Mike Goodrich from Tranquility Plumbing is in Punta Gorda for the installation of the Whirlpool dishwasher. Goodrich explains that he has cut holes through the cabinet for the drain line up top and the water line down low. The dishwasher itself is encased in insulation to keep it quiet during operation. Once the drain line has been fed through the hole and the water line attached, Goodrich slides the dishwasher into place. He adjusts the feet to get it level and checks for even spacing along the sides and top. Goodrich will use short screws to attach the clips on the dishwasher to the wood countertop substrate. This will prevent the dishwasher from moving or rocking forward when the door is open.

Plumbing and heating contractor Doug Buchanan is ready to install the Kenmore Elite dishwasher. The dishwasher has a very clean design with the electronics panel on the top of the lid where it's hidden from view under the counter. The interior of the dishwasher has been configured so that it can accommodate large 13-inch plates and the slide-out shelf for glassware can be lowered a notch to fit champagne flutes and other tall glassware. The dishwasher has a standard plug-in for 110 current and a drain line that is already pre-drilled in the cabinet. While old-style dishwashers have a drain solenoid, the new styles like this Kenmore Elite have a pump. The water feed is made of stainless steel flexible line which also goes through the cabinet into a main shutoff for the dishwasher only. With wheels on the back like a shopping cart, the dishwasher can be rolled right into place.

Here s another great tip from BobVila.com. Before you crank up the A/C this summer to keep cool, try a little old-fashioned ventilation first. Just keeping air moving can make your home feel much cooler. But it goes beyond opening a window. There s a little science to it. If you live where the nights are cool, keep your house sealed during the heat of the day. If it s well-insulated, it should only heat up about a degree an hour. Open windows and circulate cool air in the evening and early morning. Get some cross-ventilation going by opening windows on opposite sides of the house. Homes designed with cupolas, clerestory windows, vented skylights or even attic vents have the ability to create what s called a thermosiphon. Hot air escaping from the top of the house pulls warm air with it from the rest of the house and cooler air through lower windows, creating a constant cooling flow. Take advantage of those features or install an attic fan to create the same effect. It helps to minimize the heat you generate inside the house by using the oven, dishwasher and dryer in the evening or early morning hours. Even light bulbs can heat things up, so making the most of the daylight is both cheaper and cooler. If you still can t get the air moving, there s always the underappreciated window fan. For much less than it costs to run your air conditioner, a fan can give you the summer breeze you re looking for. Find out more at BobVila.com: the ultimate home improvement web site! 2008 BobVila.com

Here s another great tip from BobVila.com. If your pipes are whistling, banging or knocking when you turn the water on or off, there are things you can do to quiet them. Water hammer is a common cause of banging pipes. In plumbing where water pressure is high, shutting off the tap can cause the pressure to back up and jolt the pipe, a little like slamming on the brakes in your car. The jolt can be especially violent when a solenoid-controlled appliance like a washer or dishwasher shuts the tap since the shutoff happens instantaneously. Many homes come already equipped with water hammer arresters, which are small air chambers attached above the water line to absorb the pressure of the water as it s shut off. Spiral-shaped water hammer arresters were also used years ago and you may still find them in older homes. Plumbing that s not properly anchored to the framing can rub or bang on whatever is nearby and cause a racket. All this banging and jolting can strain pipes and copper fittings and you can eventually wind up with a leak. It s best to deal with the cause of the noise wherever you have access to the plumbing. Plastic or nylon pipe inserts work well to cushion pipes running through framing members, but they need to be installed when you do the plumbing. For retrofitting, try pipe hangers. These plastic hooks hold the pipe off the framing and have a felt or rubber cushion to absorb any movement and prevent noise. Whistling sounds are also common where a shutoff valve hasn t been opened all the way or where pressure is high. If your water pressure is excessively high, installing a pressure-reducing valve near the water meter will get rid of the noise and lower your water bill. But consult a plumber first to be sure it won t take too much pressure away from any upper story plumbing. Find out more at BobVila.com: the ultimate home improvement web site! 2008 BobVila.com

