Installing a New Dishwasher

Unless washing every utensil and plate by hand is your idea of a fun way to spend a busy evening, a dishwasher is one appliance that can dramatically improve your quality of life. Whether you’re upgrading an outdated kitchen or building a new home from the ground up, a dishwasher is something that most homeowners wouldn’t dream of excluding from their plan. Unless you’re well-versed in the installation and selection process, though, you may want to give a second thought to attempting a self-installed dishwasher project.

Replacing an older dishwasher with a new, upgraded model is a relatively simple process, though it’s still not one that you should attempt unless you have a strong working knowledge of both plumbing and electrical work. Because plumbing mistakes can be costly and electrical mistakes can be deadly, you shouldn’t dive headlong into a dishwasher installation with only a manual to guide your efforts. When you’re installing a new dishwasher that’s larger than the existing space or creating a space where one did not previously exist, the task can be come a bit more complicated and will also require a bit of cabinetry or construction know-how.

Since remodeling a kitchen or completely building a new one will require the services of an experienced plumbing professional, it’s wise to simply relegate the installation of your new dishwasher to a licensed kitchen plumbing repair expert. When you leave the installation to someone with the appropriate level of training and experience, you’re preserving the integrity of your new appliance and ensuring that it will operate flawlessly. Consult with a plumbing professional in your area to discuss your dishwasher options, and to formulate an installation plan that works for your budget and household.

Posted on behalf of Kiddco Plumbing

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Why Install a Pot Filler Faucet in Your Kitchen?

One can venture a guess that many of us reading about this have not, yet, heard about pot filler faucets. Pot filler faucets are one of the crazes in kitchens today, whether new or remodeled. An avid cook who loves to entertain at home may consider it a wonderful convenience, whereas one who rarely cooks will think it an excessive, unnecessary, expense.

So, what is a pot filler faucet? It is a faucet mounted on the wall directly above the stove that swings out on a long, jointed, arm. Instead of lugging a heavy pot of water from the sink to the stove, pots can be filled with water right on the stove. When the faucet is not in use, it folds neatly back against the wall above the stove, out of the way but ready when needed. Your local kitchen plumbing professional can easily install your pot filler with one half-inch cold water supply line. Installing the faucet in the correct location can be the most difficult part of the installation. Be sure to consider the height of your cooktop, as well as the height of your tallest pot, when pinpointing where to put the faucet.

There is, however, a down side to consider before purchasing your pot filler. The large heavy pot that was filled with water at the cooktop, still needs to be carried back to the sink in order to empty it. Given its size and location, the faucet could be bumped, turning on the water where there is no drain to catch it. Bringing the additional plumbing line to the location will require a plumbing professional for installation. Accumulating grease from the cooktop could also make cleaning the faucet difficult.

Fixing A Kitchen Sink Sprayer

Kitchen sink sprayers are useful tools but they also tend to have more issues than other components of the sink and are one of the most common kitchen repairs. Sink sprayers easily get clogged, they can leak in several places and even stop working all together. Luckily, they are fairly easy to fix if they start to have any problems.   

One easy maintenance step to keeping sprayers working well is to clean the aerator on the nozzle itself to make sure deposits do not clog the small holes. Using a toothbrush with vinegar and water usually will do the trick.  

Leaky Sprayers

Sprayers can leak from a couple of places: the base of the sprayer, the hose leading to the sprayer or from the nozzle itself. Most leaks are due to washers needing to be replaced or a crack in a hose. 

  • Leaking from the base of the sprayer. This usually means the washer needs to be replaced.
  • Leaking at the end of the hose. The coupling that holds the hose to the faucet may simply need to be tightened.
  • Hose leaks. If there is a drip or leak coming from the hose, it most likely has a crack and needs to be replaced.

 Non-Working Sprayers

If water is not coming out of the sprayer or just cold or hot water, water pulsates or water continues to come out even when not being used, there may be a problem with the diverter valve in the spray head. This valve releases water when you press the spray head handle and can get clogged or stuck. Often cleaning the diverter component can fix the problem; other times it must be replaced. If cleaning the sprayer does not solve the problem, call your local plumber for kitchen repairs to sink sprayers or kitchen faucets .