Expert: speedball1 - 6/27/2004

Question
I am a new home owner and we just bought and installed a new dishwasher.  After finally getting everything hooked up we turned the dishwasher on and it worked.  But, when we turned on the sink hardly any water came out.  What did we do wrong?

Answer
Good morning Debbie,  You didn't do anything wrong, however in teeing off the hot line to supply the dishwasher I think you disturbed some of the mineral buildup, (pipe wall scale) and that is now clogging, (1) your areator screens or, (2) the inlet seat or port of the kitchen faucet.  Try this.  Unscrew the areator from the end of the spout and check to see if the screens are clogged.  Remember how you took it apart, it MUST go back the same way to work.  If the screens are clean then the clog will be located in the seats if a two handled faucet or the inlet ports of the cartridge if a one handled valve.  You will then have to shut the water off at the angle stops located in the cabinet and open up the faucet to clean the openings and flush out the supply lines.  To give you detailed instructions I will have to know exactly what faucet you have.  The brand name,( a model# or style name would be nice).  How old is it?  One handle or two knobs?  Let me know how you make out.  Hope this helped and thank you for rating my answer.  Cheers,  Tom