Yes, Done’s plumbers handle dishwasher installation — including connecting the water supply, drain line, and ensuring the appliance is properly set up to function correctly. While dishwashers are often thought of as a simple swap, a proper installation involves plumbing connections that need to be done right to prevent leaks, drain problems, and water damage to your cabinets and flooring.

What Dishwasher Installation Actually Involves

A dishwasher connects to three systems in your kitchen: the hot water supply line (typically tapped from under the sink), the drain line (which routes to your sink drain or garbage disposal), and an electrical circuit. Done handles the plumbing side of the installation — supply connection, drain routing, and making sure the connections are secure and leak-free. If the electrical connection also needs attention, our licensed electricians can handle that as part of the same visit.

Proper drain routing matters more than most homeowners realize. The drain line needs a high loop or an air gap fitting to prevent backflow from the sink drain into the dishwasher — a code requirement in Colorado and a practical necessity to keep dirty water out of a clean appliance. Done makes sure this is done correctly every time.

Replacing an Existing Dishwasher vs. New Installation

Replacing an existing dishwasher is typically the more straightforward job — the supply, drain, and electrical connections are already in place, and it’s mostly a matter of disconnecting the old unit, sliding it out, and connecting the new one. Done will also haul away the old dishwasher, so you’re not left dealing with disposal.

A new dishwasher installation in a space that didn’t previously have one is a bigger project. It may require running a new hot water supply line, adding a drain connection to the existing sink plumbing, and having an electrician add a dedicated circuit. Done can assess what’s needed and give you an accurate estimate upfront.

Common Problems With Improper Dishwasher Installations

  • Leaking supply connections that slowly soak cabinet bases and subfloor
  • Improperly routed drain lines that cause standing water or odors
  • Missing high loop or air gap, allowing sink backflow into the dishwasher
  • Supply line connections made with incompatible fittings that fail prematurely
  • Units not level, causing door seal problems and poor wash performance

Colorado’s hard water also plays a role over time — mineral deposits can build up in supply fittings and the dishwasher’s internal components. Starting with a correctly installed unit with quality supply line connections gives it the best chance of a long, trouble-free service life.

What to Have Ready Before Your Appointment

If you’re supplying your own dishwasher, have it on site before the appointment so the technician can confirm the dimensions fit the existing opening and that the connection points match up. If the existing supply stop valve under the sink is old, corroded, or hasn’t been operated in years, Done may recommend replacing it at the same time — a stuck or failing stop valve is a liability during any plumbing work nearby.

Bundling with Other Kitchen Plumbing Work

Dishwasher installation is often a natural companion to other kitchen plumbing work — faucet replacement, garbage disposal installation, or under-sink upgrades. If your kitchen is due for any of these updates, combining them into one visit is more efficient and can reduce overall service costs.

What Done Does After the Installation

Done doesn’t just connect the supply line and leave. After completing the installation, we run the dishwasher through a full cycle and verify that the water supply connection holds under operating pressure, the drain line clears completely with no standing water remaining in the tub, and there’s no evidence of moisture under the unit or inside the cabinet. You know the installation is right before the technician leaves — not the next morning when you open the cabinet and find a wet floor.

Done has been serving Denver-area homeowners since 1999, and kitchen plumbing is one of our core services. Learn more about what we do on our kitchen and bath plumbing page, or visit our full plumbing services overview — then schedule your dishwasher installation online or by phone.