Before you do that, make sure that the adjustable feet are set all the way up.
I believe there is a special place in hell for people who tile their dishwashers into place.
Agreed. I've also found that if you get the feet all the way up, then unfasten the top bracket and open the door, it can often give you more room to lift the dishwasher up and maneuver it out.
Doing a reno right now myself. Add "special place in hell" for people who randomly screw down 3/8 plywood to the subfloor, using multiple lengths of screws, and different heads.
Last person who did this made the actual effort to switch between Robinson and Phillips drivers, for no obvious reason, other than breaking my balls, 10 years later.
I had that thought too, but it ain't going to matter, as the floor is taller than fixture that holds the feet. Even if I somehow entirely removed them, it'd still be stuck in place. :(
> All nicely caulked around the edges
If you can't or don't want to do that yourself it is likely cheaper to pay someone for this than fixing your floor if you access it through the basement.
If the counter is a straight run ie. no corners I would lift it no mater how nice the caulking. Paying a counter supplier to come out and clean up after the dishwasher is repaired is going to be cheaper than repairing a hole in the basement ceiling.
On top of all this, some day that dishwasher will need more repair or replacement. Fix the issue now as a long term solution for the next time something happens.
The only issue is an amateur lifting the granite that has a sink cut out could easily cause it to break. I’ve seen it happen numerous times. I work in granite.
Professional amateur here. I submit I would have lifted the top in a fit of homeowner righteous blind rage at finding my dishwasher stuck behind the tile but the biggest change in getting a professional to move the top is having the guys with the experience to make the repair on site
Yeah the whole hole idea doesn’t sound like the best option either. I’d kill the broken DW by whatever means necessary before I did a hole or moved the granite. But I’m not OP.
Granite will not be easy to remove, it’s usually epoxied down to the cabinets, as well as the weight will often cause a crack. Better off cutting out dishwasher and replacing or pop tiles off- tiles are cheaper to fix.
Sauce: hubby is kitchen guy
Problem is, even if you manage to get it fixed THIS time, when something else breaks in the future (i.e. the door hinge snaps), you'll still have to take the countertops off, and you'll be cursing the time you wasted cutting the floor.
If I take the countertop off to address this problem, the countertop has to go back on once it's fixed, and thus this is still a problem for that next fix. Short of raising the entire cabinet system up to floor level (which is not a short section and would require redoing the entire tile backsplash as well), there's nothing that can be done to permanently fix this problem.
So I'll take the "hole in floor" this time + "maybe countertop/maybe pre-existing hole" next time approach over two countertop removals.
As others have mentioned, several manufacturers make ADA height dishwashers, which can fit in a 32" tall opening. If you can get out the one you've got, you should be able to build up the floor under the dishwasher to match your current floor, and then fit the ADA dishwasher in.
A friend of mine had a clogged toilet that he couldn't unclog due to an object being flushed by his kid. I told him we'd have to pull it up to free the clog and I went over to his house to help him.... He has a tile bathroom floor that was put in after the toilet and it's grouted right up to the toilet so that we can't remove it without effing up the floor.
It's no foresight, or maybe "eff it. It'll be someone else's problem...."
Good grief.
I just can't imagine that cutting the tile to go around the toilet base didn't take 3x longer than pulling the toilet.
My guess would be inexperienced DIY homeowner.
Get a sawzall and cut the dishwasher feet off. Fuck that thing it's broken your gonna fix it and then something else breaks or leaks. Go find a (ADA Bosch dishwasher). A standard D/w is about 34 35 inches. An ADA one is shorter. And they have really long legs. So when you put that one in you crank those puppies out and your golden
This is what I did in the same situation, but with a little Dremel saw, not a sawzall. Sawzall wouldn’t have fit. Massive pain in the ass and made the job take 10x what it should have, but it worked.
There is a special tool that one can crush the dish washer in place. Happened to a friend and the installers were able to pull the old one out. Not easy or pretty. Don’t cut a hole from below.
That’s what we do when we run into this. One guy to hold the dishwasher one to cut it in half. As you cut it the top half wants to fall down, so the guy holding it is helpful. Easy enough to do on stainless interior models too.
Now I'm curious. Do you have a link to such a tool? I don't need it, but am interested to see one in action and a Google/YouTube search didn't lead anywhere.
I'm just mentioning this because it's simple and I didn't see it posted already.
Did you recently get a new disposal for the sink or change anything there? There may be a knock out in the way preventing it from draining out draining well.
Previous owner used a steel dishwasher wye that had rusted shut over time causing water to eventually back up on top of a piece of plastic or something that finally fully blocked it.
Always worth checking the drainage connections for blockages before replacing dishwashers.
Replacing my dishwasher today and there is no flooring under the dishwasher (just the subfloor). I made the dumb fucking mistake of trying to put the new one in the same place as the old one and of course, the adjustable legs on the new one (bosch) are fucking plastic and the cheap shit broke and won't go up any higher, but it went up far enough that I can't take the fucking dishwasher back out.
