Replacing Dishwasher, No water shutoff
 

Hi, my wife and I just purchased a 1960's ranch home and we are going to replace the dishwasher. The water supply for the dishwasher is run straight off of the gas hot water heater and there is not a shutoff valve between the two. My plan to disconnect the water line is the following:

1. shut off the cold water inlet valve to the hotwater heater
2. turn off the hot water heater
3. Run all of the hot water facuets to empty the HWH
4. disconnect dishwasher water supply line, catch any remaining water in the pipe
5. install pipe plug on dishwasher water line until new dishwasher comes
6. turn the water and HWH back on hope it doesnt leak :)

Is this the best way to go about this removal of the dishwasher? I am hoping to have minimal water issues. I have to get the old dishwasher out and ready for removal before the new dishwasher comes so Sears will take it with them.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Charlie

While you have the water off, can you put a shut-off valve in the line, so you don't ever have to go through this again OR if the dishwasher ever leaks, OR needs replacing again?

That certainly can be done, good thought, thanks. Other than that, safe plan?

#1,2, and 3 arejust fine, but add a shutoff valve at the beginning of the supply line.

okay thanks will do

The water supply for your HWH is most likely 3/4". I'm guessing copper? How is the existing transition made to the dishwasher supply? If it's a saddle valve (needle valve), get rid of it! Install a 3/4" x 1/2" Tee, a 1/2" x 3/8" compression stop, then a stainless steel braided supply line for your dishwasher.

there is a T off of the main HW outlet that goes to a pvc line down the wall. That goes to an elbow where the copper line runs straight to the dishwasher inlet.

I hope you meant CPVC. Regular PVC is not for use with hot water.

PVC is used all the time.

do i have to completely drain the hot water tank, or just shut off the inlet and run some water out to releave the pressure? When I disconnect the dishwasher line, is it going to run like a hose?

No. Just shut off the valve to the cold water inlet, open up a faucet. If possible, open one that's lower than the dishwasher connection.

Just turning the HW supply off is fine, with all valves closed it will be air locked, you may get a bit of water out of the line to the DW, when you disconnect it.

Mark

the dishwasher inlet is probably the lowest hot water line and the home is on a slab. Do I open a faucet and leave it open, or do i just disconnect the dishwasher line, catch that water and due to the air lock, and put my valve/pipe plug on the line until I install the new dishwasher

thanks for the help

You should be fine as long as no one opens a valve when you have to DW disconnected and there isn't a leaky hot water tap.

Being that is the lowest point even if you drained the piping you would still have water in the line.

As long as your system is air/liquid tight you should be fine. Make sure you install a shut off valve to the DW when you have it apart.

Mark

In that case, just open the kitchen faucet (burp it) then shut it back off. It'll air lock as long as there are no leaky valve in the house. You might get a little water. Just work quick. What kind of valve did you end up getting? How do you plan to connect it to the PVC? or CPVC? Whatever it is..