How to Change Air Gap on a Kitchen Sink

Chrome Air Gap Cover

By Gary Boutin 

Supplies and Tools:

Air gap chrome kit

Flat head screwdriver

Hose clamps-2

Garbage disposal rubber hose 7/8 inch

Dr. Johnson called me because his dishwasher smelled bad. Dr. Johnson's home is located in beautiful downtown Rancho Cucamonga, California. He has a 3 bedroom overlooking a race tract. He had owned his dishwasher for over 12-years, trouble free until now. He did not want to replace the dishwasher but he did want the problem solved.

This post shows the eight steps used to replace the garbage disposal hose and twisted air gap.

There are several ways to attached the hoses and install the air gap, below are two example:

1. Install the air gap on the sink and then install both hoses from the bottom of the sink to the air gap. 
2. Attach the hoses to the air gap and then install the air gap to the sink. Either way its going to be difficult, but it must be done. Make sure all the soap containers, sponges, and other cleaners have been removed from the sink cabinet, your physical body will need the extra room.

Step 1: Fig.1 shows the garbage disposal is being checked to see if it was plugged. The garbage disposal was draining but it was also leaking badly, including the Garbage Disposal Rubber Hose was split and kinked and the clamp was not in the correct location. The kitchen cabinet had a huge puddle under the garbage disposal. 

Fig.1: Garbage disposal rubber hose

Step 2: Fig.2 shows the Black Rubber Hose on the left goes to the Garbage Disposal and the grey smaller tube on the air gap comes from the dishwasher.  

Fig.2 Air gap dishwasher 
and garbage disposal hose

Step 3: Fig.3 and fig.4 shows the nut is in the middle of the air gap. Push the unit below the sink and swapped the old air gap for the new air gap and removed both hoses.

Fig.3 Bottom of air gap

Fig.4 Air gap removed from sink

Step 4: Fig.5 shows the flat tip screwdriver used to remove the hose clamp on the dishwasher hose.

Fig.5 Tightened hose clamp

Note: Make sure that you place the hose clamp on the hose before you force the hose on the air gap.

Step 5: Fig.6 shows the new garbage disposal hose attached to the new air gap under the sink and the other end is attached to the garbage disposal using a new hose clamp. 

New air gap with out hoses

Fig.6: Garbage hose 
no clamp on new air gap

Step 6: Fig.7 shows both new hoses on the air gap. The dishwasher gray hose has been attached by a new hose clamp instead of a hose clip.

Fig.7 Both hoses

Top of air gap

Step 7. The leak test, turning on the kitchen faucet and the garbage disposal to make sure there is not leaks. In this case no leaks came from the hoses attached to the garbage disposal.  
Step 8. Run the dishwasher a full cycle to see if was emptying and there was no leaks below the sink area, plus the garbage disposal emptied several times through the complete cycle. 

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