Does Location Affect Dishwasher Installation

Installing any appliance in the kitchen area is something that has to be well thought out and dishwasher installation is no exception. Design of the overall kitchen has to be considered. You also need to look at accessibility issues for those in wheelchairs. Of course overall space is a factor too when installing any appliance.  Finally, you have to install your appliances according to where your plumbing hook-ups are located. You may even decide to install a portable dishwasher.

Work Triangle

When you begin your kitchen appliance design, you must look at what is called the "work triangle" for proper placement of your main appliances. The work triangle is made up of your dishwasher, stove, refrigerator and kitchen sink. These "work stations" are where you will do all of your food preparations. The placement of these three work stations usually forms a triangle so that each area can easily be reached. It is important that your dishwasher be part of the work triangle.

Accessibility

Some kitchens are designed for those in a wheel chair, so placing the dishwasher in the right location is really important. Ideally a dishwasher placed at the open end of a row of cabinets is the best point for wheelchair access. Most cabinets that are for handicap accessible are usually built shorter in height, but dishwashers only come in one standard height to fit the normal cabinet height of 36". The work triangle may be a bit more spaced out for someone in a wheelchair because extra room will be needed to turn and move around.

Space or Design

Dishwasher placement is going to vary greatly according to the layout and and amount of space you have in your kitchen. Three typical kitchen designs are the U-shape, L-shape, or Galley design. Other kitchens may have an island, and sometimes dishwashers are placed there. In a U-shape or L-shape kitchen layout, the dishwasher may be placed on either side and either end. This depends on where the kitchen sink is and how your dishwasher placement relates to the rest of your work triangle. If you have a Galley design kitchen then the dishwasher should be placed on whatever side your plumbing hook-ups are and near the sink.

Plumbing Hook-ups

Dishwashers are always placed as close to the kitchen sink as possible because they have to be hooked up to the under-sink plumbing. Dishwashers usually drain through the sink itself, a drain in the wall, or through the garbage disposer. All of these connection points are located under your kitchen sink cabinet.

Portable Dishwasher Installation

Even if you have no plumbing hook-ups for your dishwasher, you can still purchase a portable dishwasher. This portable machine has wheels that make it easy to place your dishwasher anywhere you need it or have space for it. All you have to do is to have an outlet nearby to plug the power cord into, and place it near enough the sink to hook it up to your faucet aerator.

It is important to think about where your dishwasher needs to be before installing it. This way, down the road, you can prevent any access issues.