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dishwasher vent

| Posted in General Discussion on March 27, 2001 02:20am

*
Hi Guys,

My husband installed the faucet and sink vent
from the dishwasher.
When we drain the dishwasher water comes out to
the sink from the vent. He says it needs to be leveled.
How can we prevent this from happening?

He is not a plumber, but he is doing his best.
Maybe you guys will be able to help us.

Thank you very much in advance

KC

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Replies

  1. allaround_ | Mar 26, 2001 06:12am | #1

    *
    When you say a dishwasher vent do you really mean an "air gap"?..... and when the washer drains the water comes out the air gap? If this is the case, you may have the hoses from the DW and to the sink drain hooked wrong. Try reversing the hoses and see if that solves the problem.

    1. David_Thomas | Mar 26, 2001 06:18am | #2

      *My first guess would be a kink in the flexible line between the air gap and the adaptor just above the P-trap. Some of those hose can get pinched off if they're a bit to long. Look and feel for kinks. Pull off one end (cut if you have to) and retrim to proper length. Rotate the parts involved so the path of the flexible hose is as straight as possible.A bit of food could be stuck in the hose - take the hose off and check.Could be a bad air gap. Even the ones with the fancy brass caps are pretty cheap plastic bits underneath. The water pumped from the dishwaaher through the small hose ought to be able to flow freely down the big hose to the drain. Good luck. -David

      1. Mongo_ | Mar 26, 2001 09:45am | #3

        *First, check that the air gap was installed correctly. There's usually a 5/8" inlet and a 7/8" outlet. Make sure they aren't reversed. Check that the hose from the air gap outlet enters the sink trap asembly via a "Y" connection and not a "T" connection. A "Y" will ensure a more laminar flow.Ensure that the drain hose (from the 7/8ths inch nipple on the air gap to the trap assembly) does not sag...you don't want it to look like a "U". You want the hose to be running downhill from the air gap to drain. Make sure there are no kinks and that it isn't twisted. If you used ring clamps to attach the hoses, check that they aren't too tight. I've seen them cinched down so hard that they collapse the nipple inside the tubing, creating a small obstruction.Make sure the disposal (if you have one) isn't clogged. Try running the disposal as the DW drains.If it still spits, remove the outlet hose from the disposal (or sink trap "Y" connector). Insert the drain hose into a bucket. Run the DW. It should drain cleanly into the bucket. If not, re-check for obstructions in the hose and recheck that the hoses into and out of the air gap are correctly installed. Air gaps do go bad. Not often, but they do. You may want to replace it. They're only 7 or 8 dollars.

        1. Bob_Walker | Mar 26, 2001 12:54pm | #4

          *KC:Several responses have made reference to the "air gap." The "model" plumbing code requires an air gap on the dishwasher discharge line as a form of backflow preventor.At least some areas of the country don't use that model code requirement; other areas include it but don't actually follow it in practice.The air gap is a metal fitting that goes above the counter and to which the diswasher discharge hoses attach.If you haven't included/used an air gap, the problem is likely that the kitchen drain is partially clogged and just can't handle the dishwasher's discharge rate.It's not a problem, per se, for the dishwasher discharge, but if you leave a faucet running, your sink could overflow. (You don't have "functional drainage.")Also, if it's that clogged, it'll probably stop draining altogether in the near future. (Near future being sometime between now and the armageddan)

          1. G.LaLonde | Mar 26, 2001 03:06pm | #5

            *I agree with all the advice you have received. Basically it's pretty simple....Either you have the hoses reversed or you have an obstruction between the gap and the discharge site. Since you are not a plumber, let me suggest something. If you installed a new garbage disposal and you are draining into it, maybe you forgot to knock the plug out of the disposal inlet from the air gap. If the disposal was installed before , but the dishwasher is new, the plug would still be in the inlet at the disposal. If it is a replacement of an existing setup, these rubber hoses often rot and soften up inside, and it is very easy to scrape off a piece on the inside of the hose as you are reconnecting it. This will easily plug up the tube in an air gap and cause your problem. As was suggested before, check for any kinks in the hoses. It doesn't take much to shut off the flow.

          2. KCB | Mar 26, 2001 07:00pm | #6

            *Thank you very much.After reading all your posts, it seems that is the hose coming from the vent to the disposal is not straight and maybe that could be causing the overflowing to the sink, he is going to change it for a not flexible or copper one.He is checking that out.Again thanks.KC

          3. Mark_M | Mar 27, 2001 02:20am | #7

            *I think that the knock out into the disposal is not open. Check to see in the line from the air gap clear into the disposal is free.

  2. KCB | Mar 27, 2001 02:20am | #8

    *
    Hi Guys,

    My husband installed the faucet and sink vent
    from the dishwasher.
    When we drain the dishwasher water comes out to
    the sink from the vent. He says it needs to be leveled.
    How can we prevent this from happening?

    He is not a plumber, but he is doing his best.
    Maybe you guys will be able to help us.

    Thank you very much in advance

    KC

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