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Remove the Old Air Gap — Check and Clean the Drain Hose

Beginner3 hours

Part of project

How to Clean or Replace a Dishwasher Air Gap · Step 4 of 8

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In this video

From the top of the sink, unscrew the decorative cap and the large plastic nut holding the air gap in place. Pull the old air gap assembly down from under the sink. Place a bucket underneath to catch any water. Use a screwdriver to loosen the two hose clamps securing the dishwasher and garbage disposal hoses. Wiggle and pull both hoses off the old air gap nipples to completely remove it.

Goal: Disconnect and remove the old air gap assembly

  • Be prepared for some water to spill from the hoses when they are disconnected.

Used in this video

  • Screwdriver (brand: HDX, Screwdriver_Type: Flathead) — Loosening and tightening the hose clamps
  • Bucket · optional — Catching residual water from the drain hoses
153.4K views1.3K8 minutes
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FAQs

What are the essential tools I need for this project, and are there alternatives for the specific brands listed?

While specific brands are listed, the core tools required are pliers, a standard screwdriver (multi-bit is handy), and a scrub brush for cleaning. You will also need a reliable flashlight, a bucket, and plenty of towels or rags to manage spills. Any good quality versions of these basic tools will suffice.

What crucial safety precautions should I take before I start working on my dishwasher air gap?

The most important safety step is to disconnect power to your dishwasher at the circuit breaker before you begin to prevent electrical shock. Also, wear gloves to protect your hands from potential grime and use the bucket and towels to contain any water that might spill during the process.

Is this project truly beginner-friendly, and how much time should I realistically set aside?

Yes, this project is rated as beginner difficulty, primarily involving basic hand tool use. While the estimated time is 3 hours, a simple cleaning often takes less than an hour. A full replacement might take closer to 1-2 hours depending on how easily the old unit removes and the new one installs.

I've thoroughly cleaned my air gap, but my dishwasher is still not draining properly. What else could be the problem?

If cleaning the air gap didn't fix the issue, the blockage might be further down the drain line or within the dishwasher itself. First, check the drain hose that connects from the air gap to your sink's drain connection for kinks or clogs. If that's clear, you may need to inspect the dishwasher's internal drain filter or pump.

Transcript
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on this drain hose. Basically what you would do is you would remove the nut that secures the air gap to the sink itself. What you would do is once you remove it you would just pop it right off this will just allow the air gap to move freely. Once we loosen the air gap you can literally just pull it here from the bottom and from here we'll be able to remove our drain hose from our dishwasher as well as our rubber hose that ties into our garbage disposal. You simply just have to remove these two clamps. Once you remove the clamp go ahead and remove the hose. So here you can see just all of the build up and the food that's kind of rotted over some time inside this air gap. This is why we're having this problem with the smell. This is going to be the inside of the hose.

Auto-generated transcript. May contain errors.