Does the Solid Base on a Bosch Dishwasher Make it Harder to Install?

Spacing Preparation

• Before you install a Bosch dishwasher in your kitchen, you should conduct some initial spacing preparation to ensure the installation goes smoothly. All Bosch dishwashers with solid bases are made to be installed in standard residential kitchen cabinetry with a minimum height of 34 inches and width of 23 5/8 inches. Additionally, the dishwasher should be installed near the sink for the shortest access to the water supply and drain lines and should fit into the cabinetry so that it’s flush. The manual for Bosch dishwashers recommends that you verify sufficient door clearance if you install the appliance in a corner. Otherwise, the door may not be able to open all of the way.

Plumbing and Electrical Preparation

• Bosch requires the same general installation for plumbing and electrical preparation of its dishwashers with solid bases as other dishwasher manufacturers. A dishwasher’s water inlet valve must be connected to the hot water supply line below the sink. Its drain line must be installed so that the dishwasher’s waste water drains into the household drain or an air gap if mandated by local ordinance. Additionally, a dishwasher’s electrical supply cable or power cord must be inserted through a strain relief plate that’s included in the installation kit before it’s inserted in an electrical outlet to make the dishwasher safe to use.

Dishwasher Preparation

• The dishwasher needs to be mounted to the cabinetry to keep it in place. Again, the hard base doesn’t affect how the dishwasher is mounted, but the counter-top surface does. Because you can’t easily drill hard counter-top surfaces, such as granite and marble, the mounting bracket must be attached to the cabinet as a side mount. For all other counter-top surfaces that can tolerate a drill, the mounting bracket is installed on top of the dishwasher. Remove the toe panel and separate solid base at the bottom of the dishwasher. Both pieces are loosely attached either with tape or some other fastener that can be easily removed. Take off the junction box cover that surrounds the dishwasher and the strain relief plate, which you must unscrew to remove. See the installation diagram if needed. Set the components aside to install later. Each of these components -- toe panel, solid base, junction box and relief plate -- must be temporarily removed so that you can attach the door panel.

Base Installation

• After the door panel is attached, the junction box and relief plate can be installed and the dishwasher can be inserted in the cabinetry. Attach the solid base so that it goes under and up the front bottom panel of the dishwasher. Once in place, attach the base screws that came in the installation kit to secure it in place. Insert the cotton insulation strip from the installation kit in the small space beneath the base and above the floor. Attach the toe panel over the solid base and tighten its screws until the panel is secure.