The two metal straps (for lack of a better term) that held my dishwasher in place under the counter have snapped, resulting in the dishwasher tilting when I open it to load or unload. First, I would like to know where I can get similar straps to replace them, and secondly, I was wondering how to do it, because with the dishwasher in place, there doesn’t seem to be enough space to reach the under counter screw. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Start with the dishwasher make and model. Check out your local appliance parts supplier to see if the mount straps are available. Securing them to the undercounter isn’t usually a problem-with the unit positioned, leveled, and elevated to meet the undercounter, you open the dishwasher door and drive the screws into the counter edge. If your counters are concrete, granite, or similar, you’ll need special anchors-I’m referring to typical high pressure laminate or solid surfacing counters.
In addition to what dwc said, I had to make my own brackets one time in a similar situation. It seemed that the original machine had been secured before the counter tops were installed so when it came loose I could not redo what had come undone. I ended up making some wooden brackets and screwed them in from the sides, then in turn got some new brackets from the nearest ACE and screwed them to the new wooden supports I just made.
When that machine finally took a crap, the new one had some ingenious brackets that slide into the frame of the machine and can be fastened to the cabinet with the door open from the inside.
It’s hard to explain, but sounds like you’ll have to use good old fashioned jerry-rigging skills and a trip to the nearest hardware store.
It is an indication of a poorly installed dishwasher if those straps broke. There should be almost no load on them if the unit is levelled and adjusted as danceswithcats mentions. They are mainly there to prevent side to side motion and a little bit to prevent the thing from pulling out.
Given that the straps are broken, you will most likely have to pull out the whole dishwasher to replace them.
Step 1 - check to see if there are any more screws attaching this to the cabinets. Some models have screws on the sides also.
Step 2 - Turn off the power (by unplugging, at the circuit breaker, or by using a potato.)
Step 3 - Shut of the water, hopefully at the shutoff valve installed under your sink, sometimes to the whole house depending on how lazy the plumber was.
Step 4 - Remove the kickplate cover and look under the unit witha flashlight ot see where the water tubing is connected. Use a wrench to discnnect the water.
Step 5 - Slide the enire unit forward. The electrical cord should be long enough that it won’t hinder the unit pulling out.
Step 6 - There is no step 6.
At this point you need to look at the screws holding the straps on, remove them, put on the new ones, and reverse the process.
Step 7 - Adjust legs on unit and attach as danceswithcats indicated.
Tools needed - small open end wrench, screwdriver, large supply of expletives.
When you have the door open and you’re loading both racks with dishes, the thing will pull out. Maybe tip would be the right word.
Carry on.
The last dishwasher I installed had the strips spot-welded to the tub. However, a couple of strips of pipe strap JB-welded where the old ones went should hold up fine. And don’t let your kids stand on the door.
What? Ya’ll too good for duct tape?
Fancy pants wearin’, high-faloooootin’ straight dopers.
I think the fact that the door to the dishwasher is “built in,” that is has a fairly heavy solid wood facing inserted into the door has a bit to do with it. One thing I noticed last night is that the unit is slightly tilted in the vertical plane, that is when the door is open I see that the top of the dishwasher is closer to me than the bottom, the degree of tilt is perhaps 5 degrees. Also, I should mention that the cabinets are corian. I don’t want to do anything drastic, as I am afraid to screw up the corian. I want to just unscrew the old straps and replace them. Like I said, the screws attaching the strap to the top of the cabinet are slightly behind the lip of the dishwasher itself, when the door is open, which is why I can’t really figure out how to unscrew them without some special tool.
Can you post a photo(s)?
Or e-mail it to me and I’ll post it. At least we can see what you’re dealing with.
Is there any chance that the top front portion (where the controls are?) is removeable to get to the screws?
I will take pictures of it when I get home. The screws are recessed from the front of the unit with the door open. The controls are attached to the part of the door that opens, so that is not the problem.
And that is why your straps broke. The thing should sit level without any help at all, but instead the straps were taking the weight. The legs need to be adjusted.
If the dishwasher were not tipped 5 degreees out could you reach the screws into the countertop? When installed normally, there is no trick to this. They use a normal screwdriver to install the screws into the counter, so it should be accessible from a norma position. However, to replace the straps I still say that you are going to have to pull out the dishwasher. Otherwhise you will not be able to undo the connection between the broken strap and the dishwasher.
My dishwasher lies between two wooden cabinets. The fit is quite tight. I took a couple of roundhead screws, probably #6 by 1" and put them into the wooden sides as high up as I could. Now the dishwasher doesn’t tip. It tipped only when both levels were loaded and pulled out. My problem was that I could not push the dishwasher in far enough for the metal tabs to be fully inside. In any case, I would have been reluctant to drill into the Coriam. Somehow, the previous occupant of that spot never tipped. I think it was maybe a half inch taller and couldn’t.