 | Dishwasher Facts
There are only 3 connections to a dishwasher, so it seems that it would be easy to install. But if any one of these connections are not done correctly, the results could be disasterous. And very costly. Did you know that of all the dishwashers installed last year, the ones installed by a trained, certified installer had only a 3 percent service call rate? To the contrary, dishwashers that were installed by an untrained or non-skilled installer had a 30 percent service call rate. That means the manufacturers and homeowners alike had to pay for service calls that could have been avoided had the installation been performed correctly.
But initial installation is only part of the need. An installer that does a sub-standard installation can cause damage to more than just the appliance.
Damage to a customer's home due to improper installation increases significantly and dramatically if the install is performed by someone other than a trained, certified installer. Homeowner's insurance claims for these damages have risen sharply in the recent years, due to the appliances becoming more advanced and therefore more particular in their installation requirements. With the introduction of European models and domestic manufacturers developing units that follow the designs of European models, installations have become more involved, requiring not only more training, but an installer has to have more experience on these units than any other. |
 | Training
It is obvious that training is necessary for appliance installation. However most training consists of putting an individual on the job, and hoping for the best. As you can imagine, this puts the product, home, homeowner, and everyone else involved at extreme risk. A dishwasher that is not installed correctly can flood a kitchen, damaging not only the floor, but whatever is beneath it (remember the finished basement you paid so much to have finished?)
But training for initial installation is only part of he equation. If an install is not performed properly, there is the possibility that damage could happen later. A slow leak, caused by a supply line that has been incorrectly tightened, can leak onto the floor, and/or subfloor, and cause damage that will not be noticed for months, if not years. If a drain hose clamp is not installed correctly, there can be a leak, but only when the dishwasher is draining or pumping the water out. An intermitten leak is hard to notice, and even harder to detect. Yet this type of leak can not only cause water damage, but mold infiltration as well.
The electrical connections on a dishwasher are either hardwired, wired direct, or it plugs into a receptacle. In all cases, the installer must be able to connect the wires from the house, or from the cord. Any connections not done properly can cause anything from a unit that gounds out, tripping the circuit breaker, to a unit that catches on fire. Neither of which are very desirable to the homeowner.
Remember, all of these tasks, both plumbing and electrical, must also be done according to local building codes.
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 | Fit and Function
Plumbing and electrical connections aside, a dishwasher will not work properly if it will not fit in the hole! All manufacturers make their products to fit into standard size opening, but most homes don't have a standard size opening.
If you have installed a hardwood or tile floor after the kitchen has been completed, chances are the height of the dishwasher opening has been reduced, maybe even below standard size. While this type of floor installation is acceptable, this may present a problem when it's time to replace the dishwasher. Getting the old dishwasher out can be as much of a challenge as getting the new one in.
Another fit issue: tile counter tops. If you changed your counter tops to a tile top with bull nose edging, this may reduce the size of the opening as well. Bull nose tile generally hang down lower than the old counter tops did, hanging down into the dishwasher opening.The last thing you want is a simple dishwasher replacement turning into a remodeling project, with the removal of floor to get the new unit in, or replacing counter tops because they were damaged trying to get the old one out.
Some units will fit in openings that are smaller than standard, some units wouldn't fit with a shoehorn and a can of axle grease. This knowledge only comes from experience. Exposure to as many of these situations as possible is highly advantageous to knowing what will and won't work BEFORE any damage occurs.
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 | Integrity
An installer that is honest about his or her abilities will also be honest about any mistakes they may have made. An installer that is experienced can let you know in advance about any potential challenges, and/or issues that may result in extra charges. As a home owner, it's nice to know that there won't be any "surprises" and any issues that may unexpectedly arise will be handled with professionalism and honesty.
At PAAIT, we address all of the characteristics of a perfect installation: knowledge, experience, and integrity.
For more information, click here, or visit us at www.PAAIT.org.
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