The appliance store wanted $150 for dishwasher installation. The delivery guy said “most people just pay it.” I almost did. Then I watched a 12-minute video and realized the hardest part was lifting the dishwasher — not the plumbing.

You need: a screwdriver, adjustable wrench, and channel-lock pliers. Possibly a Teflon tape roll. That is it.

Before You Buy: The Check

Open your existing dishwasher door and look for the model label — usually on the side of the door or the tub rim. Measure width (almost always 24 inches), height, and depth. Standard dishwashers fit standard openings, but confirm before you haul a 90-pound appliance home.

Look under the sink. You need an existing dedicated dishwasher electrical circuit (usually a switch above the counter or a cord under the sink) and a hot water shutoff valve with a connection for the dishwasher supply line. These are almost always present if there was a dishwasher there before.

The Removal

1. Turn off the breaker. Do not just turn off the switch — kill the breaker. Confirm with a non-contact voltage tester.
2. Turn off the hot water valve under the sink.
3. Remove the lower access panel — two screws at the bottom front.
4. Disconnect the drain hose, water supply line, and electrical connection. Take a photo of the wiring first — black to black, white to white, green to ground.
5. Unscrew the mounting brackets from under the countertop.
6. Lower the leveling feet with a wrench and slide the old unit out.

The Installation

Installation is basically removal in reverse with one addition: Teflon tape on the water connection threads. Three wraps clockwise on the elbow fitting that connects the supply line to the dishwasher. This prevents the one drip that makes you pull everything back out.

Before pushing the unit all the way in, test the water connection. Turn the water on briefly with the dishwasher pulled out just enough to reach the connection. One drip now is a five-second fix. A drip after it is installed is a 20-minute repull.

Level the dishwasher using the adjustable feet. The door should sit flush with the cabinets when closed. An unlevel dishwasher can leak because water pools in one corner instead of draining.

Level the dishwasher — use the adjustable feet. An unlevel dishwasher leaks because water pools instead of draining.

I installed mine in about 90 minutes. The $150 installation fee would have paid for someone to work for 10 minutes per dollar. Unless your back cannot handle the lifting, this is worth doing.