I just paid this company to come fix my dishwasher draining problem and he told me to RU-vid "air gap installation" and you popped up. The tech said most all techs use RU-vid for repairs. Thanks for helping me do the job myself!! Hopefully 🤞$165 for their company to tell me that.😔
Well I’m glad I could be of help. Yeah no a days there’s pretty much anything you’d need to know on RU-vid. I’m trying to be one of those resources people find when they have a unique or common problem.
Thanks for the diagram of where the hoses are and how the water flows! So helpful! I'm 82yrs young and fixed it all myself!!! I'm strong, so getting the hose off once clamp off was a tussle, but I DID IT! Thank you so much for the clear directions (especially the diagrams!)
Thank you so much. I’m happy that I could be of help. I knew that I probably was not the only one who had this problem and it was wondering how to fix it. So I did my best to explain, in depth, the steps that I took, and to help other people problems solve. I’m happy you got this done good job.!
This video was perfect. After watching this video I inspected my air gap tube that went to the garbage disposal and found it clogged. 5 min fix. Thank you!!!!
I almost grabbed one of the clear tubes. I bought the exact one you showed. I'm running the rinse cycle now. I did it all by myself! My husband will be impressed!! I started watching another video before I came upon this one. Both very helpful. Thank you for uploading!
I was just wandering around RU-vid to find out what kind of hose to use for my air gap. For some reason tapped on your video first and got my answer, thanks.
I watched four or five videos to figure out why my dishwasher wasn’t draining and none of those videos suggested to look at the airway you showed. Thank you so much! You helped me find the clog in the air gap! There was some plastic from a fork stuck in there. Next time I will check there first. Thanks again!
My old GE dishwasher stopped draining at 12:30 am I was staring the dishwasher run before morning and i was almost in tears at 1:30 am after alot stuff happening in this old house this was the final straw, I decided to google for possible help after searching and scouring the internet for help and by some miracle I came a crossed your video about the air gap valve and I got an old long flexible clear plastic tube that was attached to my grandsons led ballon , I inserted it and it came back filled with gunk and after a few tries it was cleared and at 2:35 am, my dishwasher is draining better than before, you saved me a repair bill I could not afford and relieved me of so much unneeded stress , so thank you so very much
Wow, that is amazing to hear. I always wonder if people are going to find any of the videos I make helpful and when I hear things like this, it’s nothing but motivation for me to keep on going. I’m always trying to put something out there that I feel people could truly get some value from, so thank you for the kind words and I’m so happy that you got this fixed. Happy that I could be of help.
This has been and on going problem for me, almost called a plummer to fix it..Just happened to stumble across your utube video, wow it definitely worked. First I removed the air gap filter cleaned it then I removed the garage disposal hose and flushed with hot water. It was just to easy and just like that problem solved... Dishwasher running like new, and the dishes are sparkling clean.... Thank you so much for this video, definitely saved me money....... 💰
ok, thank you so much!!! We have had this flooding issue for a year, and I was about to spend a lot of money to try and repair it. Your solution was exactly the problem. "Clean the hose all the way through to the disposal." I found a 2 inch long piece of gunk in the line. Removed the gunk, and its works like new. You are so awesome. Thanks, mark2
Thanks for the help, definitely saved me from having to hire a plumber. I took out the little vent cleaned it all out it was full of grease and food. Cleaned out all the hoses and everything seems to be working without an issue.
fixed my flooding sink area in literally 30s thanks to this, the line to the disposal was reduced in diameter from 1/2 to 1/8" with food junk and the water would spray back. Thanks dude
I wasn't able to push any debris through, as you suggested, so took a cardboard tube (from toilet paper) , created a seal and blew. This pushed the debris through after only 2 tries. Thanks for your easy to follow video!
That’s cool you figured out another way. Yeah the wire sometimes doesn’t get it all. It’s good to punch through a blockage and hopefully get everything else flowing and cleaned out. But the next step would be to remove the tube completely and physically clean it all out. Good job!
