portable dishwasher - should I exchange, or modify hoses?

____My bottom-line question is, “Should I return the product I just bought (because it’s the wrong one) or try to modify its hoses?” Here is the story:
____Recently my portable dishwasher failed. It was a Whirlpool, DP940PWKM, bought in 2001. This week I got a similar new Whirlpool, WDP350PAAW, from Lowes. The old WPool-940 had two hoses: inlet hose with a metal threaded female end that screwed onto the threaded male end of a hot water pipe; and an outlet hose that was simple (with no threaded end) that we placed into a larger external drain pipe. The new WPool-350 arrived yesterday, and (surprise!) its hoses are different: the inlet hose ends with a plastic adapter (which the outlet hose also goes into) that fits onto a faucet, but cannot screw onto a pipe.
____the problem: With the new-350, I can’t screw its inlet hose onto the hot water pipe.
____hose-questions: I wasn’t there when the old-940 was installed, but late yesterday I found its manual, and the hose-photos look like those on the new-350. Does this mean that the hoses on the old-940 were replaced, so its inlet hose could be attached to the pipe? Would the new-350 also have to be changed in this way? Or is there an easier way to connect it to the pipe? (the hoses disappear into the solid-frame back; they don’t seem accessible to see, fix, or replace)
____purchase-question: The new-350’s specs (from Lowes website) say “Convertible to Built-In Dishwasher - No” so does this mean “no, it cannot be attached to a pipe”? (i.e., is “attaching to a pipe” what “built-in” means for a hose?) By contrast, the specs for another model from Lowes, GE’s GSC3500DWW, say “Convertible to Built-In Dishwasher (Yes)” and “Fill Hose Included (No, sold separately)” and “Drain Hose Included (Yes)”. Does this mean that the GE would attach to the pipe, with a “separately sold” threaded-end inlet hose? So…
____back to my main question: is the GE what I should have bought? Should I return the Whirlpool, or is there a cheap-and-easy way to connect it to the pipe?

 

Welcome to the forums! Where do you store this when not in use? If under a cabinet, why not get a regular dishwasher, run drain and supply line, and electrical to it, and call it a day. No more pulling it out, hooking it up (if you could), waiting with it sitting in the middle of the kitchen, then stowing it back. Lot easier to bite the bullet and put in the plumbing/eletrical.

 

I looked at the manual for the new dishwasher. The water supply and drain lines are crimped onto the faucet adapter.
All portable dishwashers are designed to hook up to the faucet, replacing the existing aerator.
You need to be pretty handy to change those fittings to fit a hard-pipe situation, and I bet you it would void the warranty.

Why not do what Chandler suggests? Post a picture of your sink area, under sink plumbing, and a wide shot of where you think a built-in dishwasher might fit. Your portable DW is 37" high, the built-in is much lower than that.

 

____Thanks for your quick, helpful replies, chandler and handyone. You offer wise advice in general, but a standard built-in doesn’t seem practical because…
____In this kitchen, along an 89” wall (with cabinets above) are a 36” refrigerator, 27” portable washing machine (36” high plus a 7” panel at the back), and the 24” portable dishwasher (37” high). On the right side for the two washers, there is a wooden shelf above them, and at convenient waist level are electricity (3-prong grounded) and water (hot, cold) with a y-splitter to connect both washers with the hot water. Elsewhere, the small kitchen doesn’t have enough space to use some for a built-in dishwasher. And the right-side space along the 89” wall would then be empty.
____I made a mistake by not noticing clues -- especially “Convertible to Built-In Dishwasher (No)” for the new-WPool, but also others -- and not doing the research needed to learn that my assumption (hoses on old-WPool and new-WPool would be the same) was wrong. This morning, searching whirlpool.com (which I should have done a week earlier) for the old WPool (DP940PWKM) I found a Parts List and a diagram on page 10 shows the hoses, exactly like on the new-WPool. Obviously the old-WPool in this kitchen had been modified so its inlet hose would screw onto the hot water pipe, and I should not have been surprised by hoses on the new-WPool. In fact, if I had done more product research earlier, I would not have bought it. The GE seems like a better “fit” for this kitchen.

 

If you can find an exploded diagram of the current, the two hoses are connected inside the unit similar to a built in unit. The drain is held on with a clamp ring and the water supply will go to a threaded inlet on the bottom of the unit somewhere. In theory, you should be able to retrofit with some will and determination. However, if you get in and see that everything is hardwired so to speak under the belly, you would be best to return and try another.

I could not find a complete parts picture listing for your unit, otherwise, I would advise with more confidence. Hang tight, others will chime in and some are very good at finding the correct diagrams. I found one, but not a picture of the part itself.

 

Interesting..... I'm looking the unit up now but I found this page at the Depot....
Whirlpool Convertible Portable Tall Tub Dishwasher in White-WDP350PAAW - The Home Depot

Certainly says convertible.

 

Here is the type of hose I hope PJmax finds. You can see on end is a threaded connection and the other would be clamped on for the drain. If confirmed, I think that you can convert as you desire.



Again, this is a random hose, as I couldn't find specifics for your washer.

 

I'm looking at an exploded parts view for your old unit and your new unit. The connections at the back of the dishwasher look identical. You should be able to use your old hoses and connections on the new machine.

Whirlpool offers a conversion kit but it has extra parts you don't need. The part # W10322576
Drain and Fill Hose Assembly W10322576 Repair Clinic

The supply hose is nothing more that a double female fitting type like that which is used for a cloths washer. It's a new drain hose that is a little tricky to find.

 

Cz.... the kit you referenced would probably fit this machine but that combo fitting is used at the faucet and the OP needs two separate lines at the sink end.

 

PJ, you are correct, I was just saying if it is like the picture, then she should be able to remove the ones she has and retrofit with standard hoses.

The supply line is just a standard hose connection and the drain is a simple clamp type. Should be able to easily find and retrofit. I just could not tell from the crappy exploded diagram if hers matched or if hers was all hardwired and cinched under the belly and therefore not removable.

 

Yep.... and they can use the lines from the old machine on the new one.

 

____Wow, you’re very helpful, czizzi and PJmax. Thanks!
____Home Depot “says convertible” and this is encouraging, but… In a review, Chris (who bought one and describes himself as “Pro”) says “this DW is *NOT* convertible. I do not know why they have that in the product description.”
____Yes, I would “be able to use your old hoses and connections on the new machine,” IF I had thought about this before the old one was taken away when the new one was delivered. Sigh. Of course, if I had “thought about it more” I probably would not have bought this product, for my situation.
____Gotta go now, will study your info -- with photos of parts, exploded diagrams, and more! and options that look promising -- later today.