We live in a 1920s era house, long before the days of installed dishwashers and garbage disposals, etc. Right next to the kitchen is an old mudroom that’s been converted into a laundry room and there’s a small handsink that I’m going to pull out and install a dishwasher. I’ve got a couple of questions though.
1. I’ve looked and found that nobody makes standalone enclosures for dishwashers that I can find. Likewise, I’ve looked around online and haven’t been able to find any plans for such a thing, or in any of the woodworking books I’ve taken a look at. Do such things exist? I know most people install the dishwasher in their kitchen but it’s just not an option for us.
2. The washing machine drain overflows into the sink that I’m going to be removing. When the washing machine drains, it dumps down the drain pipe but you get dirty water coming up through the drain of the sink for about a minute before it drains again. It’s never been a big deal because it’s an unused sink anyhow, but once I put in a dishwasher, it’ll be a concern, obviously. I can put in a one-way valve in the drain, assuming I can find one that will fit on the sink fitting, but because of the way the house is constructed, all of the pipes for the washing machine are buried in the wall. Any suggestions?
Thanks for all of your help.
Replies
sure, buy a portable dishwasher and call a plumber
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Install a "johnson tee" where the sink used to be this will protect the dw from the discharge of the clothes washer.
Like Piffin said about buying a stand alone dw haven't seen one in a while but I'm sure thier still made
If we wanted a portable, we'd have bought one already, we want a permanent installation. Most of the portables, at least the ones I was ever familiar with, are very low power and have to be dragged over to the sink to get a water supply. No thanks.
I'll take a look at the IKEA cabinet but it shouldn't be difficult to just build a carcass. Dishwashers fit into a standard carcass, we were looking at them tonight at Lowe's but it seems kind of stupid to spend $200 for a carcass and then gut the thing so you can put a dishwasher into it.
but it shouldn't be difficult to just build a carcass. Dishwashers fit into a standard carcass, we were looking at them tonight at Lowe's but it seems kind of stupid to spend $200 for a carcass and then gut the thing so you can put a dishwasher into it.
It only takes 4 minutes on TV.
Why ask the question if you are just looking for someone to tell you what you want to hear?
not sure if I can help or not but I thought of a couple of things. I'm sure you are aware of this but a dishwasher needs to be right next to the kitchen sink. I understand there are times this won't work but I'm just throwing this out (I've lived in a house where the dishwasher was across the kitchen and away from the sink and I would carry dripping dishes from the sink across and to the other side to the dishwasher and it's kind of a mess).If you are going to place the dishwasher beside the washer is there room to buy cabinets and place them on one or both sides of the dishwasher and then come up with some kind of countertop?What about just making some cabinet sides out of 3/4 plywood. I buy damaged Kitchen countertops for pennies on the dollar to make computer stations for me and my kids. You might want to look at one of those if you're looking for a bargain. Sometimes I use file cabinets for the base cabinets. One time I made legs for the "table" out of galvanized pipe (the pipe threaded into a screw in flange attached to the underside of the countertop)Good luck!
Like I said, the kitchen was built in the 1920s before any of this stuff existed, it's simply not possible to put the dishwasher directly next to the sink, but the mudroom is directly off the kitchen and if you removed the wall between the kitchen and the mudroom, the new dishwasher would be directly at the end of the counter in the other room, maybe 8 feet away. It shouldn't be a problem at all function-wise and it isn't like it would be possible, even if the dishwasher was placed right next to the sink, for them to be plumbed together, all of the pipes are behind the wall and there is no garbage disposal to tie into like most people do with their dishwashers.
Because I asked if anyone knew of any prebuilts (faster) or plans (easier) before I went and took measurements and made calculations, etc. Makes sense, no? I did take a look at the one Ikea has on their website and it's just hideous so I'm going to do it myself.
I'm just saying tha ta portable already has the box built onto it, and you can install it wherever you want to and not have to move it. That would be a big savings over what you suggested. Most manufacturers make a portable version of one of the models they sell standard
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Actually, the dishwasher does not fit IN the carcass. It fits INBETWEEN two other carcasses. There isn't really a cabinet FOR the dishwasher. So I think you can do pretty much whatever, just make sure the door opens past the lip of the top.
