A dishwasher is one of the lighter kitchen appliances, so the carry is rarely the problem. Nearly all of the work is in the opening it lives in: it’s screwed to the counter or the cabinets beside it and framed tightly on both sides, with water and power running in behind it.
Before you start
Run a short drain cycle. If the dishwasher still works, run a rinse or drain cycle and cancel it once it starts pumping out. It empties most of the water that sits in the base.
Turn off the water. The supply valve is usually under the kitchen sink. A small quarter turn valve or a multi-way valve feeds the dishwasher line.
Every appliance needs to be disconnected before pickup, including electrical, gas, and plumbing connections. For a dishwasher that means the water supply shut off and unhooked, the drain hose free of the sink drain or disposal, and the power off. Dishwashers are either plugged in under the sink or wired into a junction box; a wired unit is a job for an electrician.
Freeing it from the cabinet
- Open the door and look along the top edge of the tub for two small brackets screwed up into the underside of the counter, or into the cabinet sides. Remove those screws.
- Take off the kick plate at the bottom front. It usually clips or screws on.
- Wind the front feet down a few turns so the dishwasher drops slightly and clears the underside of the counter.
- Slide it forward slowly, guiding the water line and drain hose so they come through the cabinet hole without snagging.
Put a towel and a shallow baking tray under the front before sliding it out. The water line and the drain hose both hold a cup or two of water that will find the floor otherwise.
Once it’s out
Leave the dishwasher standing on the floor in front of the opening, ready to be lifted. Wipe up any water and take out the racks if they are loose. Mention in the booking if the dishwasher is in a kitchen up a flight of stairs.
Dishwasher checklist
- Drain cycle run
- Water valve under the sink turned off
- Water line and drain hose unhooked
- Power off, wired units handled by an electrician
- Mounting screws out, kick plate off
- Unit slid out and standing on the floor
A dishwasher on its own starts at $95. During a kitchen remodel it usually goes with the stove and the rest, adding just $40 to the same pickup.
