Installing Replacement Dishwasher Yourself, and Freestanding vs Built-in

kiitos on 21/12/2019 - 00:02

Our 12 year old Bosch dishwasher has been playing up for a while, and now the "check water" light has come on and I haven't been able to fix it. There's a quote for a repair of around $200 minimum and so my wife is saying we should buy a new one.

It seems I could buy one from say Appliances Online, get it delivered next day and install it myself or pay extra for them to do it. I don't think I can stuff it up too much, just feed through the power cord, water inlet hose and drainage hose and make sure the hoses are tight enough. (The plumber that did our kitchen didn't tighten the inlet hose properly and I noticed water coming out from under the dishwasher.)

One thing I'm unsure about is that some dishwashers seem to require/recommend having the drainage hose loop up high and then to the drain, apparently to prevent siphoning/backflow, but others don't. My current dishwasher's drainage hose only goes as high as halfway up the cabinet due to shelving (see photos). Is this sufficient? Or could this have contributed to a blockage somewhere?

https://imgur.com/a/ifivvUf

Also, the current dishwasher is a built-in, but I see that freestanding dishwashers are often cheaper than their built-in counterparts. Why is that? And what to look out for if trying to install a freestanding dishwasher in a built-in cavity? It looks like it's work OK provided the dishwasher is high enough to not leave a big gap?

Home & Garden Dishwasher

Comments

  • Stewardo on 21/12/2019 - 00:23
    +1

    remove filter and put a towel in sump hole to remove all water. Remove small plastic drain piece cover. reach in and try to twist small wheel so it spins, checking for chicken Bones and broken glass, replace plastic cover correctly. Then replace filters and run rinse cycle.
    Also check your plumbing under your sink isn’t full of gunk by unscrewing trap.

    • Nugs on 21/12/2019 - 06:29

      I would disconnect power first step
      .

    • kiitos on 21/12/2019 - 07:40

      Thanks for that, I've done all that, everything seems ok, little paddle wheel spins ok, feels like it's connected to a magnet or something like that? If there's a blockage it would seem to be after that wheel but I can't get any further along to check.

  • Diji1 on 21/12/2019 - 00:33
    -2

    There's a quote for a repair of around $200 minimum and so my wife is saying we should buy a new one.

    If the goal is saving money that makes no sense.

    • kiitos on 21/12/2019 - 07:50

      Agreed, the rationale is that it has been playing up for a while, it would sometimes start immediately, sometimes not start for a minute, sometimes for ten minutes, unpredictable. She also says it doesn't wash as well as it used to, but I suspect it's more due to poor stacking lately by our kids (plates covering other plates, same cutlery bunched together etc).

      I guess the unknown for us if we fix it is if the current problem is a symptom of something else more expensive, or if the delayed start problem is going to get worse/stop starting, and the money spent fixing it could have gone to a new one with up to date features.

  • [Deactivated] on 21/12/2019 - 07:55

    Built in white goods cost more because they have to be engineered to fit tight against the cavity hence ventilation is the first change.

    Second is the hinge. Many free standing dishwashers hinge at the lowest point, some built ins have a double hinge as the door does not extend to the ground to allow a continuos kicker (or the appearance of).

    I'd still go built in as I can have the kicker essentially continuous. Cleaner and looks better.

  • Melb69 on 21/12/2019 - 07:57

    On a side note the condition of warranty may be an issue down the track if a claim is required if the install isn't done by a qualified plumber. I know some appliance do specifically say in the instructions about who is to install it. I also think the thought of just forking out a new one is a better idea than trying to fix it. A new one will be more water efficient and also probably use less energy. 12 years is a good run for the Bosh. I would also consider a Asko, but check out product reviews on the potential new one you may get.

    • [Deactivated] on 21/12/2019 - 09:47

      I know some appliance do specifically say in the instructions about who is to install it.

      They can say what they like. ACL will quash that quick smart.

  • dasher86 on 21/12/2019 - 08:58
    +1

    New machines tend to have an aquastop. You may need to drill a bigger hole.

    • kiitos on 25/12/2019 - 19:15

      Ah, thanks for that, that's good to know.

  • Euphemistic on 26/12/2019 - 06:32

    Free standing dishwasher can be installed in a cavity. They tend to have a panel on top that looks like a bench as opposed to exposed metal framing. They will also probably be weighted differently to prevent tipping when opened.

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