The coaxial cable was the secret!!! Thank you so much! I had a little snake, but it kept getting caught at the hose curve, I think. The coaxial cable pushed the clog right out. (Knew I kept a few of those around for something...) Thanks again. 😁👍
That’s great to hear. Yeah it’s funny how the simplest or most random suggestion could be the quick work around to get something done. I’m all about problem solving 🤙🏼
Dude! Thank you very much. I watched the video and did exactly as you recommended. When I disconnected the hose from the disposal, the hose was clogged with some disgusting old food and stuff. I cleaned the hose very well, reassembled the hose and vent.... voila! it works perfectly.
Man that’s awesome to hear. I’m always happy to see when someone finds my videos helpful. I know the feeling when you fix something yourself that is a headache but now it’s up and working. Good job!
I watched 2 other videos b4 getting to this. Your solution was the one that fixed my problem. The systematic approach worked well, try the easiest fix first as a "check" then get down n dirty in the garbage disposal black drain tube. Lots of gunk. I didn't have a coax cable but a long folded over/twisted bailing wire worked well. Thank you !
Nice! Good job on figuring it out. I know a coax cord is random, but it was all I had that was flexible enough but still Ridgid enough to push through any gunk. Happy you found the video helpful. 🤙🏼
You’re very welcome. I’m happy you got it all figured out. I was hoping that some people would find this video helpful so I felt like I needed to put it out there. Thank you for finding my video in my channel.
Yep, nobody believed me. " An air gap? What is that?" Now they know as well. Great explanation and breakdown. For those non-believers. I'm subscribed now. Let's go fix more stuff!
That’s what I’m talking bout! The more you know. It feels good to fix things yourself and the more you do the easier new things become. It all adds up. Thanks for subscribing!! I appreciate it!
Just wanted to thank you for this very well laid out video. Earned a sub for the no fluff, information full video style. Looking forward to the rest of your channel
I removed the airgap cover on top of the sink & squeezed the plastic portion off as you described. I poured hot water in there kept it open ran the rinse cycle nine minutes and had a empty jar over the air gap so the water wouldn’t splash all over. I also utilized one of those little plastic sink cleaners one can purchase at the dollar store. It helped me move some debris after running the rinse cycle a few times. It was completely clear and now the water flows into the garbage disposal instead of into the top of the sink. I believe that the dishes weren’t completely being rinsed because of the slow flow of water through the air gap. Thank you very much.
That’s awesome that you fix that. That’s exactly what happens. If that drainage line gets plugged, it ruins the whole process of cleaning your dishes and also how they dry. Helping the whole thing is keeping your dishes before you put them in if you’re able to. The food and debris gets caught in that line somehow making it past the dishwasher filter. Then it gets caught in the drainage line, and these problems start, good job getting it fixed 🤙🏼
Thanks man, i was able to trace my clog to the airgap itself but your video helped show how to pop the two caps above the counter. Cleared it, much appreciated. btw i detach the black drain hose and use a length of rebar w/ a small piece of damp rag on the tip to clear out the grease buildup inside every 3-4 years, works pretty good.
good info, brief and to the point( and bonus points for no anoying background music!). One thing: you said 'some dishwahsers do not require an air gap' but I think you might mean 'some states (codes) do not require air gap for dishwasher installs'?
I had the dish washer running when I removed the inner air gap cap. It shot a clog out then became a 2-foot high fountain. It was a bit dramatic but it solved the problem. Thanks for the video.
lol well at least you got it fixed. I would not recommend this method to others though. Haha. Make sure you turn off the dishwasher or at least don’t do it while a cycle is running. Happy you got it handled though.
Brilliant! Cost me $200 a couple of months ago just to have the airgap cap cleaned out. Same problem again now. I could fix but my fingers are not strong enough to get cap off.
You’re very welcome. I was hoping this video would help a few people out. I know how frustrating it is having to wait for a plumber when maybe it’s something you can do yourself and save some money
4:36 - I appreciate the deeper explanation of the air gap purpose. Our entire countertop flooded thanks to the discharge hose clog, along with that broken white plastic cap. Speaking of.. what is that white plastic thingy called (4:36). I think that cap plus the top part that screws in needs to be replaced.
Thank you! That piece is called different thing on different brands as they have slight variations on design. But it’s usually referred to as a cap/top in some diagrams. I don’t believe they sell it by itself. You would most likely need to buy a new air gap all together.
