Can I Hook Up a Regular Washer to My Kitchen Faucet?

Built-In Models

• A built-in dishwasher sits in an open space under your kitchen counter, alongside the lower cabinets. The dishwasher may have some insulation on the sides, but the insulation is exposed. Built-in dishwashers must be anchored to the counter, since they do not have a base that keeps them sitting level as you open and close the door. The dishwasher hooks up to a water supply valve in the wall the same way the sink does, and is not intended to hook up to the kitchen faucet, either above or below the counter.

Portable Models

• Portable dishwashers either sit on the kitchen floor or the counter top, and can be moved either by carrying them or by the wheels on the base of the dishwasher’s cabinet. These dishwashers come with a retractable water supply line, which has a nipple that fits onto most kitchen faucet spouts. The nipple has a rubber gasket that keeps the connection watertight so water does not spray out between the spout and supply hose’s connection, as long as you install the supply hose correctly.

Pros and Cons

• A portable dishwasher that connects to the kitchen sink’s faucet offers some pros and cons. On the plus side, a portable dishwasher allows you to have a dishwasher in homes where you would normally have to wash all of the dishes by hand. The portable dishwasher does not take away valuable cabinet storage space in a small kitchen. However, while a portable dishwasher is running, you cannot use the kitchen faucet for any other functions. Not threading the dishwasher’s supply hose onto the faucet’s spout can result in water spraying all over the kitchen.

Converting

• Some portable dishwashers come with a conversion kit, or you can purchase one separately, that allows you to remove the dishwasher’s cabinet so you can install the dishwasher under the counter. The conversion kit also comes with the necessary hardware to connect water supply hoses to water supply valves located under the kitchen counter, like built-in dishwasher models. With a convertible dishwasher, you do not have to purchase a new dishwasher if you remodel your kitchen or move to a new house that allows for a built-in dishwasher.