Here's another great tip from BobVila.com. Don t let a drain clog slow you down; it s usually an easy fix. A partial clog can be cleared by cleaning out the drainpipe. Older plumbing can be damaged by using harsh drain chemicals, so opt for a naturally biodegrading drain cleaner or use this homemade solution: pour a half cup of baking soda down the drain, then slowly add a cup of white vinegar. Cover the drain for five minutes, then flush with a gallon of boiling water. Some clogs call for a plunger. The key here is to create a vacuum. If you re working on the kitchen sink, you need to clamp off the dishwasher hose and seal the drain openings in the other sink basins. If it s the bathroom sink or tub, plug the overflow opening with a wet rag. With at least a couple inches of water in the basin, plunge rapidly several times, pulling up sharply at the end to move the clog. You may need to do this several times. If plunging doesn t clear the clog, use an auger. If your drain opening is obstructed, sometimes a coat hanger wire with a small hooked end will bring up the clog. You can also detach the trap under the sink with a plumber s wrench in order to get at the clog or to rescue anything you ve lost down the drain. If you don t see an improvement in drainage after all of that and especially if more than one drain is slow in your house you should consult a plumber since the problem could be caused by blocked or improper venting of the wastewater system. Find out more at BobVila.com: The ultimate home improvement web site! BobVila.com 2008

Because this is an affordable house, most of the items in the kitchen were builder-supplied. The kitchen features oak cabinets and laminated countertops. With affordable homes, it's important to acquire appliances in the most efficient way. Big builders can buy everything wholesale but smaller builders often have to depend on the local mom-and-pop suppliers. BrandSource has an online network of 2,500 dealers who are locally owned but buy in bulk so the savings are passed on to the consumer. The main door of the refrigerator is at eye level and the freezer is a pull-out drawer down below. There are two separate compartments in the freezer so items do not get buried at the bottom. A dishwasher from Fisher-Paykel features two drawer modules instead of one so smaller loads can be run more regularly. The dishwasher is Energy Star rated and is extremely efficient. An electric range from GE completes the package.

The Kohler "Dickinson" sink in the Quechee home's kitchen has the look and feel of an old-fashioned farm sink. It's enameled cast iron and it seems to sit lower and has an enameled front plate to it. The deep sink presents some unique problems when installing the garbage disposer. Plumbing contractor Doug Buchanan has already installed the basket strainer for the disposer. Doug gets under the sink and slips the disposer into position. There's a gasket there that holds it into place with a clip. Next he needs to modify the S-trap to accommodate the lower sink. Once modified it attached with a nylon washer. The last step is to attach the dishwasher line to the disposer as all the waste from the dishwasher needs to go through the disposer.

Bob tours the kitchen. Pointing out the complementary use of materials from Cherry Craftline Cabinets to stone counter tops, as featured in Show 1409, to stainless steel appliances. The appliances from Dacor include a dual fuel stove and an extra-wide 30-inch dishwasher.

The kitchen is set for company, but the counters are clean and uncluttered. Appliances in white complement the adjacent living space in this open-plan apartment. The Whirlpool double-door refridgerator in white, with lots of storage and features, blends with the oven and cooktop, also from Whirlpool, and the Energy Star dishwasher with high-end features like wine-glass racks and special wash cycles. Bob challenged the crew to outfit the kitchen completely by shopping online from Sears.com. Juicers, pots, pans, blender, combination microwave-convection oven, coffee grinder and brewer, were all selected, delivered, and tucked away in this getaway kitchen designed for easy entertaining.

The open-plan family room of the Punta Gorda house overlooks the canal on one side and opens onto the living area and kitchen on the other. Cecile Hemphill of Oh Cecile in San Francisco shows Bob the cookware and accessories that now fill the cupboards. Starting with Chantal cookware in bright colors, a teapot with a whistle, a Lodge pre-seasoned cast iron skillet, and a Joyce Chen wok, Hemphill has completely outfitted the kitchen for cooking and entertaining. The drawers are filled with Oxo ergonomically designed cooking utensils. Ironwood Gourmet's Acacia wood cutting boards stand ready on the counters, as does bright-colored Chantal ceramic ware that goes from the freezer to the oven to the table. Bob also remarks on the Whirlpool side-by-side refrigerator-freezer that measures and dispenses water. All of the appliances are from Whirlpool, including the dishwasher and front-loading washer and dryer. Bob and Hemphill remark on the overall design of the kitchen, the openess and the size of the elements, which are perfectly scaled and large enough for easy living and frequent entertaining.