Even I could do this. I used a rigid wire down the air gap and could actually see it come out via the space above the garbage disposal- Wasn't a ton of gunk, but ew that disposal was gross. Cleaned that rubber fitting and put the air gap back together and presto! $500 saved. Thanks FKC!
your diagram of the dishwasher connection with the air adaptor was super helpful. I was able to clean. the hose with a long wire brush, cleaned it with bicarb and vinegar, now the dishwasher drains perfectly. thanks!
@@anthonyzarrillo6565 awesome! That was my goal, to try and put some Info out there that people could follow and get their problems fixed or maybe even self diagnose once they understand what’s going on. Happy to hear this
Your welcome! The dishwasher to the air gap should come with the dishwasher. It’s usually a corrugated hose, and it has rubber fittings on both ends that a clamp goes over to hold onto the dishwasher and the end piece of the air gap. You can search on Amazon or find it at Home Depot easily. Very common. They just call it a dishwasher drain hose
Trying to help mother with her dishwasher. She has had dirty water in bottom after running a load and water gurgling out of air gap while cycle is running. Her drain hose enters bottom of cabinet from about 3' horizontally away from where the air gap is. The drain hose was extra long, entered cabinet, went downhill a couple inches almost the whole 3' before turning up to meet the air gap. Then she has the stiff black hose from air gap going to garbage disposal. Backwards water slide action though as inlet to garbage disposal was on opposite side from air gap. It too was long and it was swooping down below where it connects to the garbage disposal. Removed black hose and flushed with warm water, several big chunks came out. Then reinstalled making sure no longer going down and back up into garbage disposal using zip tie to hold it up. Now don't have any more gurgling out of air gap, but still standing water in bottom of dishwasher after a cycle. Do you think both hoses & air gap need to be disassembled and properly cleaned to be sure there aren't any clogs elsewhere? How about the extra long drain line essentially laying on the cabinet floor for 3'? Does this need to be picked up like a high loop above the filled sink line before reaching the air gap or is that redundant to the purpose of the air gap? Does the trajectory (up/downhill) matter for that portion or does the dishwasher pump it regardless? Any idea if there is a standard for how much gravity slope for any of this stuff like in plumbing drain? Thanks!!
Sounds like you have a good understanding of what’s going on. The fix from the air gap to the garbage disposal is key. You need that to flow smoothly. The part from the dishwasher to the air gap isn’t as critical in the way to line lays because it does have the pump from the dishwasher pushing the water. It’s a good thing to not have excessive length if not needed. And less ups and downs as possible. But it is starting at a down by the floor of the dishwasher and making its way up to the air gap. So not too critical. That line is usually a smaller diameter though, so that’s usually the hiccup. That line gets clogged pretty easy with gunk. So make sure the line from the dishwasher to the air gap is clean and clear. Also if you have standing water in the bottom of the dishwasher make sure you have the drain & screen inside the dishwasher cleaned out as well. That is usually the first thing people check because it catches all the big stuff and if that clogs up it will not let the water properly flush out. It’s on the floor of the dishwasher inside the unit. Usually an easy 1/4 turn and it will come out by hand. Clean that as often as needed.
I tried this but it's still leaking/overflowing. The hose is ribbed/corrugated, which I'm assuming is wrong, but also there is a solid cupboard wall hiding the dishwasher end of the hose making it hard to replace. Do you have a video/tips on how to access that end? I have zero dishwasher experience, except for the dishes part
To get to the hose connection on the dishwasher you’d need to pull the dish washer out of the base cabinet. It’s usually pretty easy to do. If you open you dishwasher door and look at the area where the dishwasher meets the under side of the countertop you’ll most likely see a couple screws that are holding down two metal tabs that connect to the dishwasher. They are usually small screws that screw into the bottom side of you countertop underlayment. You under those screws and the washing machine should slide out like pulling a stove/fridge/washer dryer away from the wall. It’s usually just a couple simple screws holding it in place. As far as the water still coming out of the air gap I’d check the hose going down from the air gap to the garbage disposal/drain and the air gap itself. Usually the tube from the dishwasher to the air gap isn’t the problem in this situation. Water is obviously not having a problem getting to the air gap, it’s having a problem at the air gap or from the air gap to the drain. If the dishwasher was having problems with water/food/draining during the wash cycle then I’d be more focused on the washer drain line and the washers itself. Make sure the air gap is clear, that the washer line and the line going to the drain are on the right parts of the air gap. And make sure the air gap has the little plastic piece that clips in over the two holes that redirects the water back down into the drain line. When that little piece is missing it will allow water to get everywhere inside the air gap and cause the overflow or spilling.