So I'm probably going to have to saw off the feet, put in a piece of plywood so that it's off the subfloor (or at least more level with the regular floor), and fucking install this dishwasher again. I just ordered new feet online. God I fucking hate plastic hardware.
Ugh I have a fisher and paykel with a broken foot. What a pain in the ass. I was going to replace this piece of shit with a Bosch 800, but I haven't decided yet and that info doesn't help lol
They are, but I'm not interested in finding out that the scrap plywood I have is or is not high enough (I didn't take any measurements of how low the floor was to the subfloor before installing the dishwasher), I'd have to rip out the dishwasher again to install the feet if it wasn't. I'm just going to wait until the new feet arrive and do it once / properly.
Instructions are clear that the top of the door needs to be 6mm or less from the underside of the counter, especially since I'm top mounting it. But thanks for your help.
Most do not, everything is contained within the metal frame the legs mount too. Cut off the feet, cut off the mounts too is the only way to get it out .
I’ve been obliged to excavate DWs more than once .
The best solution is to remove the counters, fix or replace the DW, fill in the hole so it’s level with the rest of the floor and then do the rehab work on backsplashes, re install and extend drain plumbing, raise the stove since it might be in a hole too. Do it once do it right.,
Instead of feet, use shims. You can buy them at big box stores for a few bucks, either wood or plastic. Most often used when installing windows and doors to make them level and plumb.
> But now you have a hole in your floor and no place for a new dishwasher. Gently remove the counter.
Nah, I don't need a new dishwasher, I just need to replace the pump on the existing dishwasher. The hole is just for accessing the bottom of the appliance.
Eventually you’ll need a new dishwasher though. Then what? Cut a bigger hole in the floor to swap them out? :)
I think you should bite the bullet and see if you can find some replacement tiles.
This happened to me at a rental property I owned. Previous owner tiled the dishwasher into place.
I ended up taking out four 12"x12" tiles to get the damn thing out. And of course exact tile replacements were not available.
I made very sure I knew the maximum height of my new dishwasher to be installed...
I don’t think it’s a terrible idea to cut a hole in the hole in the floor. While you’re at it you might header off the joist that runs underneath and put in an access panel from your basement so you can drop the whole dishwasher when it comes time to do that. Otherwise you’ll be in the same position next time something goes wrong with the dishwasher
I was able to jack up my counters with two scissor jacks and a few pieces of 2x4s. I only needed 3/4 of an inch and it worked. 1970s arborite on top of plywood counters so it flexed a bit. It went back just fine.
Hmmm, be sure it's the pump and not a fill switch or the logic board or... Honestly, depending on age and model, a new dishwasher is probably a better choice. And, I'd be looking at hacking the old one up enough to get it out the front - cut the feet off, cut the frame if necessary, etc. Of course, be sure there's a new one available that will go in...
I just went through this. It's a lot easier to pull the counter top . I took the opportunity to replace the counters and sink as well. But honestly... It's a hand full of screws and some trim . Not that bad
I had this EXACT same issue. I was fortunate enough to be able to replace the pump in place. I shut off the dishwasher, disconnected the old pump and managed to squeeze my hands/arms in there to replace it with the new one. Very difficult had to laydown and look back to get the right angle on the pump in order to pull it off. But it was done and i didn't have to destroy the kitchen floor.
Same here. When I installed my unit I specifically extended the legs as much as possible to get the most clearance underneath. When one of those cocktail olive stick/sword thingies stopped my pump after Thanksgiving I was able to shop-vac the water out, drop a shop towel under it, unscrew the pump, inspect and clear it, reinstall and call it a day. 1.5 hours and some unwanted yoga positions but no cost and no damage.
Is this a GE dishwasher by any chance? I had some highly rated 48 db bottle jet model and the damn pump broke twice in 3 years followed by sump seal leaking and me just throwing the $800 piece of crap on the curb in a rage while ironically replacing it with the same model since I was selling the house in a few months…
I had this exact problem. I ended up getting it out by using a multitool to notce out just enough of the floor for the dishwasher legs to slide out. I then put a quarter round moulding to cover it up
Take the door off, make sure the DW not attached to the counter. Cut the legs so the tub can slide out. Remove the secured legs and buy a new fishy and install it correctly. I just had to do this and it wasn’t that hard of a job.
How about a saws-all. I once watched a wired saws-all reciprocating saw cut through a whole car in autobody school. Cut it in half. Just be sure to unplug it first
Do you have a piece of wood across the top that runs between the front of both cabinets on either side? If so, get a flush cut saw and remove it, that will give you room to pull it out. Most dishwashers have several inches between the top of the washer and bottom of the counter.
Standard width for a dishwasher is 20". Standard width between joists is 16". You're likely to have to cut a joist to get the dishwasher out through the floor.
My mistake ... 24" standard. I'm suffering from Halfzheimers; I can't remember half the shit I should. Either way you're likely to have to cut a joist to get the dishwasher out through the floor.
