Dishwashers and Plugged Air-gaps

In modern construction, often at the hole at the back rim of the kitchen sink where a sprayer might go, there is a "mushroom" looking device. I have, during my time as a home inspector, found it amusing how few people know the purpose of that device. I had someone, the other day, tell me that she thought it was a water shutoff valve for the whole house. Hardly! Few people understand how it works or what it does.

That device is called the air-gap and it is connected to the dishwasher (sometimes a water-softener).  Air-gaps are required by most modern plumbing codes. The device is simple -- no moving parts, a couple tubes under the cover,  but it serves a critical function. This device deceases the chances of a cross-connection that would lead to dirty water (from the sewage system) getting inside the dishwasher or, in a worst possible scenario, into potable water.

When I say that people do not understand how the air-gap works, I am reminded of the clients and the homeowners who thought it was a normal condition when the device squirted water all over the sink or the countertop.

This photo shows an air-gap that is plugged or blocked in some way. That is not an uncommon problem and probably why so many people think that jetting water is just part of the normal operation for the air-gap.  When the air-gap is working correctly, no discharge is seen. In fact, when all is well, you have no clue it is doing anything at all. If the device is shooting like a fire hose, sometimes the air-gap can be cleaned without much effort or it can be replaced. Either way, it is not a costly repair.

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