@@FortKnoxCo thank you for such a clear explanation! I tried your wire trick, and when that failed, I blocked the outlet to the small dishwasher tube with clay, used a toilet paper roll to make a tight seal with my small makita blower, and pushed air through for a minute, and that cleared up the problem! Does this sound to you like a safe method to try again if the problem comes back? I wasn't sure if the air pressure might risk damage to any parts of the system
@@Casadero1 sounds like you figured it out. Pushing air shouldn’t hurt so lang as your not over pressurizing the pipe/tube. They can withstand a good amount of psi but if what you did worked then that could be a future solution. Just be cautious with the amount of pressure you trap in the pipe when clearing it up and gauge it. That’s awesome you got it figured out. Good job !
I just followed all the steps apart from replacing the hose because it is a proper one. It didn’t work unfortunately. What could be the next thing the check?
What is happening? Water coming out of the air gap and not going down to the garbage disposal? Or is the dishwasher not getting water up to the air gap? If water is coming out of the air gap then the washer is obviously getting water forward to the air gap, but something is either not redirecting it back down to the other hole/hose to the garbage disposal. Or it’s plugged from the garbage disposal to air gap, which means you might need to focus on the tube connected to the garbage disposal, possibly replace it with a new clean tube, remove the garbage disposal and look more closely to the opening/connection for the tube, sometimes that is heavily plugged. And make sure you have the small plastic water redirecting cap on your air gap. If that’s missing or not correctly pushed into place it will most certainly let water get everywhere and leak out
Regarding the hose that goes to the garbage disposal I thought I had seen when the installation individuals should have put a J-bend in the drainage hose? Is this correct?
I’m not sure as far as the JB that you’re referring to. Normally the hose that goes to the garbage disposal is coming from the air gap, so that means that it’s coming from up above and then back down. There are some ways to plumb this where you do not have to install an air gap, but you do need that Drainage line from the dishwasher to go up and then back down. You don’t want water sitting down in the bottom of a low spot.
I change the dishwasher airgap put a new one on and I have a new garbage disposal and a new dishwasher that was put in about six months ago. I noticed that there was water on the countertops and on the floor when I came in one afternoon so I’m still seeing after changing all that stuff out. I am still seeing the water come out same way out of the dishwasher airgap
Did you make sure the air gap has the small plastic cap that sits above the two tubes inside it? That piece redirects the water and keeps it from just overflowing in there. I’ve seen that be a very common reason.
Get video and diagram! My hoses don't seem to be cloged but the white plastic cap of the air gap has come off the counter. What bonding material should I use to secure it in place to the Caesar stone countertop? Thank you.
Thank you. If you’re just referring to the cap that covers the air gap, they are usually just held in place by friction. They slide overtop and have a tight fitting or possibly a rubber ring to create a seal and friction between the surfaces. I’d check that and see if there something you can clean or replace to make the contact tighter If your air gap is loose and not secured tightly to the counter top then you might need to tighten the ring that goes on under the counter top that secures it down. If the plastic nut is missing you may need to replace the air gap itself so you have all the proper pieces. And if the hole in your countertop is too big for the washer /nut under the counter to secure tightly you may need to use a larger washer on top or below the counter to create a tighter fit. The air gaps are not usually held in place by any bonding material.
Thanks for your quick reply and tips. The cap needed to be screwed into the air gap hose tightly to create a tight fit with the counter. I didn't realize there were threads!
You mentioned in your air gap connector video that you don’t necessarily need it as it’s no longer code in some states/cities. Can I bass and hook my dishwasher hose directly to the garbage disposal ?