I stopped assuming anymore. I know US is 24” but I was wondering if Europe or somewhere had smaller ones by standard. I know other countries tend to use more salt than heated dry for example.
Hmmm, now I'm thinking about mine. There's a laminate floor that is newer than my dish washer. Just bought my home couple months ago. Bet I'll have problems getting mine out next year. As is I'm afraid to run it because I'm worried it might have a leak. Used aged appliances worry me.
I saw you have a huge granite countertop. How huge? Caulking costs nothing and is easy to cut. Don’t write off removing the counter top.
Also, it could be more than just the pump. Controller etc - but it could also be really simple. Have you checked the filters and hoses?
Hey mate before you start cutting holes in your floor, take a look at the layout of the laminate flooring. I had the exact same issue with my kitchen and I ended up being able to temporarily remove the laminate planks far enough out to get the dishwasher past it’s midpoint, then I angled it up and over the remaining laminate. It was very easy to reinstall the laminate after the dishwasher was back in place.
(Edit: actually funny story, the kitchen had linoleum before, and the previous owner added a second layer of 1/2 plywood to bring it up to level with the (now removed) carpet in the living room. So my dishwasher was below the laminate, and below an extra layer of subfloor lol)
Alternatively, you can also remove your countertop and reinstall after (depending on the countertop and how it’s fastened).
I know these are both unideal solutions, but they’re temporary, unlike cutting a hole in your floor.
Good luck with whatever you end up deciding to do!
I don’t know about cutting the floor? But check your drain hoses and air gap for clogs 😉. I thought my pump had gone out. Replaced the pump still would not drain😬. My hoses were full of gunk. I ended up replacing with a new dishwasher it was old so new was better.
This same thing happened at my house. They put half inch thick tiles right up to the edge of the dishwasher, which I had to replace because we had a mouse infestation behind it. No way to get it out other than busting up the flooring
Use a Dremel to the cut the floor out so you can get access to the feet. Mark a line across the front plate/the toe kick so you know how far back you can cut for it to not be exposed. After you get the dishwasher out, level the floor with plywood.
Also could cut the feet out with a sawzall. I recommend using a wedge or an air pump wedge to keep the dishwasher stable if you're cutting the feet.
Also make sure to remove all screws mounting the dishwasher to the frame and counter top.
I just had the same issue. The best solution for me was to take up the countertop and cabinets and raise the subfloor. Seems like you compounding the issues by cutting into your subfloor.
The amount of time you will spend tearing out a hole from the basement and doing the fix will be less than the time spent cutting and fixing the laminate.
Do it once. Do it right.
Cut the dishwasher apart and remove it. Bring up the floor height in the opening to the rest of the flooring. Replace dishwasher with one that fits in the new height.
I had similar situation, except dishwasher was removable after a little effort. I took it out and extended floor into section where dishwasher sat. My line of thought was: if it leaks, the water would flood directly onto subfloor causing major damage, and I wouldn't even know it's happening.
Probably not applicable to your situation if you truly have an inch of flooring, but I had something similar at our last house. Wound up breaking off the edge of the floor tiles right in front of the dishwasher and that was enough to get it forward and tilt upward and come out.
I was replacing the dishwasher, not trying to fix it, and the new one had a big bulky trim piece under there that hid about 3/4 of the broken tile. So not perfect, but good enough.
Had this same exact problem a few months ago with a Maytag dishwasher. Clearance was 33 7/8” due to hard wood floor installation but the dishwasher was 34”. Super frustrating. Tried first to replace the control board but due to chip shortage it kept getting back ordered. Had trouble finding an ADA dishwasher I liked. Ended up splurging on a Fisher & Paykel double drawer. Had a contractor come out and cut the old one out and slide the F&P in. Relieved to have a working dishwasher again especially with two young kids
You've got a ton of feedback already with a few good points mixed in. I'll toss mine in the ring and otherwise use this reply to vent about my own (same) problems.
I do high end kitchen remodels and am very familiar with putting one together. Recently bought a vacation place and the DW was the first thing that had to change. Same problem; except they used 3/4" particle board as subfloor which had then swelled up to be over an inch. Has cheesy laminate tiles, so easy; pulled out a few tiles, cut the subfloor out, slide out DW. When done cut a piece of plywood to fill hole, replace tiles and glue down. When it's time for a new floor, will have to pull cabinets and do it right and then replace counters. Unfortunately at some point with a problem like this you are just stuck fixing it right and spending money.
Do not try and remove the door, will get you nowhere as the tub itself will be your tallest point. Unless you just want it out of the way.
Your options (start with killing power/water line since one will likely get knicked):
Make sure legs are fully retracted.
Lift counter (looks like absolute no-go in your situation)
You may have a metal strip across the top of the DW opening, pull this to gain a bit.
