Some homes have fuse boxes instead, but they work the same way. If the circuit breaker switches aren’t labeled, test them individually or flip the big, main switch at the top to deactivate all power in your home.
If you’re unable to locate the valve, go to the main valve on your home. You can find it by following the main water line from the street to where it enters your home. Use it to shut off the water supply.
Thinner gloves are better than thicker gloves. You might have a harder time reaching underneath the dishwasher and grasping the leveling mechanisms with padded gloves. Leveling a dishwasher is easy and safe, but there is no harm in taking all possible safety precautions.
After taking off the screws, pull the toe kick panel off of the dishwasher and set it aside. If you don’t have a screwdriver, you could also use a 1⁄4 in (0. 64 cm) nut driver.
Access panels tend to have 4 screws, or 1 for each corner. These screws also hold the toe kick in place.
You won’t have to take the brackets off. They likely will have a second screw along the back end keeping them pinned to the countertop or cabinet.
If you’re unable to remove the lower rack, leveling the dishwasher is still possible. It’s just a little easier to do without the rack. You may need to make more adjustments to get it truly level.
For example, if you see the bubble move toward the back, it means that the dishwasher is higher in the back. Try lowering the back legs. You could also raise the front legs, but lowering the dishwasher is usually easier. If removing the lower rack isn’t an option, reach inside the dishwasher and hold the level against the upper edge of its opening.
The bubble moves toward the right if the right side is higher. Lower both of the right legs or raise the left legs. Do the opposite if it moves toward the left. Some levels have magnetic edges, and you can use this to your advantage if you’re unable to find a good spot for it. Close the door, then secure the level to its front.
Most dishwashers have the nut and bolt-style levelers. Make sure you’re able to access the nuts and rotate them freely. You can usually reach them from underneath the dishwasher, even when it’s under a cabinet or countertop. If you don’t see these big screws, look for smaller ones above the legs. Some types of dishwashers have them, particularly on the back legs.
Start with the back legs, since they are harder to reach in most cases. If you’re doing it on your own, pull the dishwasher forward just enough to expose the leveling nuts. You don’t have to use any force to shift the unit’s weight.
If the bubble moved toward the back, the back legs are high and should be lowered. If it moved toward the front, lower the front legs instead. If you have to level the dishwasher from left to right, work on its back leg first, shift its weight forward, then adjust its front leg. If you’re unable to rotate the nuts by hand, turn them with an adjustable wrench instead. Another option is to place a 3⁄16 in (0. 48 cm) socket wrench on top of the bolts and twist them that way. Some dishwashers have screws instead of bolts. For these, use a Phillips screwdriver to rotate the screws
Repeat the same adjustment you did with the back legs. For instance, lower the front legs if the spirit level bubble shifted toward the front. If you’re leveling from left to right, lower one of the legs to match the back leg you adjusted. Note that some dishwashers work in reverse. Rotating the nuts clockwise raises the legs, while turning them counterclockwise lowers them. You will see which way yours works as soon as you start adjusting the legs. If you can’t turn them by hand, use an adjustable wrench or socket wrench instead. Try to level the dishwasher so its top is flat and its sides are flush with nearby cabinets.
Leveling out the dishwasher can take a few attempts. It’s best to make gradual adjustments, lowering the higher legs until they are all even. If you’re unable to level the dishwasher using the legs, you could also purchase some wood shims from a hardware store. Shims are small pieces of wood or plastic you can place underneath the lower legs to raise them.
If you keep your dishwasher under something, such as a countertop or cabinet, closing the door might become a problem. It’s because the legs are too high. Try raising each of them by an equal amount. Remember to check the dishwasher again with a level after each adjustment. If it looks like it’s tilting despite the door working as intended, it could leak.
If you had to pull your dishwasher out to adjust it at all, push it back underneath the countertop or cabinet to secure the mounting brackets.