But when you do it you just want to make sure it goes up above the garbage disposal and back down to the connection to the garbage disposal hook up. You done want water from your sink making its way from the garbage disposal down to your dishwasher. So it needs to go up, like maybe touching the underneath of your countertop and then down to your garbage disposal. If that makes sense
Curious if it's common for the 'correct' air gap to disposal tube to fail over time? It seems every couple of years that hose collapses into a kink or two and I have to replace it.
That could be a possibility. Depending on what brand you might notice different thicknesses on the pipe wall. Also, when installing you want to make sure there isn’t any torque on the pipe, especially when it’s corrugated. That can cause it to collapse on itself. But I have noticed that the pipe does Seem to kink easily if you twist it too much. And sometimes the ones that come with the dishwasher are pretty cheap.
Waters still coming out the air gap when the washing machine is draining? If it is that at least means your washing machine pump is working and water is getting from the machine to the air gap. So you need to focus on the air gap itself and the path to the garbage disposal. Make sure the water line from the washing machine to the air gap is connected to the correct side. Sometimes the hose connections are switched at the air gap. Also check the air gap again to make sure you have that small plastic piece that clicks in over the top on the inside. That small plastic piece is critical in redirecting the water from one hole back down to the other. If all of that is good then consider taking off the hose that goes down to the garbage disposal. That easily gets food stuck in it especially at the garbage disposal itself. Clearing that path will allow water to flow freely.
Yep. That could be park of it. It may not be draining properly and having the old food gunk in the line leaving bacteria causing the smell. But I would also check you actual dishwasher screen/filter. It should be in the bottom of your dishwasher when you open it up look under your bottom rolling rack. On the floor of the inside of your dishwasher there should be a thing you tune and open and can clean out the screen where the water drain from. I’d check that for sure
Do you have any other recommendations on how to fix? We cleaned out the water gap and even removed the pipe connecting to the dishwasher - a bunch of food came out and we positioned it back to place. but when we tried to run the cycle again water still continued to come out from the water gap.
Did you also clean out the tube that goes from the air gap to the garbage disposal? You need to make sure that the tube from the dishwasher to the air gap is clean like you said, the air gap itself is clean and it also has that little plastic cap that redirect the water from one hole back down to the next. and then you need to make sure that the tube from that other hole going down to the garbage disposal is clean. Food commonly gets stuck in the tubes. The one going from the air gap to the garbage disposal can get gunk up just as easily as the other, but you also wanna look into the opening where it connects to the garbage disposal. Sometimes food will build up right there where it feeds into the garbage disposal and it gets backed up like a plug. So if that is also jammed up, it will cause the water to backfill and spill out of your air gap.
I have a new Bosch dishwasher… Which I hardly use. When I was looking under the sink for some thing, I noticed at the drain line coming from the Bosch into the disposal had water in it. The water was nice and clean but I wondered why that line isn’t empty. I reset the cycle and ran it through manual rinse and drain cycle. The hose is clear so I could see the water being flushed to the disposal but when it was done it still had left water in the hose. Is this normal? If not what should I look for?
That’s usually fine. You don’t want any big dips or low spots if possible . You want a clean run to the air gap and a smooth run down to the garbage disposal. The low spots can act like a P Trap and hold water that isn’t forced out during the flush. It’s not a bad thing, but you don’t want a lot of water sitting in the lines if possible. As long as it’s clear and you can see the water flowing through during the cycle it should be fine. You might be able to get rid on the dips in the line and help that water make its way out.
ABSOLUTELY BY FAR THIS IS THE BEST REMEDY...Obtain the cardboard tube feom you typical paper towels. Remove the cover to the air gap cover. Then place one end of the tube snuggly onto the air gap, no need to remove anything other then the cover. Once snug in place, take A DEEP BREATH and blow hard into the tube, there will be some resistance and BOOM you've just blew out the clog... WORKS 100% of the time😊😊😊😊😊😊😊
I would check the filter in your dishwasher. Usually an easy twist to a plastic piece in the bottom of your dishwasher and it pops off and you can see if it’s clogged up. Then I’d check the garbage disposal itself. Take the pipe off and see if it has gunk in it that you can remove by rinsing or scraping. Sometimes the plug of gunk is at the garbage disposal itself at the connection where the tube is. Clean that out. If all of that is clean and working then it may be something with the air gap. So replacing the air gap could be the final step. But making sure the hose to the air gap and hose from the air gap to the garbage disposal are clean is a must.
