and what causes it to malfunction can help you maintain and extend the life of your appliance.
Even if something goes wrong, you’ll know how to fix it. Here’s everything you need to know about garbage disposal, and nature’s miracle appliance.
Garbage Disposal
Garbage disposal is a cylindrical, round device installed under a sink. The disposal’s motor and other mechanical parts are housed in a hollow cylinder beneath the sink.
With the help of a standard wall or floor outlet, the disposal’s motor is supplied with electrical power. The disposal’s power cord can be seen running from the outlet to the disposal’s underside.
Here are the components of the disposal that work together to grind food into a slurry that is safe to pass through the drain pipe.
Hopper Chamber
The disposal is housed in a hollow cylinder called the hopper chamber. The upper and lower part of the hopper chambers is separated by a partition. The upper hopper chamber is where food that enters the disposal is stored before it is shredded.
An insulation-coated chamber in the lower hopper holds the disposal’s motor. Food exits the lower hopper chamber after the disposal grinds it up and heads for the drain.
Waste Line Connector
This is where the waste line connects to the lower hopper. Disposal waste flows out of the shredder ring and into a drainpipe through the waste line connector when food is ground up.
Using the waste line connector and a standard drain pipe, food waste is channeled into the sewer system.
Motor and Impellers
The motor of garbage disposal typically generates 1/2-3/4 horsepower of force. The flywheel and impellers spin in unison when the motor is turned on.
Food chunks are repeatedly flung into the shredder ring’s grooves until the food chunks are so small that they can pass through the shredder ring’s small openings and slide down the drain line to be discarded.
Required Materials
Materials needed to connect the dishwasher drain hose to garbage disposal:
- Hose Clamp
- Needle-nose pliers
- Factory Drain Hose
- Dishwasher and Garbage disposal
- Screwdriver
- Wrench
- Hammer
- Air gap fitting
- Utility knife
Why Is There is a Need to Connect Hose?
It is recommended to connect the dishwasher to the garbage disposal because it can grind the food particles and flush them down the drain as the dishwasher pumps the discarded water and leftovers into the disposal.
Whereas if the drain hose is connected directly to the sink drain, this can result in clogging due to the food particles.
Ways to Connect Dishwasher Drain Hose to Garbage Disposal
You don’t need any major appliances or plumbing skills to connect the dishwasher drain hose to the garbage disposal. There are only a few considerations to bear in mind before you can get started.
Step 1
Remove the plug of the garbage disposal’s cord from the sink’s electrical socket. Disconnect the disposal unit from the main panel if it is directly connected to the circuit. To avoid being electrocuted, make sure all electrical connections are disconnected.
Step 2
The upper side of the garbage disposal has a drain tube section that will connect the drain hose to the dishwasher.
You must use a screwdriver with a hammer to remove the metal plug from the socket. Use the needle-nose pliers, and remove the metal plug from the socket.
Step 3
Connect the drain hose from the dishwasher to the garbage disposal, then use a screwdriver or wrench to tighten the hose clamp on the drain hose’s end.
Make use of an extra drain hose to ensure that the drain hose is looped above the hose connection point. There should be at least 20 inches between the dishwasher drain connection point and the kitchen floor when using a wireless router.
To prevent drain water from reentering the dishwasher, an air gap must be used if the connection point is lower than 20 inches.
Step 4
There are two dishwasher drain hose branches in the air gap unit. One branch of the air gap leads to the dishwasher, while the other leads to the garbage disposal.
Now, put the threaded stem into the hole from below to the top of the air gap fitting. Apply the rubber hose washer to the threaded stem’s upper end and cover it with a trim cap.
From beneath the sink, rotate the fitting so that the nozzle is pointing toward the garbage disposal.
Step 5
Use a utility knife to cut the dishwasher drain hose long enough to reach one end of the air gap and connect it using a hose clamp. Attach the garbage disposal hose to the other end of the air gap fitting and secure it with the clamp.
Use the high loop method and avoid bending or looping the drain line while connecting them because it will impede drainage and cause clogs. With the help of a wrench, tighten the hose clamps to their final position.
Tip for Easy Installation
To easily connect the dishwasher drain hose you can remove the screws that hold the door to the cabinet’s frame to gain easy access to the area under the sink.
After completing the installation, you can reinstall the door. If you are not able to do it on your own, consult the customer service line.
What If It Doesn’t Work
If your garbage disposal won’t start, it’s likely an electrical issue rather than a disposal issue. The reset button can be found at the bottom of the hopper chamber. Check to see if there is a problem with the outlet the disposal is plugged into.
If the drain line is jammed, then the impellers are most likely stuck. Unplug the garbage disposal first.
At the bottom of the lower hopper chamber, there is a hex-shaped hole. Several drain variations come with a specially designed hex wrench for this hole.
The impellers can be unlocked by inserting the wrench into the corresponding hole and yanking it back and forth repeatedly.
The parts of disposal are all interconnected. Any of these components can develop leaks from the dishwasher drain.
Tighten any loose screws or bolts that may be causing the disposal to leak from the dishwasher drain. You may also need to tighten the drain gasket or the mounting screws.
Related Articles: