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Plumbing in kitchen appliances

Cost: Difficulty:

Preparation

Begin by finding out how to run the waste outlet - which often means making a hole in the wall. It is best to do this using a club hammer and cold chisel. Make sure all materials are available before starting on the job and check the possible variations that may apply to the individual cases (in the method).

Plumbing in a dishwasher

Measure the run on the inside of the hole before cutting a suitable length of the 38mm waste pipe. Push this through the hole. Next, make up the outside pipe in order to ensure the fitting is correct. Solvent weld the connections, it may be worth installing an inspection elbow at this point in case of blockages. If the run leads into a gully drain then the pipe must be fitted so that the end is beneath the level of the water. When the outside waste run has been completed, some of the covering grid will have to be cut away (using a hacksaw), in order to neatly fit around the pipe.

Inside continue the run close to the wall to keep it neat using standard waste pipe fittings. Take the trap and stand-pipe and mark the bracket positions on the wall before drilling and plugging it. You will then need to fix the stand-pipe in position ensuring that it is secure and screwing tight the trap. The cold water supply will need to be linked. This can be done by using the 15mm pipe via a tee cut into the domestic cold supply. To the end, attach a running tap. Then using pipe brackets secure the supply pipe firmly to the wall.

For the finishing touches:

*Connecting up the machine: The inlet hose has a female screwed connector complete with a washer. With the washer in place, screw up the connector to the tap on the inlet pipe. Finally place the outlet hose from the machine in the top of the stand-pipe - without making the connection airtight.

For any dishwasher troubles see Dishwasher troubleshooting.

Plumbing in a washing machine

The technique for a washing machine is much the same as that of the dishwasher. Below shows a comprehensive diagram of the various parts and a guide as to how the plumbing should proceed. See Installing a washing machine for a more detailed guide.

DIAGRAM

1 & 2 Most machines run off separate 15mm pipes of hot and cold water supplies.
3 These are the tees inserted in the pipe and running to the sink itself.
4 The stop valves, which should also be inserted into the pipes so that the machine can be isolated for repairs.
5 Female / male connectors joining the copper pipes to the machine’s rubber inlet hoses.
6 The rubber inlet hoses.
7 Used water is fed into this rubber drain hose - which should be loosely inserted into the stand-pipe.
8 The stand-pipe.
9 The stand-pipe in turn connects to a 75mm (3in) trap showm here.
10 From here, waste water is discharged in the gully outside below the grille as illustrated in the diagram.

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