bodymindheartnsoul
New Member
Hi Everyone,
My wonderful Kenmore Elite dishwasher recently caught on fire (apparently this is a class action lawsuit thing) and obviously has to be removed. After researching this, I do not want to replace it with any dishwasher at this time, but reserve the right to change my mind down the road! Also, if we sell the house, I'd like the hookups to be there.
We have determined that we have a not-so-good scenario with the drainpipe and even the supply line. The drainpipe goes directly into the stack via a 12 foot rubber hose, into which a 3" piece of 1/2 copper pipe is clamped, and onto the copper is clamped the actual flexible plastic drain pipe from the dishwasher.
Can this drain pipe simply be capped off in some way (like a 1/2" Sharkbite cap?) so that no sewer gas/etc. will come out of it? Or should it be professionally removed from the stack? I have yet to try to figure out where it is emptying into the stack, as that is behind a wall and not easily accessed, but possibly do-able.
I have learned a lot about air gaps on this site, and we for sure don't have one of those going on. Our house is 1959 and clearly not up to code in this department.
Next, I have no shutoff valves of any kind in this house, and the dishwasher supply line is connected to the main hot water line via a soldered in T-junction that is a mere 1" long on the perpendicular T to the 3/8" soft copper piping going to the dishwasher. Is it possible for me to simply unscrew the 3/8" copper line at the T-junction (it is held on by a silver hex thingy) and put on a 3/8" brass cap with some Teflon tape as an adequate cap-off?
I ask about this because it is absolutely IMPOSSIBLE to cut and solder the pipe in this location as it is DIRECTLY above my entire house electrical panel, which is ancient, and also a mere 1 INCH away from the newly-installed Smart Meter and a bulkhead! AARGH! There is literally no possible soldering clearance, as I guess the original job was done before previous owners finished the basement. I'm lucky I can even access it thanks to the suspended ceiling.
Another option would be to somehow cap off the 3/8" copper piping back up inside the empty hole where the dishwasher will be removed, but I can't seem to find any connector to do that, and obviously it would be better to take it back to the main line if possible to just cap it off there, less water waste, etc.
I am really hoping that the little $2 Watts brass cap + tape will do the job, as I would like it to be possible to re-install a dishwasher for us or someone else in the future, if need be. I realize of course that some other drain mechanism will have to be plumbed in and brought up to code.
As well, I am not sure what the wiring situation is back there, but I imagine I can just install some sort of outlet or covered box.
We intend to just hand wash the dishes for now and use the empty hole to put in some wheel-out shelving unit for more storage, or possibly an additional mini fridge.
I'm trying to do the job myself, being the resident handywoman, but I do realize that maybe some of this might require the help of a pro! Any advice you guys have would be greatly appreciated. I like to save money where I can so that I can use it for the pros where I need help!
I could provide photos if need be, if I can figure out how to get them on here!
My wonderful Kenmore Elite dishwasher recently caught on fire (apparently this is a class action lawsuit thing) and obviously has to be removed. After researching this, I do not want to replace it with any dishwasher at this time, but reserve the right to change my mind down the road! Also, if we sell the house, I'd like the hookups to be there.
We have determined that we have a not-so-good scenario with the drainpipe and even the supply line. The drainpipe goes directly into the stack via a 12 foot rubber hose, into which a 3" piece of 1/2 copper pipe is clamped, and onto the copper is clamped the actual flexible plastic drain pipe from the dishwasher.
Can this drain pipe simply be capped off in some way (like a 1/2" Sharkbite cap?) so that no sewer gas/etc. will come out of it? Or should it be professionally removed from the stack? I have yet to try to figure out where it is emptying into the stack, as that is behind a wall and not easily accessed, but possibly do-able.
I have learned a lot about air gaps on this site, and we for sure don't have one of those going on. Our house is 1959 and clearly not up to code in this department.
Next, I have no shutoff valves of any kind in this house, and the dishwasher supply line is connected to the main hot water line via a soldered in T-junction that is a mere 1" long on the perpendicular T to the 3/8" soft copper piping going to the dishwasher. Is it possible for me to simply unscrew the 3/8" copper line at the T-junction (it is held on by a silver hex thingy) and put on a 3/8" brass cap with some Teflon tape as an adequate cap-off?
I ask about this because it is absolutely IMPOSSIBLE to cut and solder the pipe in this location as it is DIRECTLY above my entire house electrical panel, which is ancient, and also a mere 1 INCH away from the newly-installed Smart Meter and a bulkhead! AARGH! There is literally no possible soldering clearance, as I guess the original job was done before previous owners finished the basement. I'm lucky I can even access it thanks to the suspended ceiling.
Another option would be to somehow cap off the 3/8" copper piping back up inside the empty hole where the dishwasher will be removed, but I can't seem to find any connector to do that, and obviously it would be better to take it back to the main line if possible to just cap it off there, less water waste, etc.
I am really hoping that the little $2 Watts brass cap + tape will do the job, as I would like it to be possible to re-install a dishwasher for us or someone else in the future, if need be. I realize of course that some other drain mechanism will have to be plumbed in and brought up to code.
As well, I am not sure what the wiring situation is back there, but I imagine I can just install some sort of outlet or covered box.
We intend to just hand wash the dishes for now and use the empty hole to put in some wheel-out shelving unit for more storage, or possibly an additional mini fridge.
I'm trying to do the job myself, being the resident handywoman, but I do realize that maybe some of this might require the help of a pro! Any advice you guys have would be greatly appreciated. I like to save money where I can so that I can use it for the pros where I need help!
I could provide photos if need be, if I can figure out how to get them on here!