The best place to install a dishwasher is preferably close to the sink and drain, but this isn’t always feasible in every household. Luckily, you can extend the dishwasher drain hose, which will allow you to install the dishwasher several feet away from the drain. How do you do this?
Extending a dishwasher drain hose is done by disconnecting the drain pipes, connecting the drain pipe to an extension hose with a two-way coupling and union barb, and tightening the connections.
This is the simplified answer to how you can extend the dishwasher’s drain hose. If you’d like to learn more about extending the drain hose, I’ll cover the process in more detail down below.
How to Extend the Dishwasher Drain Hose?
Before purchasing a dishwasher, it’s a good idea to record the measurements of your kitchen and estimate the perfect spot for your new appliance. Ideally, the dishwasher will be located next to a wall outlet for better cable management, as well as the sink for easier draining.
Of course, in some households, this is easier said than done. What should you do when your only option is to install the dishwasher several feet away from the sink?
Luckily, most dishwashers come with 6-foot-long drain hoses, so finding a spot for the dishwasher relative to the kitchen sink shouldn’t be too big of a problem. In addition, some dishwashers come with extension hoses that increase the drain hose’s length to 10 feet or more.
So, if your only option is to make use of the extension hose, you should know how to properly install it to prevent leakage and maintain quick, even draining.
Here’s a fully detailed step-by-step guide on how you can extend the dishwasher’s drain hose using the extension kit.
Step 1—Gathering Supplies and Equipment
Before proceeding to install the extension hose, it’s important that we have all of the supplies and equipment necessary for the job. What you will need are:
- Screwdriver
- 3 Hose clamps
- Drain hose extension kit (or you can purchase your own pipes)
- 2 2-way couplers
- 1 Union barb (T- or Y-union)
- Towels
If you do not have a drain pipe kit provided by the dishwasher’s manufacturer, that’s not a problem. You can get by with using a set of pipes and/or hoses that matches the diameter of the existing drain hose.
If this is the case, carefully measure the diameter of the existing drain hose. Most dishwasher drain hoses measure half an inch in diameter, so you will also need ½-inch pipes, ½-inch couplers, and ½-inch union barbs. If possible, pick up a ½-inch copper coupler as it is more resistant to corrosion, which is perfect when dealing with wastewater.
Now that you have everything on hand, unplug the dishwasher from the wall outlet and make sure it remains unplugged throughout the entire process. You will also need to shut off the waterline that supplies water to the dishwasher.
Step 2—Disconnect Drain Pipes
Locate the drain pipes by checking underneath your kitchen sink or wherever you plan on draining the water from your dishwasher. Now, place a towel underneath the pipes to capture any sprays or droplets that may gush forth.
Disconnect any fittings fastened to the drain pipe as we will install the dishwasher’s extension drain hose directly to it. Loosen any screws and clamps that keep the pipes in place.
Now, you should be left with a disconnected drain line from your sink and a disconnected sewer line.
Step 3—Assemble the Coupling
The next step is to install the 2-way coupling. Your kitchen sink’s drain pipe setup might have multiple ducts, with one smaller than the other. If so, choose the duct that is the same size as your 2-way coupling.
Before installing the coupling, slip the extension hose through a hose clamp. Now, insert the coupling into the extension hose, making sure that the hose is as snug on the coupling as possible. When you’re done, fasten the clamp so that it keeps the hose in place.
Step 4—Fasten the Union Barb
The union barb can be Y or T-shaped, depending on how accessible each opening is relative to the kitchen drain pipe, the sewer line, and the extension hose.
Take the union barb and fasten it to the sewer line. Next, fasten the sink’s drain pipe to the union barb. Finally, fasten the coupling to the third and final opening of the union barb.
Now, the sewer line should be connected to both the sink’s drain line and the extension hose of your dishwasher. Tighten all connections before proceeding to the next step.
Step 5—Install the Extension Hose to the Dishwasher
Now that that union barb is in place, it’s time to connect the extension hose to the dishwasher.
First, you will need to insert the other end of the extension hose through another hose clamp. Now, take the second coupler and insert it into the hose, using the second hose clamp to tighten the hose’s opening around the coupler.
Take the dishwasher’s drain hose and insert it through the third hose clamp. Insert the hose into the other end of the coupler before tightening the hose clamp.
Step 6—Testing
The entire installation process is now complete. However, it’s time to test out the connections to ensure that there isn’t any leaking and that the extension drain hose flows water to the sewer line.
Plug the dishwasher into the nearest wall outlet and run a test cycle. If the dishwasher completes the cycle without any error messages showing up on the display, and if there aren’t any water droplets coming out of the union barb and couplers, then your job is complete.
How Long Can I Extend the Dishwasher Drain Hose?
The longest extension hose you can use is 6 feet, which, added to the 6-foot drain hose that comes with your dishwasher, lets you install the dishwasher 12 feet away from the sewer line.
Ideally, you shouldn’t go beyond 10 feet as the drain pump may have trouble forcing water through the drain hose and into the sewer line.
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