That’s awesome to hear!! Happy I could be of help! It feels good to save that money for sure. I appreciate you finding my video and giving it a chance.
Bryan, I was at a vacation house where when the dishwasher was run, sometimes water would come out of the air gap but otherwise, dirty dish water would build up in the main bowl of the double sink and if I ran the garbage disposal, the main bowl would drain but the dirty water would then flow through the drain into the other bowl. Eventually the water in both would drain slowly. Any idea what the issue was?
There is probably some clogged parts around the connections to the garbage disposal and in the garbage disposal. If the water is making it to the sink area and not draining fast enough and backing up it’s most likely at the drain/garbage disposal. The small port on the side of the disposal that allows water to drain to the sewer is most likely gunked up
That could cause it to back up into the washer. But you could also have a clogged washer filter. If you open the washer , look on the inside floor of the washer. Probably have to pull the bottom rack all the way out, you can see a cap/filter, you usually turn it a 1/4 turn and it comes off and you can clean out any large food/debris that might be stuck in there. From there it goes to your washer pump, to the hose and to the air gap. So anything along that system could be clogged. Worst case you washer pump is not working.
Should there be water in the dishwasher drain hose going to the air gap/overflow? I can take the cap off the overflow and see water in the smaller hose (dishwasher drain hose) when dishwasher is not in use. There is no leaking and no standing water in my dishwasher after running a cycle.
The line usually stay open and clear. But depending on your dishwasher it may not eject all the water and finish with a push of air to clear that out. The main thing is that it’s not standing in your dishwasher obviously. It it’s sitting between the washer and the air gap that could be ok so long as it’s not because it’s clogged or jammed and not allowing some water to escape. Usually the dishwasher install instructions will show how the line is supposed to run as to not have any dips or unnecessary twists to avoid sitting water.
I’m experiencing a slightly different issue with my dishwasher. In addition to water coming out of the air gap, I’ve noticed that the bottom of the dishwasher is filling with water, and the inner tube of the air gap pipe is also backed up with water. Do you have any idea what might be causing this?
The air gap no flowing right will cause water to back up in the drain pipe going towards your dishwasher. So making sure that tube is clear as well as the air gap. You gotta remove all gunk or food chunks out. Also check your dishwasher itself. It pumps water out from the bottom and there is a cover on the floor of your dishwasher that you can remove with just a twist. Inside you can see a little basket filter that is meant to catch large pieces of food. Make sure that is all cleaned out as well. That being gunned up can cause all those problems too.
Do you have the small plastic clip on the air gap that redirects the water back down the other tube? And if it’s getting water out of the dishwasher that’s good. You next ace to look is the like from the air gap to the garbage disposal. If the water is gettin stopped on the way down and can’t flow freely into the garbage disposal/sink drain then it will back up and spill out. Check the tube going to the garbage disposal and the connection at the garbage disposal. Sometimes there gunk/food particles plugging up the entrance to the garbage disposal, so you like is clear but at the garbage disposal itself it’s stopping the water flow.
I notice the water drain line from the dishwasher goes directly to the air gap. And when the dishwasher drains I see water coming out the air gap then flows down to the drain line to the disposal. If I take the plastic cap off the air gap water will overflow all over the counter when the dishwasher is draining.. is this normal
Are you referring to the plastic cap as in the cover of the air gap? Like the silver or gold finish cap? Or the small plastic piece that clips in above the hole in the top of the air gap? The small plastic piece that clips in redirects the water from one hole , the dishwasher tube, to the other hole , the garbage disposal. If you remove that small clip in cap it will just let water spray all over. It’s there to act like a U-Turn for the water to go back down and find its way to the garbage disposal and drain. The air gap cover that usually just pulls off is mainly for cosmetic purposes and doesn’t really have a function other than cleaning up the look of your air gap.
