Doing the dishes certainly isn’t romantic or adventurous. Let’s admit it, most of us shun doing this task. If there is one device that could make this chore seem less laborious it would be the Dishwasher.
With more than 50% of American households already using a Dishwasher, chances are, you already own one. Most users of older models of Dishwasher have a grouse that these do not entirely automate dishwashing. Some require you to pre-wash the dishes; and doing that does not ensure that your dishes are completely clean. Unlike older models, newer ones have features which eliminate tasks such as pre-wash, have many more wash cycles for different wash requirements, and are much more energy efficient. Such features not only manage to completely automate the mundane, routine chore of dishwashing, but also manage to keep your energy bills low. Whether you are buying a Dishwasher for the first time, or want a replacement for your existing one, you would still need to understand the essential characteristics and how to calibrate it in light of your usage and needs, given that there are so many choices.
Before we get technical lets get analytical and empathize with who you are and try to identify your needs:
All you need is a paper, a pen and some patience and time to answer a few basic questions:
What type of person are you?
A full time house wife with kids that demand frequent attention?
Single and lack time to wash dishes and would only do it perhaps once a day?
A couple balancing both a family and a career that’s demanding?
What’s your usage and need criteria?
How many members of your family assemble for meals at any given time?
2,3, 5 or more than 5
How many times a day?
Once for breakfast
Once for lunch
Once for dinner
How many dishes are generally on the table?
This would include plates, silverware, glassware, pots and pans and the number of articles would indicate the load on the dishwasher.
How many times in a day can you wash dishes?
As many times you have your meals?
Or may be once a day?
This is certainly something that is dictated by the availability of time?
These Questions would help you establish your need and arrive at a possible frequency of utilization of the device. Now, all you have to do is to map it vis-à-vis available capacity of Dishwashers in the market!
Food-disposing: Food-disposing as the name suggest disposes food particles that stick around with the dishes or that are not pre-washed. Here dishes are treated with water to rinse off particles prior to the washing process.
Non-food disposing: In the non-food disposing type dishwasher, food particles are collected in a strainer. You have to then pre-wash it prior to sending it to be washed.
Let us now, probe the technical attributes of a Dishwasher in light of your needs:
Enough capacity to wash the number of dishes that is the average as per your daily use of dishes.
Else, it would mean multiple visits and assuming each dishwashing would take 30 mins and you have 2 iterations it would take an hours time from your day
On the other hand if it is too large it means a waste of water and energy. Select a Dishwasher that meets your capacity requirements.
Dishwasher capacity is described by the specification; Place Setting. One place setting is typically a small plate, large plate, dish, cup and saucer, and cutlery –which are roughly 6 dishes at a time.
Place settings provide an idea about the number of dishes a Dishwasher will hold, but provides no idea about whether all the dishes kept inside the Dishwasher will come out clean.
Make sure that the layout for placing dishes is such that all the dishes can be effectively cleaned.
Wash Cycles/Programs:
Different types of dishes need different types of wash cycles. A greasy sauce pan may need a heavy wash, while plastic dishes may need just a rinse to be cleaned.
The more wash cycles and programs your Dishwasher offers the more versatile it will be for different types of cleaning. The three basic cycles are: Light, Normal and Heavy.
In addition to this, you may like to have a delicate cycle to wash your delicate chinaware, or a rinse cycle to clean your plastics. The more the number cycles being offered the greater the control you have over washing
Additional options:
Delayed start: Set the washing for a time when you are not in the kitchen!
High temperature wash: Set the washing for a time when the energy rates are lower!
Controls:
Though mechanical controls are easier to set, electronic controls are more durable than mechanical controls and offer greater accuracy in setting.
Electronic controls offer more preset programs than mechanical controls. Some models offer hidden controls, these controls prevents kids from tampering with the controls
Energy Efficiency:
If you are looking for an energy efficient model, look for models having the Energy Star® logo. Dishwashers that have earned Energy Star® qualification conserve at least 25% more energy than the minimum Federal standard.
Water Consumption:
Water consumption is some thing to watch out for if you have an eye on the water meter.
The water consumption varies depending on the size of the Dishwasher and the cycle being selected.
Dishwashers perform better at higher temperature. This implies that a Dishwasher consumes more energy to raise the temperature of water. This translates into higher energy bills.
Noise:
The drone of water pumps and the hum of motors in some Dishwasher models do cause a clatter in the kitchen.
If you want a quite model choose one with noise levels in the range of 45 dB to 50 dB.
Such models could cost you more than a model having a higher noise level, but could be set to run in the night when you are off to sleep.
Warranty:
Conventional wisdom suggests going for the warranty period that covers the largest period. Do make it a point to check out the period for which the Dishwasher is covered under a warranty.
Most manufacturers offer a one year warranty for their products. However, there are also ones which offer up to 5 years.
Getting dishes cleaned, quietness in the machine’s performance and finally energy saving in terms of electricity/power as also water should be the prime goal that one should seek when arriving at the decision to buy the dishwasher that best suits your needs. On an average a good dishwasher should last 10 to 12 years.