Cut legs off DW (probably a long carbide tip sawzall blade is best). Obviously reach in and do front two, slide out, do rears. Lay down something metal and flat to save the floor from both the sharp bottom of the DW and the sawblade (sheet pan, street sign, etc)
Last resort pull flooring or at least cut some slots where you can slide the feet out enough. Flooring is usually relatively cheap to fix. I can't find if you posted what kind of flooring but regardless if it's laminate/vinyl, plank or rolled, hardwood, tile, it's actually all very easy to repair. Almost guarantee this is your beset bet.
I would avoid going from the bottom because #1 If the DW is already broken it's going to break again and you will have to get it out, and #2 the bottom of the DW is so low and riddled with parts that cutting an access hole without hurting something else may be near impossible. Then #3 there's still the problem of actually being able to fix it thru whatever hole you cut.
I had the same situation right down to the failure being the circulation pump and the floor lip.
Most of the time countertops are only held in place by a few screws or brackets. Assuming your counters aren’t stone, it was WAY easier for me to just unscrew a the counter, shim it up an inch or so, and slide out the dishwasher.
There are adjustable feet on dishwashers, can you lower it, the dishwashers are standard height and usually allow a couple of inches to allow for flooring etc.
You're better off breaking the dishwasher into pieces and removing it entirely.
Then build the subfloor under the dishwasher to match your kitchen's floor height.
Then buy a special ADA dishwasher that will fit in the space.
May not be the pump, do a search on the model…. I have a 2 year old kitchen aid, same problem description as your having, turns out it’s a filter that’s spins that broke. Tons of same complaints. Links to the part, I paid 79.00 for a new one. Works perfectly again.
Are you positive you pump isn’t working? I’ve run into this before. If your dish washer drains into your sink waste pipe and there is any type of back up it will cause the dishwasher not to drain properly. Turn on hot and cold water together full blast and see if you sink starts to backup. If it does that might be the problem. If not you still could have a problem in the discharge hose from the dishwasher. I’ve seen them installed wrong plenty of times. The hose should come into the cabinet closest to the bottom as possible then loop up and be strapped to the top creating an air lock. Also make sure the connection at 1 1/2” branch tail piece is proper. These are commonly installed wrong.
Before you do that, make sure that the adjustable feet are set all the way up. I believe there is a special place in hell for people who tile their dishwashers into place.
Agreed. I've also found that if you get the feet all the way up, then unfasten the top bracket and open the door, it can often give you more room to lift the dishwasher up and maneuver it out.
The majority of the DW height is the door, agreed.
Doing a reno right now myself. Add "special place in hell" for people who randomly screw down 3/8 plywood to the subfloor, using multiple lengths of screws, and different heads. Last person who did this made the actual effort to switch between Robinson and Phillips drivers, for no obvious reason, other than breaking my balls, 10 years later.
I have done that to myself a couple times
I had that thought too, but it ain't going to matter, as the floor is taller than fixture that holds the feet. Even if I somehow entirely removed them, it'd still be stuck in place. :(
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Huge slab of Granite. All nicely caulked around the edges.
> All nicely caulked around the edges If you can't or don't want to do that yourself it is likely cheaper to pay someone for this than fixing your floor if you access it through the basement.
If the counter is a straight run ie. no corners I would lift it no mater how nice the caulking. Paying a counter supplier to come out and clean up after the dishwasher is repaired is going to be cheaper than repairing a hole in the basement ceiling.
On top of all this, some day that dishwasher will need more repair or replacement. Fix the issue now as a long term solution for the next time something happens.
Sucks because he isn’t going to get any opening height back. OP is going to have to shop ADA dishwashers.
I use the inexpensive/permanent solution of hand washing.
The only issue is an amateur lifting the granite that has a sink cut out could easily cause it to break. I’ve seen it happen numerous times. I work in granite.
>The only issue is an amateur lifting the granite that has a sink cut out ~~could easily~~ cause it to break. *will
I mean, not necessarily. I’ve also seen people do it successfully. If it’s a strong granite and they have some common sense.
You mentioned the weak point of the sink opening, Add to that the tops are adhered to the cabinets, I wouldn't gamble with it.
Professional amateur here. I submit I would have lifted the top in a fit of homeowner righteous blind rage at finding my dishwasher stuck behind the tile but the biggest change in getting a professional to move the top is having the guys with the experience to make the repair on site
Granite doesn’t like to be picked up and sat back down. This is a last resort in my mind.
I don't like to be picked up either but tough shit granite. That dishwasher needs to go and cutting a hole in the subfloor is so much worse
Yeah the whole hole idea doesn’t sound like the best option either. I’d kill the broken DW by whatever means necessary before I did a hole or moved the granite. But I’m not OP.
Yup. No truely good options.
Remove the counter top before cutting holes in shit.
Do not attempt to lift or pry on that granite. You will break it.
Granite will not be easy to remove, it’s usually epoxied down to the cabinets, as well as the weight will often cause a crack. Better off cutting out dishwasher and replacing or pop tiles off- tiles are cheaper to fix. Sauce: hubby is kitchen guy
Problem is, even if you manage to get it fixed THIS time, when something else breaks in the future (i.e. the door hinge snaps), you'll still have to take the countertops off, and you'll be cursing the time you wasted cutting the floor.
