Your dishwasher drain hose needs to be the right length so that it can drain properly. If it’s too short, your dishwasher might not be able to drain all the water, and if it’s too long, the water might overflow onto the floor. What is the correct length?
Most dishwashers come with drain hoses with a length of 6 to 6 1/2 feet. In general, this length is enough to reach the drain of most sinks.
However, other factors contribute to how long your dishwasher drain hose should be, such as the height of your sink and the slope of your floor. Here’s a quick guide on how you should measure the length of your dishwasher drain hose.
Measure From The Dishwasher To The Drain
The first thing you need to do is measure from the dishwasher connection point on the back of your machine to where it attaches to your sink’s draining device. This can be a garbage disposal unit or a tee fitting connected to an air gap.
If you are connecting to the garbage disposal unit, you can measure from the connection point on your dishwasher or garbage disposal unit, whichever is easier for you.
You should also remember that a shutoff valve between these two points needs to be fully open when measuring. If it’s closed, this will affect the distance between these two points.
Measure From The Sink To The Drain
Now, you need to measure from your sink drain to where it connects with the plumbing of your home or building. You can do this by measuring from the bottom of your sink to where it attaches with a tee fitting or directly into an air gap.
If you’re using a tee fitting, then measure from the bottom of your sink to the top of the tee fitting. This will give you the length of your dishwasher drain hose.
Add The Extra Length For Fittings
Now that you have both measurements add on an extra inch for each connection point (dishwasher to sink and sink to drain). This will give you the total length of your dishwasher drain hose.
For example, if your dishwasher is connected to your sink by a garbage disposal unit, and the distance between these two points is 15 inches, you would need a dishwasher drain hose at least 17-18 inches long.
If you’re using a tee fitting, then you need to add an extra inch for the dishwasher connection point and another inch for the sink/tee fitting connection point.
In total, this will give you three inches of extra hose length. You should use this formula if your dishwasher is connected directly into an air gap, as well.
Different Types Of Dishwasher Drain Hoses
There are several different types of dishwasher drain hoses available on the market today. Each type is designed for a specific type of installation and length.
The most common form of dishwasher drain hose is the corrugated plastic hose. This type has ridges that are designed to keep it from collapsing under the pressure created when water flows through it, and they allow water to flow more smoothly than if there were no ridges at all. Corrugated hoses are available in many different lengths and diameters to suit your specific needs.
Another type of dishwasher drain hose is reinforced vinyl tubing, made from a flexible material that can be easily cut with scissors or a knife.
This type has ridges on its exterior, so water flows smoothly through it without any risk of kinking or rupturing under pressure.
Reinforced vinyl tubing is ideal for longer runs of hose because it will not collapse under pressure as corrugated hoses can.
Reinforced vinyl tubing is usually used for long-term installations or when multiple connections need to be made in sequences, such as between two different appliances or drain points.
Final Thoughts
Understanding how long your dishwasher drain hose should be is essential for ensuring a proper and safe installation.
Following the steps in this guide will help you choose the right type of hose and length for your specific needs. Remember to add on an extra inch or two for fittings, as these can affect the total length of your hose.
