KDC-18 in it's new home!

[Cybrvanr]

I got the Kitchenaid into the house this weekend and hooked it all up. I was sure glad I did pull out the Fridigaire dishwasher, because I discovered a host of problems with the plumbing and wiring that was pretty bad. The previous owners of the house had used a piece of stiff coppericemaker line to provide the fresh water hookup. Not only was the line too small to begin with, In the process of installing the dishwasher, the line was kinked, resulting in even less water flow! There was also a really rusty hose clamp on the draininage side.

The electrical was just as bad. The previous owners cut a hole in the wall underneath the cabinet, opposite an outlet in the hallway. They spliced a piece of romex into the existing line, and just left the wire nuts within the wall...no clamps, no box, no nothing. All that was corrected and properly wired by putting the dishwasher on it's own circuit.

 

[Cybrvanr]

Here's a picture of the underside after everything was all hooked up. I replaced the tubing with a piece of wire-braid hose. While I was in there, I noticed that there was a cold water hookup behind the dishwasher too. I used that line to install an icemaker hookup. Even though my fridge doesn't have one, an icemaker is a possible future upgrade!

You can also see the installation of the electrical box here, and another thing I did. I noticed that the Kitchenaid transferred a lot of vibration down to the floor through the feet. The Fridigaire has little rubber pads on the feet that seem to reduce a large amount of vibration. I cut out some rubber squares and put some duct-tape on them to hold them to the frame of the DW. That cut down on a LOT of vibration that was being transferred down...one other point, make sure you have your feet adjusted up high enough so that the motor does not touch the floor, or you will get an INSANE amount of noise and vibration!

 

[Cybrvanr]

all together now!

Here it is all ready to go. I attached this scrap piece of lumber to the front for the time being. Having a panel on the bottom also reduces a good amount of noise. I think what I'll do is eventually cut two panels to the proper size to match the foot area underneath the cabinets, varnish it up, an varnish it up to match. I am also thinking about attaching a wood panel that has the same pattern as the cabinets in place of the white panel so that the two pieces will all match the cabinetry. The white panel has several scratches on it and looks a bit bedraggled. I could probably paint it, so I'll keep it in case I eventually find a lower panel to use underneath.

 

[mayken4now]

Nice machine! You will enjoy it. Glad to know about all the connections you discovered and corrected them.

Steve

 

[retromom]

KDC-18

Awesome Steven!

Don't throw away that panel....ya never know!

Let us know how she washes!

Venus

 

[peteski50]

KDC-18

Realy great find. Best of Luck.
Peter

 

[roto204]

Gorgeous!

Enjoy your find, and good work on creating a new panel--that's a good idea and will lend a nice, customized look too!

--Nate

 

[gadgetgary]

Dishwasher Panels

Steven,

This might interest you.

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[fixerman]

I am sure I have a lower panel for a Kitchenaid. Let me know if you are interested.

 

[Cybrvanr]

Yep, I'm definitely interested in that lower panel Fixerman. I'll look into that before I put a bid down on that panel set GadgetGary posted!

thanks Guys