Choosing the right dishwasher can significantly upgrade your dish-cleaning process, providing better efficiency, convenience, and sustainability. It’s not just about getting your dishes clean but how you can do so in a way that conserves energy and water, fits your specific capacity needs, and operates quietly and efficiently. But how do you navigate the numerous brands and models and ensure that you maximize the lifespan of your investment? This guide will cover all you need to know about buying and maintaining an efficient dishwasher.
Dishwasher Features and Factors to Consider
While the market is flooded with numerous dishwasher brands, picking the right one can be a daunting task. This guide helps simplify the process by highlighting key factors that determine the effectiveness and efficiency of dishwashers.
Energy Efficiency & Water Conservation
Energy efficiency is an integral factor to consider when shopping for dishwashers. It’s not only friendly to the environment, but it also significantly cuts down on utility bills, making it an excellent choice for home care. Some models are acknowledged for their energy efficiency.
Another critical concern is the water conservation ability of the dishwasher. Efficient dishwashers typically use less water per cycle, saving both water resources and your water bill.
Size, Capacity & Layout
Portable dishwashers or countertop dishwashers should align with your available kitchen space. However, it should also be large enough to accommodate your soiled load. You don’t want to run several short cycles because your dishwasher can’t hold all your dirty dishes at once.
Some dishwashers provide ample space with robust racks and stemware holders to accommodate all dish types. Also, the presence of a flatware basket can prove beneficial for small utensils.
Noise Level & Installation Flexibility
If silence is a priority for you, consider dishwashing machines with less noise level. Often, the noise level is specified in the product description or review. Also, consider dishwasher options with flexible installation.
Maximizing the Efficiency and Lifespan of Your Dishwasher
Once you choose the best dishwasher for your space, you want to maintain its longevity through proper maintenance and loading practices.
Proper Loading Practices
How you load your dishwasher can affect the intensity of water jets, which in turn affects the cleaning performance. A well-loaded dishwasher accommodates more dishes without obstructing the flow of water and detergent. Start by placing the heaviest items like dinner plates on the bottom rack, position glasses, and stemware holders on the top rack, and put silverware in the flatware basket. Also, mind the direction of your dishware. Items should face downwards and inwards for the best cleaning results.
Regular Maintenance and Cleaning
To enhance efficiency, practice regular cleaning of your dishwasher. Clean the filter after every soiled load to maintain the quality of the wash, unclog the nozzles for consistent water pressure, and remove any residual food particles to prevent odor. You may also run heated cycles occasionally to remove grease and soap scum.
Common Problems and Fixes
Like any machine, dishwashers can develop problems over time with regular use. Common issues that may arise include the dishwasher not turning on, starting but then stopping mid-cycle, or completing cycles but leaving dishes still dirty. There are a few potential causes for these types of problems, from faulty heating elements to broken spray arms to clogged filters.
The good news is that many dishwasher issues can be repaired at home without requiring a service call. Useful troubleshooting steps include checking the power supply, cleaning out debris, examining the control panel, and testing individual components like the door latch and motor. For more complex repairs, the assistance of a professional appliance repair technician may be needed. But even then, repairing a dishwasher is often more affordable than buying a brand-new model. With some handiwork, a dysfunctional dishwasher can often be returned to working order. The ability to fix appliances and utilize them for their full lifetime is an important part of sustainability.
Here are some common issues and fixes with dishwashers:
- Dishes Not Getting Clean: Check that you are using the right type and amount of dishwasher detergent, run hotter water, and make sure dishes aren’t overloaded or blocking the water spray. Clean out any accumulated food or hard water deposits.
- Leaking Water: Check door seals for cracks or tears. Make sure the door is closing properly and latching. Check hoses and connectors for cracks. Ensure the drain line is kink-free. Replace any worn or damaged parts.
- Noisy Operation: Things like utensils clanging around can cause noise. Make sure dishes are properly loaded and secured. Check pump and motor mounts. Lubricate door hinges. Remove any debris buildup.