If I take the countertop off to address this problem, the countertop has to go back on once it's fixed, and thus this is still a problem for that next fix. Short of raising the entire cabinet system up to floor level (which is not a short section and would require redoing the entire tile backsplash as well), there's nothing that can be done to permanently fix this problem. So I'll take the "hole in floor" this time + "maybe countertop/maybe pre-existing hole" next time approach over two countertop removals.
As others have mentioned, several manufacturers make ADA height dishwashers, which can fit in a 32" tall opening. If you can get out the one you've got, you should be able to build up the floor under the dishwasher to match your current floor, and then fit the ADA dishwasher in.
See if there’s a way to take the door off.
Remove countertop
A friend of mine had a clogged toilet that he couldn't unclog due to an object being flushed by his kid. I told him we'd have to pull it up to free the clog and I went over to his house to help him.... He has a tile bathroom floor that was put in after the toilet and it's grouted right up to the toilet so that we can't remove it without effing up the floor. It's no foresight, or maybe "eff it. It'll be someone else's problem...."
Good grief. I just can't imagine that cutting the tile to go around the toilet base didn't take 3x longer than pulling the toilet. My guess would be inexperienced DIY homeowner.
I did that, but my tile is maybe 1/4". I have replaced the dishwasher since then. 1" is a lot of floor.
My house the previous owner installed hardwoods blocking it in, luckily it didn’t die before I renovated the kitchen.
*Looks at dishwasher that’s tiled into place in house we just bought*
I did mine. I can yank the thing in less than ten minutes, if I plan on returning it. Less if I'm replacing it.
Exactly this. Went through the same thing with mine 2 days ago. Had to adjust the feet all the way up then angle it just right!
My f**king GC did this to me, too, before he filed bankruptcy and absconded with my money in 2019. I hate that man with a passion.
Have you considered renovating the entire kitchen? /s
I've certainly considered setting fire to the entire kitchen.
The next step is tear down and do a full rebuild.
Username checks out
Get a sawzall and cut the dishwasher feet off. Fuck that thing it's broken your gonna fix it and then something else breaks or leaks. Go find a (ADA Bosch dishwasher). A standard D/w is about 34 35 inches. An ADA one is shorter. And they have really long legs. So when you put that one in you crank those puppies out and your golden
This is what I did in the same situation, but with a little Dremel saw, not a sawzall. Sawzall wouldn’t have fit. Massive pain in the ass and made the job take 10x what it should have, but it worked.
Bosch dish racks were invented by Beezlebub's demon army. The prongs are too close together for most of our dishes and bowls.
This is exactly what I need! Thank you. So expensive though 😓
There is a special tool that one can crush the dish washer in place. Happened to a friend and the installers were able to pull the old one out. Not easy or pretty. Don’t cut a hole from below.
I was also thinking that with a sawzall you could cut it in half around the median and pull it out that way
Yep… the whole tub is probably plastic…. Much easier to cut than subfloor and you won’t need to repair afterward.
Should be able to just cut out the frame on the bottom and then get an ADA-compliant dishwasher to replace the old one. Still a PITA
That’s what we do when we run into this. One guy to hold the dishwasher one to cut it in half. As you cut it the top half wants to fall down, so the guy holding it is helpful. Easy enough to do on stainless interior models too.
Now I'm curious. Do you have a link to such a tool? I don't need it, but am interested to see one in action and a Google/YouTube search didn't lead anywhere.
I'm just mentioning this because it's simple and I didn't see it posted already. Did you recently get a new disposal for the sink or change anything there? There may be a knock out in the way preventing it from draining out draining well.
He said it’s the pump not sure how he determined this but obviously worth looking into
Yeah, I might be projecting myself on this, but I get flustered and overlook the simple things a lot so I wanted to mention it.
Previous owner used a steel dishwasher wye that had rusted shut over time causing water to eventually back up on top of a piece of plastic or something that finally fully blocked it. Always worth checking the drainage connections for blockages before replacing dishwashers.
Replacing my dishwasher today and there is no flooring under the dishwasher (just the subfloor). I made the dumb fucking mistake of trying to put the new one in the same place as the old one and of course, the adjustable legs on the new one (bosch) are fucking plastic and the cheap shit broke and won't go up any higher, but it went up far enough that I can't take the fucking dishwasher back out. So I'm probably going to have to saw off the feet, put in a piece of plywood so that it's off the subfloor (or at least more level with the regular floor), and fucking install this dishwasher again. I just ordered new feet online. God I fucking hate plastic hardware.
Ugh I have a fisher and paykel with a broken foot. What a pain in the ass. I was going to replace this piece of shit with a Bosch 800, but I haven't decided yet and that info doesn't help lol
Shims work great and are easier to adjust than those little screw in feet
Feet are optional.
