[DonPro]

We have a granite counter without a hole to receive the air gap for our dishwasher. I set it up underneath the counter top when we bought the house 4 years ago, propped it upright, and it has worked fine since then. Until a few days ago, when it started discharging a lot of water.

I disassembled and thoroughly cleaned out the drain tube (to the garbage disposal) and the port on the garbage disposal, plus all the other parts, then reassembled. It doesn't leak nearly as much, but still leaks. especially at the end of the drain cycle (when there's a kind of a "spurt"). I can't put the air gap device above the counter top, like you normally would, because the countertop is granite and I can't drill an opening for it. I'm curious what caused it to suddenly stop working, and what to do about it.

Does anyone know another solution, short of eliminating the air gap altogether? That's not supposed to be safe to do, but maybe if I create U-shaped trap? Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated! Thanks...

 

[TheEplumber]

My state, and several others allow you to loop the discharge hose up high under the counter top and remove the airgap.
If you don't want to do that, I suggest a new air gap fitting to replace the old one. (higher a guy to drill the granite and mount it top side)

 

[DonPro]

My state, and several others allow you to loop the discharge hose up high under the counter top and remove the airgap.
If you don't want to do that, I suggest a new air gap fitting to replace the old one. (higher a guy to drill the granite and mount it top side)

Thanks SO much. I assumed it was required by code, though years ago (in another state) I did away with the air gap and went directly into the disposal. Our house was a new-build, so I assumed it was required. But a little research on the web showed that many people in Washington state have the disposal discharge piped directly into the disposal. Someone said that is why the inlet on the disposal is much higher than the drain, that in itself acts as an air gap.
:thumbsup:
Anyway, I'll take your advice. Thanks again, so much!

-Don

 

[SHEPLMBR]

Yeah just make sure you loop it high. Those air gaps are good for only one thing...problems

 

[AllanJ]

It should never be necessary to drill a hole in the countertop to install an air gap fitting.

Meanwhile, if you have a drain riser under the counter to receive the dishwasher drain hose, the hose end must fit loosely.

Running the dishwasher drain hose to a disposer port (intended to receive such a hose) is a preferred method nowadays. The interior of the disposer open to the sink above satisfies the need for the loose fit.

To achieve the high loop, fasten the drain hose against the underside of the countertop about two feet before it connects to the disposer port.

 

[DonPro]

... Running the dishwasher drain hose to a disposer port ... is a preferred method nowadays. The interior of the disposer open to the sink above satisfies the need for the loose fit. To achieve the high loop, fasten the drain hose against the underside of the countertop about two feet before it connects to the disposer port.

Great thanks for more good advice, Allan. And thanks to everyone who offered such good advice here. Tip o' me hat to you all. :vs_cool:

 

[BayouRunner]

Also a lot of the new dishwashers have the high drain loop already built in. So you don't have to make a second loop. You could find out pretty easy by looking at an exploded view of your dishwasher on one of the many parts stores that provide them. A second loop won't hurt anything though