There are several steps to removing and installing a fully integrated dishwasher:

1. Make sure that the type of appliance you are purchasing is the same dimension as that you are removing!
2. Check to see if the old dishwasher uses hot and cold water feeds as most ‘A’ Rated appliances use only a cold water feed. You may require a Y-adapter if one is not included with the new appliance.
3. If the kitchen has a plinth beneath the cabinets remove it at this stage.
4. You may need to cap off the old hot water feed as the washing machine taps are sometimes seized from lack of use and will leak continually after turned to the off position. Prepare in advance.
5. Make sure that the flexible waste tube, water pipe and plug can all be removed easily. Sometimes you’ll find that the power cable for example has been pushed through a small hole and wired up on the other side of a cabinet. If you cut the plug off a new appliance to push it back through a tiny hole the warranty may be void.
6. BEFORE YOU DISCONNECT ANY WATER HOSES – make sure you know where the main water stop cock is for your home and test it to make sure you can turn the water off in the event an unplanned event occurs such as the valve breaks or won’t fully stop the water flow. IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME! Make sure that the appliance is switched off and unplugged. Also, make sure you have some absorbent rags and a pan to catch the water that WILL be left in the hoses when you disconnect. Also, if the machine valve won’t fully stop the water the pan can be used to save damage to your units.
7. Disconnect the drain hose first as there is usually no issues with this part of the job. Drain excess water into your pan.
8. Close the cold (and hot) water machine valve located where the dishwasher hose is connected under your sink. Very slowly loosen the hot and cold water hoses. There will be a bit of water left in the hose so expect some water to flow out. If however when you start to loosen the hose there is a lot of water that is seemingly under pressure then the valve may be faulty. You should make sure the main stop tap to the house is off and you can also open the sink taps to try and alleviate the extra pressure. if the water doesn’t slow down then re-tighten the connection and call a plumber as the valve may be faulty.
9. If you have the hose removed with no leaks then you can start removing the dishwasher unit.
10. The first step is to open the door and remove the wooden door panel. There are usually two or four screws which go through the dishwasher door and extend into the wooden cupboard door. Also, there is almost always some form of jig that holds the door into position and aids in taking the pressure off the screws.
11. With the door removed you will need to locate and remove the two screws that hold the unit to the counter top. These screws will be located in the top of the door frame or just under the lip of the counter top. There may also be two screws that extend through the side of the dishwasher. These screws will also be located in the dishwasher door frame and hidden under plastic or rubber caps.
12. With the screws removed the legs will need to be screwed back up into the dishwasher which in turns lowers the unit. Some units have four legs which need to be screwed up (up clockwise / down counter-clockwise) and some have two legs in the front which are screwed up manually and the back legs are moved by using either a special tool or a screwdriver to a slot on the bottom front of the unit.
13. When the unit has been lowered enough to pull it out put an old piece of carpet (carpet side down) or thick drop cloth onto the floor to drag the unit out onto so that the legs don’t scratch the floor.
14. With the unit almost out start to untangle and remove the hoses from the cabinets and fully remove the dishwasher.
15. Get the dishwasher out of your way so that you can freely install the new unit.

Next time we’ll discuss installing a built in dishwasher.

Related posts:

1. Fully Integrated Dishwasher Install
2. Re-worked Kitchen For New Dishwasher
3. Built in electric cooker and hob install