Most kitchen appliances that use water need a water supply connection with an isolating valve, and many also need a waste connection to carry dirty water away. Washing machines and dishwashers usually need both, while some fridges with water dispensers and some specialist taps need a water supply only.
Getting these connections right can help prevent leaks and drainage problems later. Many appliance leaks start at a hose or valve rather than inside the appliance itself.
Water Supply Connections
Washing machines and dishwashers usually connect to the cold supply through a flexible hose and an isolating valve, although some models may be designed differently. The appliance maker’s instructions will say what the appliance needs.
Flexible hoses can wear, kink or perish over time, especially if the appliance is pushed back hard against the wall. Checking them now and then for bulges, cracks or damp can help catch problems early.
An isolating valve close to the appliance means the water can be turned off without shutting off the rest of the kitchen. This can be useful if a hose leaks or the appliance needs to be moved.
Fridges with water or ice dispensers and some hot water or filtered water taps need their own supply and sometimes a filter. These should be fitted following the maker’s guidance.
Waste Connections
Washing machines and dishwashers pump dirty water out through a drain hose. This often connects to a spigot on the sink trap or to a separate standpipe with its own trap. The connection needs to stop dirty water siphoning back into the appliance and should be able to cope with the water pumped out.
If the sink fills or gurgles when an appliance empties, the shared waste may be restricted or not set up in the best way. This does not always mean there is a blockage, but it may need checking.
What Plumbing Does Not Cover
The electrical supply to appliances, and faults with the appliances themselves, are separate from the plumbing. If an appliance is not working, the manufacturer or an appliance engineer may be the right contact. Do not open or repair electrical parts yourself.
If water is leaking near an appliance, keep clear of the plug and socket, and turn the water off at the isolating valve if it is easy to reach and turns normally.
Planning New Appliances
Integrated appliances can be harder to reach once fitted, so it helps to think about access to valves and hoses before the kitchen is finished.
Before buying, check where the appliance will go and whether there is a suitable supply, valve and waste nearby. Our page on kitchen plumbing services explains how supply and waste connections for kitchens are planned and fitted.
If you are adding or moving appliances in your Poole kitchen, a plumber can check the existing connections and explain what may be needed.