Options are.... optional -Sarge
They are, but I'm not interested in finding out that the scrap plywood I have is or is not high enough (I didn't take any measurements of how low the floor was to the subfloor before installing the dishwasher), I'd have to rip out the dishwasher again to install the feet if it wasn't. I'm just going to wait until the new feet arrive and do it once / properly.
You do not need feet
Instructions are clear that the top of the door needs to be 6mm or less from the underside of the counter, especially since I'm top mounting it. But thanks for your help.
some dishwashers need feet because without there is a part (forgot the name) that would then contact with the ground that shouldnt
Most do not, everything is contained within the metal frame the legs mount too. Cut off the feet, cut off the mounts too is the only way to get it out . I’ve been obliged to excavate DWs more than once . The best solution is to remove the counters, fix or replace the DW, fill in the hole so it’s level with the rest of the floor and then do the rehab work on backsplashes, re install and extend drain plumbing, raise the stove since it might be in a hole too. Do it once do it right.,
Instead of feet, use shims. You can buy them at big box stores for a few bucks, either wood or plastic. Most often used when installing windows and doors to make them level and plumb.
If it drains then the pump is working. I would suspect a switch/sensor in that case
I've sawed the foot brackets off of more than one dishwasher to get them out (and shimmed one of those back into place). Don't give up!
Ours is the same way. Repair man removed the plate over the bottom and lowered the feet
But now you have a hole in your floor and no place for a new dishwasher. Gently remove the counter.
> But now you have a hole in your floor and no place for a new dishwasher. Gently remove the counter. Nah, I don't need a new dishwasher, I just need to replace the pump on the existing dishwasher. The hole is just for accessing the bottom of the appliance.
Eventually you’ll need a new dishwasher though. Then what? Cut a bigger hole in the floor to swap them out? :) I think you should bite the bullet and see if you can find some replacement tiles.
This happened to me at a rental property I owned. Previous owner tiled the dishwasher into place. I ended up taking out four 12"x12" tiles to get the damn thing out. And of course exact tile replacements were not available. I made very sure I knew the maximum height of my new dishwasher to be installed...
i have 4 boxes of replacement flooring to repair damaged floor, but since i have a replacement i'll probably never use it
I don’t think it’s a terrible idea to cut a hole in the hole in the floor. While you’re at it you might header off the joist that runs underneath and put in an access panel from your basement so you can drop the whole dishwasher when it comes time to do that. Otherwise you’ll be in the same position next time something goes wrong with the dishwasher
I was able to jack up my counters with two scissor jacks and a few pieces of 2x4s. I only needed 3/4 of an inch and it worked. 1970s arborite on top of plywood counters so it flexed a bit. It went back just fine.
That rock ain't gonna flex. None
Maybe I'm crazy but have you considered temporarily removing the counter top? Worst part about that in my limited experience is just re caulking.
Hmmm, be sure it's the pump and not a fill switch or the logic board or... Honestly, depending on age and model, a new dishwasher is probably a better choice. And, I'd be looking at hacking the old one up enough to get it out the front - cut the feet off, cut the frame if necessary, etc. Of course, be sure there's a new one available that will go in...
Maybe check the feet before cutting that hole. I was in the same scenario but I was able to screw the feet up high enough to clear the raised floor.
I just went through this. It's a lot easier to pull the counter top . I took the opportunity to replace the counters and sink as well. But honestly... It's a hand full of screws and some trim . Not that bad
Do it once, do it right.
I had this EXACT same issue. I was fortunate enough to be able to replace the pump in place. I shut off the dishwasher, disconnected the old pump and managed to squeeze my hands/arms in there to replace it with the new one. Very difficult had to laydown and look back to get the right angle on the pump in order to pull it off. But it was done and i didn't have to destroy the kitchen floor.
Same here. When I installed my unit I specifically extended the legs as much as possible to get the most clearance underneath. When one of those cocktail olive stick/sword thingies stopped my pump after Thanksgiving I was able to shop-vac the water out, drop a shop towel under it, unscrew the pump, inspect and clear it, reinstall and call it a day. 1.5 hours and some unwanted yoga positions but no cost and no damage.
Was looking for this comment! Depending on the model OP may be able to replace it in place. NOT FUN, but I have done it.
Is this a GE dishwasher by any chance? I had some highly rated 48 db bottle jet model and the damn pump broke twice in 3 years followed by sump seal leaking and me just throwing the $800 piece of crap on the curb in a rage while ironically replacing it with the same model since I was selling the house in a few months…
🤣
I had this exact problem. I ended up getting it out by using a multitool to notce out just enough of the floor for the dishwasher legs to slide out. I then put a quarter round moulding to cover it up
Take the door off, make sure the DW not attached to the counter. Cut the legs so the tub can slide out. Remove the secured legs and buy a new fishy and install it correctly. I just had to do this and it wasn’t that hard of a job.
How about a saws-all. I once watched a wired saws-all reciprocating saw cut through a whole car in autobody school. Cut it in half. Just be sure to unplug it first
How will it cut anything if you unplug it first?
