Can a dishwasher be set up to run before the sink is installed?

Mary Becker
by Mary Becker

We are doing kitchen remodel and the sink counter top has been delayed big time. Can we hook up the dishwasher before the sink is in?

  5 answers
  • for the dishwasher you will need the water supply, an electric outlet and drain pipe/ line. If those are in place, you can put in the dishwasher first.

  • William William on Aug 03, 2018

    No. The water supply is tapped into the sink supply and the drain hose is connected to the sink drain.

  • Deb K Deb K on Aug 03, 2018

    If you have the plumbing and water lines in place you could, if it's just a matter of the sink missing but plumbing in place it should not be an issue

  • JanetL JanetL on Aug 04, 2018

    If you have any open-ended pipes under there (like the ones that were going to your sink) don't do it. You will have a big mess.

  • 17335038 17335038 on Aug 09, 2018

    Sure it can.

    Debker is right that if the plumbing lines are in place then the dishwasher runs the same as if the sink and sink taps were hooked up.


    If you are heading into a long spell without a sink, then what you can do is leave the sink taps in place so that you still have access to hot and cold running water. Instead of a sink with drain attached, put a medium sized sturdy plastic bin, such as a Rubbermaid bin, under where the taps run into.


    You will have to dump out the dirty water but you will have clean running water for the duration.( Do not use a large bin, as it will be heavy to carry to dump out the water.)