If you hate doing the dishes, you may have considered adding a dishwasher to your home. But, if you really want to cut out the time you spend in the kitchen, you should add a second dishwasher. While it may seem excessive, adding a second dishwasher or a dishwasher drawer can drastically reduce the time you spend on chores.
Where to put the second dishwasher
Typically, the main dishwasher sits next to the sink, beneath cabinets holding plates and glasses, which makes it easy to load and unload. A second dishwasher should be placed strategically based on what you want its purpose to be. If you want a second dishwasher to clean glassware, locate it near where you store your glasses. Or, if you plan to use both for kitchen cleanup, have them flank your cleanup sink.
If this project is part of a total kitchen remodel, then you should incorporate the space for the second dishwasher into your plans. If you’re looking to add the dishwasher into an already established kitchen, choose the least-used cabinet to sacrifice. A typical dishwasher is 24 inches wide, but there are also 18- or 30-inch models available. Choose the size based on the space you have available.
There are a few options to consider when buying a new dishwasher. There is the standard full-sized integrated dishwasher that fits under the counter. Then, there are also single- and two-drawer dishwashers. Two-drawer dishwashers have an upper and lower section that can run independently of each other.
Installation
Installing a second dishwasher in your kitchen will follow the same process as the first one. First, you need to tap into the water supply. Then, you hook up the drain lines to the waste lines. Connect one of the dishwashers to the disposer and the second one to a branch tailpipe. The dishwashers then need to be wired to an electrical source. This will require snaking tubing and armored wire behind cabinets and maybe under floors to reach the second dishwasher.
Cost
Installing a second dishwasher may be a costly project. Concerning labor, the price will likely be somewhere between $200 and $300. Purchasing the actual second dishwasher will be expensive. A dishwasher can cost anywhere from $250 to $2,500. If you want a two-drawer dishwasher, they typically run around $1,300. A single-drawer dishwasher may cost approximately $700 to $1,000.