Dishwashers Buying Guide
July 19, 2007
The dishwasher is an invaluable addition to the home in cutting down on time spent scrubbing greasy plates. In addition to saving time, some say that a dish washing machine uses less water than manual washing. Like all technology today, a little guidance can be useful in understanding purchasing options.
Place settings
A place setting is a unit to tell the user how many dishes the machine will comfortably fit. It is the amount and size of dishes that one person would use for one meal. It minimally includes a plate, fork, knife, spoon, and cup. The plate sizes are internationally standardized, and won’t apply to irregularly sized or shaped dishes. Dishwasher volumes range from 4 to 16 place settings. A few select dishwashers can do more.
Control Panels
Control panels can be electronic, push button or rotary dial. An electronic panel controls the settings and features using digital signals from push buttons or pressure pads. It usually has a digital display. Push buttons set the programmes and temperature manually through depressible buttons. Rotary dial control panels use large knobs which are turned to the appropriate setting, triggering the feature manually.
Many times the control panel will be a combination of the three, and it is the primary source of internal control rather than external buttons, dial or display that will determine which sales category it is placed in. You can also opt for a machine in which the control panel is hidden.
Tub
The tub is the interior of the dishwasher. It is made of plastic or stainless steel. Stainless steel is more suited for sound damping, resisting hard water, and improving drying time by retaining heat.
Spray arm
The spray arm is what aims the water at the dishes. The more jets or arms it has the cleaner the dishes will get. Top rack dishes should have a spray of its own.
Filter/Food Grinder
The filter is used to remove food particles. Some units have an additional food grinder to handle larger particles and reduce the need for pre-rinse. Filters should have the smallest holes possible, and will need to be cleaned often. Food grinders will decrease the chance of clogs, but will increase noise of the unit.
Salt/Ion Exchange
Many dishwashers use a salt ion exchanger to soften water and limit hard water stains. Household salt cannot be used. Dishwashers that do not use ion exchangers rely on higher levels of phosphates.
Cycles
Dishwashers will go through detergent, rinse, and dry cycles. Some will go through multiple quick cycles, while others will use fewer but longer ones to clean. Some dishwashers will offer specialised cycles, such as pots and pans. They usually run from 1-6, though a few will have more. 4-6 cycles is average for a dishwasher.
Programmes
Dishwashers have programmes to help you disinfect, super rinse, and control temperatures for multiple dish washing desires. Most dishwashers will have 1-10 programmes, while a select few will go to 15 or higher. Some possible programmes are quick wash, delayed timer, glass care and delicates.
Heat
Always consider the water heating and drying methods. Some dishwashers tap the hot water heater while others have cold fill and elements to heat the water as it comes through. Drying methods may be residual heat or steam, which depends on the water’s heat to cause it to quickly evaporate, or air systems for drying.
Always consider safety features such as child lock outs, automatic stops, and anti-leak measures. Salt level indicators can help you know when to refresh the ion exchangers.
Noise, Energy Ratings, Design
Like most household appliances, noise, energy ratings and design are an important consideration.
Noise
Advanced dishwashers will range from 44 to 60 decibels (dB). Quieter dishwashers are achieved through sound damping, which is the proper use and placement of materials to absorb sound. Full tub machines will be quieter than those with a service panel at the bottom, since noise cannot slip out the partition. Machines with a food grinder or disposal will in general be louder than those with out.
Above 40 dB is comparable to background noise in a city home, 50 dB is comparable to the noise in a private office, 60 dB is comparable to a conversation, above 60 is comparable to a business office. Dishwashers that are less than 45 dB are known as ultra quiet, and will be so, either at the expense of parts that can enhance cleaning, or cost for special motors and designs which improve sound damping.
Energy
Despite the old physics hopes of perpetual motion machines, all household appliances will consume energy. Energy labels were created to help consumers understand the cost of operating the appliance over its life, and to make more environmentally friendly decisions. Energy ratings rate the dishwasher on its efficiency. It is based on a scale of A-G, though F and G are rarely used when labeling dishwashers. The closer to an A, the more efficient the dishwasher is in electricity use. Energy labels may also have wash efficiency and drying power efficiency, all rated on the same scale. Electricity use may be given in kilowatts per hour. Water usage will be given in litres.
Energy Star is a group that sets standards for energy efficiency. A dish washer that has this label has met the standards that the Energy Star group has put forth for energy efficiency.
Design
Dishwashers come built-in, portable or table top. The size can vary from slim, compact and standard. To assess your needs it’s important to understand the terms.
Built-ins are also known as integrated. These dishwashers are recessed into cabinetry. Built-unders are a form of built-ins that go under a table top, stacked cabinet or other piece of kitchen architecture. Generally only the front is designed to be seen. Built-in’s are plumbed directly into the household pipes.
Stand alones are designed to be placed anywhere in the kitchen that has access to the plumbing. They are completely encased and not integrated into the cabinetry.
Portable dishwashers can be moved from place to place. The outside casing is suitable to be viewed from any angle. It has hoses that hook directly into the sink, and usually has wheels on the bottom. It can be plumbed, if necessary, into the household plumbing so that it operates more as a stand alone dishwasher than portable. Portable does not necessarily mean compact. Usually portables are similar in dimensions as to standards. Some come as slim or ultra slim.
Table top dishwashers are the size and shape of a microwave. They are designed to sit on the table top, counter or work bench. The place setting capacity is smaller, usually 4-8, and may not fit irregular plates or large dishes and pans. They hook to the faucet for their water supply, using the sink drain for waste water.
Width, depth, and height of the dishwasher is critical to know prior to purchasing. Dimensions given in this format: H# x W# x D#. Depth is the measurement from front to back of the machine. They are measured in mm or cm. Built-ins require exact measurements of the space on all three dimensions before purchasing. Standard units are universally 500 mm-600mm in width, though the range can be 550 mm-655 mm.
Standard dishwashers are those with a near universal set of dimensions, with certain basic features and programmes. They are able to hold at least eight place settings, but usually hold 12 or more.
Slim dishwashers have a smaller width than standard dishwashers. They are usually the same height, or are sometimes taller than standard dishwashers. They exist for those with limited cabinetry space to give over to the machine.
Compact dishwashers will be smaller in height, width, and sometimes depth than standards and portables. The number of place settings that can fit in compact dishwashers is usually smaller than standard or slim dishwashers.
Some dishwashers will be wider or taller in measurements than standard. These are usually top of the line dishwashers or made for specially designed kitchens.
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