PIP: Are these 100% necessary? dishwasher overflow

[mrs.jacinthe]

Technically, that's an air gap. They're required per CA code. I'm guessing your house wouldn't pass inspection without one.
There's an alternative of installing a check-valve, but that's not approved per CA code because food can get stuck in the valve and hold it open.

[megstoo]

I think they're ugly as well and I always found that mold got under there. We live in VA and our old rental apartment had one but our house doesn't.

[jena]

They are not required everywhere. I've actually never seen one in real life.

[mrs.jacinthe]

Aug 29, 2014 14:31:24 GMT -5 @bluesky said:

Thankfully I've found some nicer covers online and can buy one and swap it out. It didn't help that they installed that shiny thing lol.

I'm still a bit confused though...if you don't have one, how does the dishwasher overflow work?

What overflow?  Do you mean the drain?  The water from ours goes into the disposer through a little hole/plug thingy on the side.

ETA: If water comes out of the airgap, it's not installed correctly or something isn't working properly in your dishwasher/sink plumbing.

[moolarkey]

I have never seen one before

[redheadk]

They used to be code here but not anymore. When we had new countertops installed in our old house, we didn't have the air gap. Our new house doesn't have one.

[lavender444]

I have never seen one of those, either. Where is it located on your counter? Is it near the sink or just floating out there, taking up counter space?

[adhdfashion]

Those are on like every sink in Washington. Opposite side has the soap dispenser. In the middle is the facet. Is it in your counter? Because that would be weird.