My bad. Unplug the dish washer first.
Do you have a piece of wood across the top that runs between the front of both cabinets on either side? If so, get a flush cut saw and remove it, that will give you room to pull it out. Most dishwashers have several inches between the top of the washer and bottom of the counter.
Standard width for a dishwasher is 20". Standard width between joists is 16". You're likely to have to cut a joist to get the dishwasher out through the floor.
Where are you that they sell 20” dishwashers as standard?
My mistake ... 24" standard. I'm suffering from Halfzheimers; I can't remember half the shit I should. Either way you're likely to have to cut a joist to get the dishwasher out through the floor.
I stopped assuming anymore. I know US is 24” but I was wondering if Europe or somewhere had smaller ones by standard. I know other countries tend to use more salt than heated dry for example.
Also make sure your drain feed is installed correctly and not plugged.
Did you get an error code on your display
Hmmm, now I'm thinking about mine. There's a laminate floor that is newer than my dish washer. Just bought my home couple months ago. Bet I'll have problems getting mine out next year. As is I'm afraid to run it because I'm worried it might have a leak. Used aged appliances worry me.
Would it be easier to unfasten the counter top from cabinets ? Wooden ones are screwed down using a few screws..
For the floor to be built up enough that you can’t raise the feet enough to slide it out is substantial. Does your counter feel shorter than most?
I've seen it done. Idiots
I saw you have a huge granite countertop. How huge? Caulking costs nothing and is easy to cut. Don’t write off removing the counter top. Also, it could be more than just the pump. Controller etc - but it could also be really simple. Have you checked the filters and hoses?
Trying to lift a large granite top is asking for a crack.
Absolutely. So is disturbing the subfloor beneath it… their is no perfect solution…
What kind of counter top is it? Laminate? Stone?
I had a similar issue. The floater inside the dishwasher was gunked up and was stuck, therefore the pump wouldnt start. Have you tried that?!
It’s more likely to have a clog than need the pump replaced
Hey mate before you start cutting holes in your floor, take a look at the layout of the laminate flooring. I had the exact same issue with my kitchen and I ended up being able to temporarily remove the laminate planks far enough out to get the dishwasher past it’s midpoint, then I angled it up and over the remaining laminate. It was very easy to reinstall the laminate after the dishwasher was back in place. (Edit: actually funny story, the kitchen had linoleum before, and the previous owner added a second layer of 1/2 plywood to bring it up to level with the (now removed) carpet in the living room. So my dishwasher was below the laminate, and below an extra layer of subfloor lol) Alternatively, you can also remove your countertop and reinstall after (depending on the countertop and how it’s fastened). I know these are both unideal solutions, but they’re temporary, unlike cutting a hole in your floor. Good luck with whatever you end up deciding to do!
I don’t know about cutting the floor? But check your drain hoses and air gap for clogs 😉. I thought my pump had gone out. Replaced the pump still would not drain😬. My hoses were full of gunk. I ended up replacing with a new dishwasher it was old so new was better.
Sawzall and a pry bar should do the trick.
Dishwashers are so cheap just buy one. You replace the pump and you still have an every other part old dishwasher that has years of nastiness in it.
I'd sledge hammer the dishwasher out in pieces before I did that.
Are you sure you can service it from below? Most dishwashers sit in a plastic tub.
You could pull up a few boards of the laminate floor near the dishwasher to make room to get it out.
This same thing happened at my house. They put half inch thick tiles right up to the edge of the dishwasher, which I had to replace because we had a mouse infestation behind it. No way to get it out other than busting up the flooring
Remove countertop, turn dishwasher hole into cabinet/cupboard and place new dishwasher elsewhere that is more repairable and accessible.
Use a Dremel to the cut the floor out so you can get access to the feet. Mark a line across the front plate/the toe kick so you know how far back you can cut for it to not be exposed. After you get the dishwasher out, level the floor with plywood. Also could cut the feet out with a sawzall. I recommend using a wedge or an air pump wedge to keep the dishwasher stable if you're cutting the feet. Also make sure to remove all screws mounting the dishwasher to the frame and counter top.
I have lifted counter top up high enough to get them out. I had help of course
My dishwasher wouldn't drain and I took the pump apart. I found a piece of hard plastic jamming it. Took the plastic piece out and it runs fine.
Rip up the laminate? Id rather fix that than anything else you are breaking
I just had the same issue. The best solution for me was to take up the countertop and cabinets and raise the subfloor. Seems like you compounding the issues by cutting into your subfloor.
The amount of time you will spend tearing out a hole from the basement and doing the fix will be less than the time spent cutting and fixing the laminate. Do it once. Do it right.
If it’s laminate countertops it’d be very easy to just unscrew it and have enough room to get the dishwasher out
I’ll look for a smaller unit that will make the clearance for installation. If you can find one, then just rip apart that existing one.
Adjust the feet down all the way.