- Won’t Drain: Check and clean filters and drain pump. Ensure the drain hose isn’t kinked. Remove blockages.
- Won’t Start or Power On: Check that the dishwasher is getting power, the door is closed properly triggering the door switch, and the control panel is operational. Reset electrical connections and control board.
- Overflowing: Use less detergent, don’t overfill, and stop cycles at signs of overflow. Ensure the float switch is clean and operational. Check alignments and seals.
The Economic and Environmental Impact of Using Efficient Dishwashers
Optimizing your dishwasher’s performance not only gives you clean dishes but also contributes to saving costs and promoting a sustainable environment.
Breakdown of the Cost Savings
Dishwashers can help save on expenses in a few key ways. First, they use less water than hand washing. Filling up the sink or letting the faucet run to rinse uses a lot more water than the cycles in an efficient dishwasher. This adds up over time, lowering water bills. Dishwashers also save on energy costs. The hot water and heated drying features use energy, but less than the constant heating of hot water for hand washing dishes multiple times per day.
In addition, dishwasher detergent packs cost about the same as liquid dish soap, but they last much longer. One pack can clean many loads, versus needing to frequently buy bottles of dish soap for hand washing. With these factors combined, using a dishwasher typically costs less per load than the equivalent labor, water, and supplies required for hand-washing dishes.
Role in Water and Energy Conservation
Switching to an energy-efficient dishwasher is one of the best ways to reduce energy costs in the kitchen. Energy-efficient models use less water and electricity per cycle compared to conventional dishwashers. For example, ENERGY STAR certified dishwashers use at least 3 gallons less water per cycle. Since you’ll be using the dishwasher frequently, those gallons can add up to big savings on your water bill over time. ENERGY STAR dishwashers are also cheaper to operate each year, saving on your electricity costs.
The upfront cost of buying a more efficient dishwasher typically pays for itself within just a few years through these utility bill savings. Choosing an energy- and water-efficient dishwasher is an easy way to save money in the long run.
Look to High Performance Home for Appliance Recommendations
Whether you’re looking for an energy-efficient dishwasher or need help choosing dozens of appliances for your home, High Performance Home is here to help. Our mission is to bring together stakeholders across the home improvement industry to foster alignment and collaboration, with the goal of improving quality across home appliances and components. Let us help you benefit from high-performance home products that enhance your quality of life. Contact us today to learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should you run the dishwasher?
The frequency with which you should run the dishwasher depends on several factors. These include how many people are in your household, how many meals you cook at home daily, and how full you allow the dishwasher to get before running it. In general, for a household of 4 people who cook at home most nights, it is recommended to run the dishwasher every 1-2 days. Allowing dishes to pile up for longer can lead to unpleasant odors and make cleaning more difficult. However, you also don’t want to waste water and energy by running the dishwasher when it’s only half full. Finding the right balance for your household habits is key.
What can you not put into the dishwasher?
There are certain items that should never go in the dishwasher. Wooden cutting boards and utensils will warp and crack from the hot water and steam inside a dishwasher. Cast iron pans will rust. Anything with electronic components, like blenders and hand mixers, can short-circuit and become damaged by the moisture. Sharp knives will get knocked around and become dull. Hand-painted China or antique dishes with metallic decorations like gold leaf can lose their finish. For any item you’re unsure about, it’s best to check the manufacturer’s instructions or wash it by hand to be safe.
What are the most important features when selecting a dishwasher?
When selecting a new dishwasher, there are a few key features to consider. One of the most important is cleaning performance – you want to make sure the dishwasher has enough power to thoroughly clean your dishes and remove food residue. Look for models with high water pressure and multiple wash cycles. Noise level is another big factor, as no one wants to hear a loud dishwasher running in the kitchen. Seek out dishwashers advertised as quiet or with sound-dampening insulation. You’ll also want to consider the capacity and interior rack layout to ensure the dishwasher can accommodate the types of dishes and cookware you need to be cleaned.
