Dishwasher and Microwave Installation by the People Who Repair Them
You’ve picked out the new dishwasher or the over-the-range microwave, and now it’s sitting in a box in the kitchen. The store’s delivery crew set it inside the door and left. What remains is the part that decides whether it works well for years to come: the water and drain connections done right, the mounting bolts in the right spot, the unit level so the door seals, and a full test cycle before anyone calls it finished.
Richmond Appliance Guys provides dishwasher and microwave installation in Richmond, VA and the surrounding counties. We’re a locally owned repair company based in Mechanicsville, and installation is a natural extension of what our three technicians do every day. We see what goes wrong when a dishwasher is connected carelessly, a drain hose is left without a high loop, or a microwave is hung from a bracket that isn’t anchored. That’s the perspective we bring to installing yours.
Dishwasher Installation
A dishwasher install is mostly plumbing and fit. We connect the water supply line to the shutoff valve under the sink, route and secure the drain hose to your garbage disposal or sink drain, connect the power cord to the outlet under the sink, slide the unit into the opening, level it front to back and side to side so the door closes squarely, and anchor it to the countertop or cabinet so it doesn’t rock when the racks are loaded. Then we run it through a cycle, checking for leaks at every connection and making sure it fills, drains, and shuts off the way it should.
If your new dishwasher didn’t come with a power cord, or the old cord is heat-damaged or too short, we install a new one. If your kitchen has no outlet under the sink and the old dishwasher was wired directly into a junction box, tell our office when you book so we can talk through the setup before the visit. Replacing an old dishwasher? Let us know it’s still in place. We’ll disconnect it so the new one can go in, but we don’t take old appliances with us, so plan for pickup or disposal separately.
Over-the-Range and Built-In Microwave Installation
An over-the-range microwave hangs from the cabinet above your stove on a wall mounting plate and bolts up through the cabinet floor. We set the plate at the right height and anchor it, configure the vent for your kitchen (either ducted out through existing ductwork or recirculating through a charcoal filter), lift the unit onto the plate, secure the top bolts, plug it into the outlet in the cabinet above, and test the cooking functions, vent fan, and cooktop light. If there’s no outlet in that upper cabinet, an electrician needs to add one before we can hang the microwave.
Built-in microwaves go into a cabinet cutout, usually with a trim kit that finishes the edges. We confirm the cutout fits the unit, mount the trim kit and the microwave squarely, connect the power, and test everything before we leave.
We install over-the-range and built-in models only. When you call, give our office the brand and model of the new unit so we can confirm we can install it and bring the right hardware.
Hookups, Cords, Brackets, and Leveling
Sometimes the appliance is already in place and it’s a single connection that needs a professional. We handle these as their own small jobs or as part of a larger visit:
| Service | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Water line hookup | Connecting a dishwasher supply line to the shutoff valve |
| Drain line hookup | Routing and securing a dishwasher drain hose with a proper high loop or air gap connection |
| Washer hose hookup | Connecting fill hoses and setting the drain hose on a washer that’s already in position |
| Power cord installation or replacement | Fitting a new cord to an appliance that came without one or whose cord is damaged |
| Anti-tip bracket installation | Anchoring the bracket that keeps a freestanding range from tipping forward |
| Appliance leveling | Leveling a dishwasher, range, washer, or refrigerator so doors seal and drums spin true |
| Final testing | Running the appliance through a full cycle and checking every connection |
The anti-tip bracket deserves a special mention. It’s a small piece of hardware that keeps a freestanding range from pitching forward if a child climbs on the open oven door or a heavy pan sits on it, and plenty of ranges are delivered and set in place without one. If yours was, we’ll anchor it and make sure the range engages it.
What We Don’t Install
We keep our installation work to the two appliances we’re set up to do well, plus the hookups above. We don’t install refrigerators, ranges, ovens, cooktops, washers, dryers, or range hoods, we don’t connect or alter gas lines, and we don’t take old appliances away. If you need one of those, the retailer’s delivery installer or a plumber is the right call, and we’re glad to come back afterward for the anti-tip bracket, leveling, or a hose hookup.
Before We Arrive
A little preparation makes the visit go smoothly. Have the new appliance on site, in the kitchen if possible. Clear the cabinet under the sink and the floor in front of the dishwasher opening, or the counter and cooktop under the microwave. If you know where the water shutoff is, point it out. For a microwave, check whether there’s an outlet inside the cabinet above the range. And if the installation is at a rental, send us the tenant’s contact information along with the name of the person who signs off on the work.
Pricing and Scheduling for Installation
Installation is scheduled during our regular weekday windows, 9 AM to noon or 1 PM to 4 PM, Monday through Friday. Because an installation is a defined job rather than a diagnosis, it isn’t priced like a repair visit with its $125 diagnostic fee. Tell our customer service representative exactly what you need installed and what’s already in place, and they’ll go over the pricing with you when you book, so there are no surprises when our technician arrives. Call 804-773-0784 between 8 AM and 5 PM on weekdays, or use the request form on our contact page.
Installation for Landlords and Property Managers
Turnovers are when dishwashers and microwaves get replaced, and they rarely happen one at a time. We work with property managers across Greater Richmond to schedule installations around move-in dates, coordinate access with tenants or leasing staff, and provide an invoice that documents the unit installed and the work done for your property file. If you’re replacing appliances in several units, tell our office and we’ll plan the visits together.
Already Have a Dishwasher or Microwave That Needs Fixing?
Installation isn’t always the answer. If your current dishwasher won’t drain or your over-the-range microwave has stopped heating, a repair may cost far less than a new unit plus installation. See our dishwasher repair and microwave and range hood repair pages, or, if you’re here for washer hoses, our washer repair page covers the machine itself.
Book Dishwasher or Microwave Installation in Richmond
Call Richmond Appliance Guys at 804-773-0784 or send us a request online with the brand and model of your new appliance. We’ll confirm we can install it, walk you through the pricing, and get you on the schedule. Our full list of services covers repair and maintenance for the rest of the kitchen and laundry room too.
