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Identify the Problem and Gather Tools — Remove the Old Air Gap Assembly (Optional)

Beginner3 hours

Part of project

How to Clean or Replace a Dishwasher Air Gap · Step 6 of 8

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In this video

First, identify the problem. If water is coming out of the dishwasher air gap—the small chrome or plastic fixture on your sink—when the dishwasher drains, it indicates a clog in the line between the air gap and the garbage disposal. You will need a small, flexible drain snake, which can be purchased at a hardware store, to clear this clog.

Goal: Prepare for the repair

  • The air gap is designed to prevent dirty sink water from flowing back into your clean dishwasher.

Used in this video

  • Drain Snake (Tool Type: Plumbing Tools, Power Source: Manual, Material: Metal, Size/Weight: Small, Purpose: Removing, Flexibility: Flexible) — Clearing the clog from the drain line.
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FAQs

What are the essential tools I need for this project, and are there alternatives for the specific brands listed?

While specific brands are listed, the core tools required are pliers, a standard screwdriver (multi-bit is handy), and a scrub brush for cleaning. You will also need a reliable flashlight, a bucket, and plenty of towels or rags to manage spills. Any good quality versions of these basic tools will suffice.

What crucial safety precautions should I take before I start working on my dishwasher air gap?

The most important safety step is to disconnect power to your dishwasher at the circuit breaker before you begin to prevent electrical shock. Also, wear gloves to protect your hands from potential grime and use the bucket and towels to contain any water that might spill during the process.

Is this project truly beginner-friendly, and how much time should I realistically set aside?

Yes, this project is rated as beginner difficulty, primarily involving basic hand tool use. While the estimated time is 3 hours, a simple cleaning often takes less than an hour. A full replacement might take closer to 1-2 hours depending on how easily the old unit removes and the new one installs.

I've thoroughly cleaned my air gap, but my dishwasher is still not draining properly. What else could be the problem?

If cleaning the air gap didn't fix the issue, the blockage might be further down the drain line or within the dishwasher itself. First, check the drain hose that connects from the air gap to your sink's drain connection for kinks or clogs. If that's clear, you may need to inspect the dishwasher's internal drain filter or pump.

Transcript
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Hey friends, Alan Lee here with Fidelity National Home Morty, and we're going to talk about one of the most common problems with a dishwasher air gap and dishwasher draining. If you don't know what an air gap is on a dishwasher, it's this little guy right here, usually covered with a white or a stainless steel cover. And this air gap, the one of the most common problems with an air gap, is when the dishwasher drains water comes out of this air gap and drains into your sink by itself. Sometimes if these are even positioned on an island, water will start coming out on the island and that's definitely not how a dishwasher should drain. When a dishwasher drains, it drains from there, it comes up to the air gap, it goes back down and it should drain into through the garbage disposal. Now when it comes out of here, that means that the pipe from the air gap to the garbage disposal is clogged. So in this video, we're going to talk specifically about how to clear that line so that your dishwasher will drain correctly instead of coming out of this air gap. So what you're going to need is basically a drain snake. You're not going to want to get one that's too big. You can get these at any local hardware store. You're going to want to take off the dishwasher air gap cover, set that aside.

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