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Installing the New Air Gap — Drill the Mounting Hole

Beginner4 hours

Part of project

How to Install a Dishwasher Air Gap on a Countertop · Step 2 of 6

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In this video

From underneath the sink, feed the new air gap body up through the mounting hole. From the top, slide the rubber gasket over the air gap body and press it firmly against the sink surface. Go back under the sink and thread the large plastic nut onto the air gap body, tightening it by hand until it is snug. Do not overtighten. Finally, place the decorative cap over the top of the air gap, making sure the side opening is pointing towards the sink bowl.

Goal: Mount and secure the new air gap to the sink

  • Hand-tighten the nut to avoid cracking the plastic components.
  • It can be helpful to have a second person hold the air gap from the top while you tighten the nut from below.
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FAQs

Why is an air gap necessary, and is it always required for a dishwasher?

An air gap prevents contaminated drain water from siphoning back into your clean dishwasher, protecting your dishes and health. While not universally required, many local plumbing codes mandate them, so always check your local regulations before installation.

What are the main safety precautions I should take when drilling the hole in my countertop?

Always wear eye protection and gloves. Securely brace the countertop from below if possible, and use the correct hole cutter (like the Malco HC1S) at a slow speed to prevent chipping or cracking. Start with a pilot hole for accuracy and control.

My new air gap is leaking after installation. What should I check first?

The most common leaks occur due to loose hose clamps (ensure they are tightened properly, like the Everbilt 5/16 - 5/8 in. clamps), improperly seated hoses, or damaged gaskets on the air gap body. Double-check all connections and the integrity of any rubber seals.

Is the 4-hour estimated time realistic for a beginner, and what makes it take that long?

Yes, 4 hours is realistic for a beginner. This accounts for thorough preparation, careful drilling (especially for a first-timer), routing hoses, making secure connections, and meticulous testing for leaks, which can take time to get right.

Transcript
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Okay, so this helps to have two people. I'm actually just using the disposal hose to feed it up through the bottom here As you can see here, quite a bit of threads are exposed, which is what you want I'm going to put your gasket there And actually I'm going to give myself a little bit more thread. So I'm going to Do the threads here a little bit That's much better Then go ahead and install the decorative cap And you're going to want to make sure that this outlet spout is facing towards the sink Anytime of there being an overflow. That's where the water will shoot out from All right guys, and here it is all installed and ready to go as you can see here Matches my delta stainless steel faucet and all of my stainless steel appliances in my kitchen

Auto-generated transcript. May contain errors.