What Is An Air Gap?
An air gap is a plumbing fitting that prevents contaminated water from flowing backward into a clean water supply. In a kitchen, the fitting usually sits beside the faucet and connects to a dishwasher drain hose. Its open space breaks the drain connection, so wastewater cannot siphon back through the hose.
Quick Facts About Air Gap
Category
Backflow prevention fitting
Used for
Dishwasher drain connections
Common confusion
Often confused with a drain trap
Also called
Dishwasher air gap
Often discussed with
Garbage Disposal Installation
Key Takeaways About Air Gap
- An open space separates the drain path.
- The fitting often sits on the sink or countertop.
- An air gap is not the same as a drain trap.
How Air Gap Works
An air gap keeps a drain hose from forming a sealed path back to the water supply. Wastewater enters the fitting through one hose, crosses an open space, and leaves through another hose. The open space interrupts siphoning and reverse flow.
Related glossary terms: Backflow Preventer, Garbage Disposal Baffle, Drain Trap.
In a kitchen sink setup, the fitting usually mounts beside the faucet. A dishwasher hose connects to the inlet side. The outlet side connects to the sink drain or garbage disposal. If the drain backs up, water may rise through the air gap opening instead of reaching the dishwasher.
During garbage disposal installation, the disposal's dishwasher inlet must be opened before the hose is attached. A blocked inlet can stop the dishwasher from draining. A loose hose or clogged fitting can also cause water to appear around the air gap.
Expert Note
When we install a garbage disposal, we check the dishwasher connection and confirm that the disposal inlet is open. We inspect the hose path for kinks and secure the connection at the air gap. We also test drainage so water does not collect at the sink fitting.
Air Gap in Practice: A Real-World Example
A kitchen has a sink air gap connected to a new garbage disposal. The dishwasher drains through the fitting, and the disposal carries the wastewater into the drain line.
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Garbage Disposal Baffle
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