What Is A Dishwasher High Loop And Why Do You Need One?

Dishwashers can be considered an everyday appliance for our kitchens, given we get so much use out of it. But along with the dishwasher comes a bunch of other things which you also have to get in check, and the high loop is one of them!

Never heard of it? No worries! In this article today, we will answer the very frequently asked question- what is a dishwasher high loop and why do you need one?

To know more in detail, keep on reading!

What Is A Dishwasher High Loop?

Let us start by breaking down what this high loop is.

When you have a dishwasher, you will need to connect the dishwasher drain to the kitchen sink drain. When this drain is lifted or elevated before it can be connected to the drain leading to the kitchen sink, it is called a high loop.

When the drain is elevated, you have to secure it in position, which can be done in multiple ways such as using a hook or a zip tie, or even something as simple as a thread, anything that allows it to have that elevated position.

This high loop is always installed on the underside of the cabinet and should be attached as close as possible, as this would increase its effectiveness.

Why Do You Need A Dishwasher High Loop?

Now, why do you need to go through this trouble to simply loop the drain?

That is because this little change in the drain can help you prevent really big kitchen messes! In other words, it protects your dishwasher.

Sometimes, due to clogs, wastewater can backtrack, and end up in the dishwasher again. This is not something you want, and if you have clean dishes inside, it will be the ultimate disaster. Not to mention, it will be a pain to clean up.

With the high loop in place, this scenario is prevented. It creates an elevation so the wastewater cannot backtrack into the dishwasher.

What Is An Air Gap?

An air gap is an installation between the dishwasher drain and the kitchen sink drain and works very similar to a high loop, except that it is more effective. Given that this is a separate fixture dedicated to stopping the backtrack of wastewater, it is better at the job, than the high loop.

That being said, you have to install the air gap, and it is a longer and more tedious process compared to the high loop. So if you don’t gave the means of installing an air gap, then definitely consider the high loop.

Conclusion

Well, folks, that was it! Very simple, isn’t it? While this is a matter most people are not aware of, this is very important, especially if you don’t have an air gap in place or don’t plan on installing one. This simple solution can save you from many possible dishwasher disasters, so we say, go ahead and do it!

We hope this little article has helped you answer your queries about what is a dishwasher high loop and why do you need one. Now you can go and check if your drain is looped, and if not, simply do it yourself!