I have an older GE Dishwasher (about 15 years old) that still works fine. I
am having my counters, sink, disposal, and faucet fixture replaced soon. The
over flow for the dishwasher is directed to a spout sort of thing on top of
the sink, next to the faucet. The main out flow for the dish washer goes to
a port on the disposer. The new sink has a four hole configuration (three
for water, one for accessories). Can I safely plumb the dishwasher without
an overflow? Is there another means for providing an overflow other than a
spout on top of the sink? Could the overflow be connected to the drain in
the other side of the sink (non disposer side of a two well sink)? SWMBO
really wants to put a soap dispenser in the new sink. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance,

Les

Gina and Les Armstrong wrote:
I have an older GE Dishwasher (about 15 years old) that still works fine. I
am having my counters, sink, disposal, and faucet fixture replaced soon. The
over flow for the dishwasher is directed to a spout sort of thing on top of
the sink, next to the faucet. The main out flow for the dish washer goes to
a port on the disposer. The new sink has a four hole configuration (three
for water, one for accessories). Can I safely plumb the dishwasher without
an overflow? Is there another means for providing an overflow other than a
spout on top of the sink? Could the overflow be connected to the drain in
the other side of the sink (non disposer side of a two well sink)? SWMBO
really wants to put a soap dispenser in the new sink. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance,

Les


Not an overflow. Technically, it is an "air gap" device.
The purpose is to prevent waste water (from the disposal/sink drain)
from backing up *into* the dishwasher during a drain cloggage,
as an example. The air gap precludes siphon action occurring.
Many cities require their installation.

If not required, an alternative (not quite as positive)
is to create a loop in the dishwasher outlet hose which
rises under the counter as high as possible before going
down to the disposal.

Jim

"Gina and Les Armstrong" wrote in
message

I have an older GE Dishwasher (about 15 years old) that still works fine.
I am having my counters, sink, disposal, and faucet fixture replaced soon.
The over flow for the dishwasher is directed to a spout sort of thing on
top of the sink, next to the faucet. The main out flow for the dish washer
goes to a port on the disposer.


Yes, this is not an overflow, rather a device to prevent siphoning back to
the DW from the drain. In my case I just have a loop in the hose. Never
had a problem. You may have a local code requiring the air gap, but it will
still perform without it.

Once you do all the nice new work, how long do you think your wife is going
to let that old DW stay in place?

Not an overflow. Technically, it is an "air gap" device.
The purpose is to prevent waste water (from the disposal/sink drain)
from backing up *into* the dishwasher during a drain cloggage,
as an example. The air gap precludes siphon action occurring.
Many cities require their installation.

If not required, an alternative (not quite as positive)
is to create a loop in the dishwasher outlet hose which
rises under the counter as high as possible before going
down to the disposal.

Jim

When we first bought the house, the dishwasher would actually discharge
through the thing on top of the sink. I checked all the hoses and found the
hose that was connected to the disposer was totally clogged. I replaced the
hose and the DW discharged into the disposer as it was supposed to do. This
is why I thought it was an overflow. The hose coming from the DW attaches
to a "Y" at the "air gap" device, and another hose goes from the "Y" to the
disposer. This was the hose that was clogged. The hose from the DW is about
5 or 6 feet long. If I ran the hose up to the height of the sink and then
down to the disposer, would that create the loop/trap that you mentioned?

Les