Yeah, the simplest solution to the cabinet problem is to buy a portable, but you'll likely pay $150-200 more for that option, then end up spending more for the fixed installation kit.But all you really need are sides and a top. You can buy a chunk of counter top (probably from the odds-n-ends pile at some yard) and make up two sides (or one, with a wall) from plywood. You just have to figure out how to tie it all together. Normally it wouldn't be tied to the DW itself, but no need not to, so long as pieces can be removed for service if need be.
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This may not contribute to the messages already, but I was in the Army, moving from quarters to quarters where there never was a dishwasher. We bought a Sears portable for that reason, butcherblock top on wheels, and it connected to the sink faucet. One time, we were in quarters that had a dishwasher, but it was inferior and freestanding at the end of a kitchen counter. I moved it to storage and put ours in its place. I connected our washer's lower plumbing to the originals, and it worked like a built-in. I don't think it's overwhelmingly important that the DW be right next to the sink -- ask the person who'd have to do the dishes otherwise if that's a real problem. As long as it's not in the basement with the washer and dryer, it should be okay.
building a cabinet to house a dishwasher is easy, choose a suitable sheet material, build a box with internal dimensions of 24" wide and 35" high, 24" deep and fasten it to the wall. A 25inch piece of countertop will fit on top
the plumbing and electrical can come up from underneath or the sides, keep in mind that the drainhose has to have a loop upto about 30 inches before entering a drain
electrical requirements vary but here in ontario, a regular 15amp dedicated circuit is required
by the way all portable dishwashers are identical to their built in counterparts except for a metal box and top of some kind, the mechanical parts are identical except for the hose connection and an electrical cord
Sometimes the portables have a lower wattage heater element.--------------
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IKEA sells a standalone DW cabinet as part of their Varde line of freestanding kitchens. Made of birch, seems pretty solid.
The tricky thing is having the washing machine and DW use the same drain line. The code guys are justifiably leery (though occasionally a bit too much so) about the possibility of dirty water being pushed back into the DW. With the standard sink setup this can only happen in extreme circumstances, but with a washer on the same drain line you can have the situation you've observed where water is forced back up the drain of adjacent fixtures.
At the very least, even though code in your area may not require it and it's a bit of a PITA, you should install an air gap for the DW drain. Elevate this high enough over the two units so that you're unlikely to experience backflow through the gap. (If you do get backflow it'll be obvious -- be sure that the air gap is mounted so any overflow will drain without much damage.)
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That was my basic concern was having the washing machine back up into the dishwasher, but the plumbing on this house is just horrible. There was a time where I sealed the drain on the existing handsink and the washing machine just overflowed back into the kitchen sink instead. That's why I need some sort of one-way valve on the drain so that it can exhaust water out but not get waste water from other things into the dishwasher. If I could do that on the kitchen sink too, I would, but like I said, everything is buried deep in the wall with absolutely no access whatsoever.
Cephus
Don't know if this is of any value or not but have you considered putting in one of those dishwashers that fit under the sink?
I don't know who makes them but about 10 years ago I installed one. It was in a 1920's Tudor and there was no other room for it.
You had to replace the sink though, the drains need to be as far back as possible.
I'm sure this thing was a bit pricey because its not run of the mill but worth a looksee!
Someone mentioned the problems with not having the DW next to the sink, very good point.
Doug
install a vacuum break T (johnston) and build your own carcass however simple or fancy suits you. Just do it.
As to "plans (easier) ", probably not, usually easier to just measure, cut and put togehter rather than following some standard that wont fit.
BTW, if frugal, buy the cheapest simple good quality/durable DW (the $129 hotpoint or GE currently). Pack R-19 around it in the cabinet for the equivalent of a $100 noise reduction upgrade, take off the front cover and cut a piece of closed cell poly foam to fit, another noise reduction. Equivalent in cleaning and low noise then to > $600 units. Probably dont care if it is in another room.
edit just corrected spelling ---
Edited 11/7/2005 9:34 pm ET by junkhound
start out by deciding what dishwasher you want.all tthe posts I've read seem to assume you'trying to do this for the least possible buck, didn't see that in any of your posts. buy your unit from a good supplier-not a big box store-ask them to supply you with a cut sheet for the appliance( this will give you all the dimensions for any cabinet work ) then call a local plumber( he'll be familiar with the codes) and get the thing put in. too many people try to peel a grape when the grape needs to be mashed and turned into wine. good luck. jim