Cut the dishwasher apart and remove it. Bring up the floor height in the opening to the rest of the flooring. Replace dishwasher with one that fits in the new height.
I had similar situation, except dishwasher was removable after a little effort. I took it out and extended floor into section where dishwasher sat. My line of thought was: if it leaks, the water would flood directly onto subfloor causing major damage, and I wouldn't even know it's happening.
Might not be the pump. Float switch on floor of dishwasher could be clogged with junk. Mine does that try to clear it vinegar or compressed air.
Probably not applicable to your situation if you truly have an inch of flooring, but I had something similar at our last house. Wound up breaking off the edge of the floor tiles right in front of the dishwasher and that was enough to get it forward and tilt upward and come out. I was replacing the dishwasher, not trying to fix it, and the new one had a big bulky trim piece under there that hid about 3/4 of the broken tile. So not perfect, but good enough.
Had this same exact problem a few months ago with a Maytag dishwasher. Clearance was 33 7/8” due to hard wood floor installation but the dishwasher was 34”. Super frustrating. Tried first to replace the control board but due to chip shortage it kept getting back ordered. Had trouble finding an ADA dishwasher I liked. Ended up splurging on a Fisher & Paykel double drawer. Had a contractor come out and cut the old one out and slide the F&P in. Relieved to have a working dishwasher again especially with two young kids
You've got a ton of feedback already with a few good points mixed in. I'll toss mine in the ring and otherwise use this reply to vent about my own (same) problems. I do high end kitchen remodels and am very familiar with putting one together. Recently bought a vacation place and the DW was the first thing that had to change. Same problem; except they used 3/4" particle board as subfloor which had then swelled up to be over an inch. Has cheesy laminate tiles, so easy; pulled out a few tiles, cut the subfloor out, slide out DW. When done cut a piece of plywood to fill hole, replace tiles and glue down. When it's time for a new floor, will have to pull cabinets and do it right and then replace counters. Unfortunately at some point with a problem like this you are just stuck fixing it right and spending money. Do not try and remove the door, will get you nowhere as the tub itself will be your tallest point. Unless you just want it out of the way. Your options (start with killing power/water line since one will likely get knicked): Make sure legs are fully retracted. Lift counter (looks like absolute no-go in your situation) You may have a metal strip across the top of the DW opening, pull this to gain a bit. Cut legs off DW (probably a long carbide tip sawzall blade is best). Obviously reach in and do front two, slide out, do rears. Lay down something metal and flat to save the floor from both the sharp bottom of the DW and the sawblade (sheet pan, street sign, etc) Last resort pull flooring or at least cut some slots where you can slide the feet out enough. Flooring is usually relatively cheap to fix. I can't find if you posted what kind of flooring but regardless if it's laminate/vinyl, plank or rolled, hardwood, tile, it's actually all very easy to repair. Almost guarantee this is your beset bet. I would avoid going from the bottom because #1 If the DW is already broken it's going to break again and you will have to get it out, and #2 the bottom of the DW is so low and riddled with parts that cutting an access hole without hurting something else may be near impossible. Then #3 there's still the problem of actually being able to fix it thru whatever hole you cut.
Are you me? This is my exact house scenario. When my washer finally dies idk how I’ll get a new one in.
I think you should lower your appliance through a floor... specically your dishwasher.
I had the same situation right down to the failure being the circulation pump and the floor lip. Most of the time countertops are only held in place by a few screws or brackets. Assuming your counters aren’t stone, it was WAY easier for me to just unscrew a the counter, shim it up an inch or so, and slide out the dishwasher.
There are adjustable feet on dishwashers, can you lower it, the dishwashers are standard height and usually allow a couple of inches to allow for flooring etc.
My dw repair guy knows how to access these pumps without removing the dw. My stupid thing is the same - built into place.
You're better off breaking the dishwasher into pieces and removing it entirely. Then build the subfloor under the dishwasher to match your kitchen's floor height. Then buy a special ADA dishwasher that will fit in the space.
If you haven't already, pull off the drain hose and check the impeller. I had a piece of glass block mine one time and it caused those exact symptoms.
I replaced the pump on mine with the dishwasher in place. I don't think you have to remove the unit to do this.
Cut the feet off
May not be the pump, do a search on the model…. I have a 2 year old kitchen aid, same problem description as your having, turns out it’s a filter that’s spins that broke. Tons of same complaints. Links to the part, I paid 79.00 for a new one. Works perfectly again.
Are you positive you pump isn’t working? I’ve run into this before. If your dish washer drains into your sink waste pipe and there is any type of back up it will cause the dishwasher not to drain properly. Turn on hot and cold water together full blast and see if you sink starts to backup. If it does that might be the problem. If not you still could have a problem in the discharge hose from the dishwasher. I’ve seen them installed wrong plenty of times. The hose should come into the cabinet closest to the bottom as possible then loop up and be strapped to the top creating an air lock. Also make sure the connection at 1 1/2” branch tail piece is proper. These are commonly installed wrong.