Dishwasher Warranty Void If Laying Down On Its Side While Still In the Box!

I just brought a new dishwasher home from Lowes - still in the box. On the side of the Frigidaire box it says:

"Do not lay unit on side or front. Unit must be layed on back or kept upright. Failure to comply may result in voiding of warranty."

I had the unit in my van on its side on the way home.

Does anyone know for sure what damage this can do? I can't find anything on the web.

 

I can't imagine why that would void the warranty. The only things I can think of are these:

- The side drain loop could be damaged
- The front panel could be damaged
- Residual test water in the unit could flow up into the electronic control area

These are all unlikely. I would install it, and if it works you're fine.

If something does malfunction down the road, after some use, I would claim warranty service regardless of how it was handled.

 

And how would they know anyway? It could have been put on its side anywhere in the supply chain. Most people haven't seen how the freight teams at the big box stores operate, I have.

 

I always thought those warning labels on the box pertained mainly to shipping/storage and how the boxes could be stacked. Unless you see damage when you open it up - I wouldn't give it another thought.

 

I even tore the label off a mattress one time. You know, the one that says "under penalty of law". I was in a raucous mood, and it felt like it needed doing Tony, your secret is safe with us. Carry on brother.

 

GUYS!! OMG. I'm NOT worried that I'll get caught for anything. I'm worried that I may have damaged something. What can it be?

For example, I started to see labels on water heaters to not lay the heater on its side and the reason is: if you do, you may break the rod inside which is needed. I wouldn't lay a water heater on its side so I don't BREAK it, not so I don't get caught doing something a label tells me not to do!

If the dishwasher lasts 15 years but laying it on its side caused a malfunction 3 years into it (past the warranty), then I'd like to know what it is NOW ...before I install it.

I found this posting on a website:
"On my unit, both the pump to sump and pump to heater gaskets were damaged and leaking. This was probably due to the unit being laid on it’s side or upside down during shipping/installation (seven years ago) and one or both of the rubber motor suspenders became disconnected from their connecting posts on the base. This left the motor weight being either partly or entirely supported by the gaskets and likely led to their premature failure."

Can that be it? I have no idea what parts they're referring to, sorry to say. Could the float dislodge? Could it be something else that dislodges?

Thank you.

 

Key word is "probably". WAG, IMO. Unless it was improperly handled, banged around in shipping, etc., there is relatively little damage that could occur by laying it flat.

 

There are sometimes components that are hung..... like the pump on dishwashers. Laying the unit on its back won't hurt the component but dropping it on its back can.

You'll know right away if there is a problem. It is extremely rare for the problem to show up years from the installation date.

 

Plus, if there is a potential problem "they" certainly know about it and problems like that are why you see shipping straps or other methods of securing at risk parts, all of which have to be removed before use. Print the warning so you can blame the customer or install a few plastic ty wraps that cost a nickle. They decided the printing was less expensive.

Bud