Dishwashers are a common cause of kitchen water damage in Finland, which is why home insurers pay close attention to how they are installed. A slow drip from a hose can soak into the cabinet base and the floor for weeks before anyone notices. This guide explains the leak tray, leak detectors, the insurance side and what to check before your new dishwasher arrives.
Why the leak tray matters
A leak tray (vuotokaukalo) is a shallow tray with raised edges that sits under the dishwasher. If a hose, connection or the machine itself starts to leak, the water collects in the tray instead of spreading under the cabinets. A good tray is sized for the machine and lets leaking water show at the front, so you notice the problem early.
Leak trays are inexpensive and sold in hardware and appliance stores in standard sizes. Fitting one takes minutes when the machine is installed, but it is awkward to add later, because the dishwasher has to come out of its niche. If water has already escaped, see our guide to a water leak at home.
Home insurance: read the safety instructions
Most home insurance (kotivakuutus) policies in Finland come with safety instructions (suojeluohjeet). These are conditions you are expected to follow, and for dishwashers they often include:
- a leak tray under the machine
- installation according to the manufacturer's instructions
- connection hoses in good condition, without kinks or cracks
If a leak causes damage and the safety instructions were not followed, the insurer may reduce the compensation or refuse it. The exact wording differs between insurers and policies, so read your own terms. They are usually in the policy documents or in your insurer's online service.
If you rent your home, the same applies to your own home insurance. Ask your landlord too, because some rental agreements have their own rules about appliances.
Leak detector with automatic shut-off
A leak detector (vuotovahti) goes one step further. A sensor sits in the leak tray, and when it gets wet it sounds an alarm. Models with an automatic shut-off valve also cut the water supply to the machine, so a leak stops even when nobody is home.
Most detectors run on batteries or plug into a socket. Models that need a hard-wired electrical connection must be installed by an electrician. A detector is not usually required, but it is worth considering if the dishwasher often runs while you are out or overnight.
How a dishwasher is connected
A dishwasher needs three connections:
- Water. The inlet hose connects to a dishwasher valve (astianpesukoneventtiili) on the body of the kitchen tap (faucet), or to a separate angle valve (kulmaventtiili) under the sink. Use the new hose that came with the machine. An old hose should not be reused, because rubber hardens with age and the hose is the weakest point of the whole installation.
- Drain. The drain hose connects to the appliance branch on the sink trap (vesilukko). It is raised and secured in a loop so that dirty water cannot run back into the machine. If the trap has no suitable branch, the trap is replaced, and the new trap is charged separately.
- Power. The machine plugs into a normal earthed socket, usually inside the kitchen cabinets. If there is no socket, an electrician needs to add one before installation. A plumber does not do electrical work.
After connecting, the machine is pushed into place, levelled with its adjustable feet and fixed under the worktop. If the hoses run through a cabinet side panel, the hole must be large enough that the hoses don't rub. Finally, a test run shows whether every joint stays dry.
Integrated or freestanding? Measure first
Standard dishwashers are 60 cm wide, and slimline models are 45 cm wide. Measure the width, height and depth of the niche and compare them with the installation dimensions in the manufacturer's instructions. The adjustable feet cover a certain height range, but not an unlimited one.
A fully integrated machine sits behind a kitchen door panel, which is fitted according to the manufacturer's template. A freestanding machine is simpler to install and move. When you replace an integrated machine, check that the new one works with your existing door panel and plinth.
Checklist before installation
- Read the safety instructions in your home insurance policy.
- Measure the niche and check the new machine's installation dimensions.
- Check that there is an earthed socket within reach of the power cable.
- Look under the sink: is there a dishwasher valve or an angle valve, and a free branch on the trap?
- Buy a leak tray that fits the machine, unless one is included.
- Empty the sink cabinet and clear the area in front of the niche.
- In an apartment building, check whether your housing company (taloyhtiö) wants to be told about the work. A like-for-like replacement often doesn't need a renovation notice, but practices vary, so ask the property manager (isännöitsijä) if unsure.
Our prices
- Installing and connecting a dishwasher: €125.50
- Disconnecting an old dishwasher: €47.06
- Replacing an old machine with a new one: both of the above
Prices include VAT (ALV) at 25.5%. Extra fittings and hoses, such as a new angle valve or a trap with a dishwasher branch, are charged separately and agreed with you first. Note that, according to vero.fi, installing a household appliance as a separate job does not qualify for the household tax credit (kotitalousvähennys). It only counts when it is part of a larger renovation, such as a kitchen renovation. Our household tax credit guide explains the rules.
Summary
- Fit a leak tray under the dishwasher. Many home insurance policies require one.
- Read your insurer's safety instructions, as terms differ between policies.
- A leak detector with automatic shut-off adds protection.
- Use the new inlet hose, and check the valve, the trap and the socket before installation day.
- Measure the niche: standard widths are 60 cm and 45 cm.
If you're getting a new dishwasher, see our dishwasher installation page for details, or contact us to book. If the trap or the whole sink needs replacing at the same time, we also do sink installation and replacement.