Cleaner Dishes, Lower Bills
My 12-year-old dishwasher is noisy and does not have many cycle options. I think it�s time to replace it. What are the important efficiency features when I compare models? Is hand-washing dishes more efficient?–Sandi T.
Using an automatic dishwasher is typically more efficient than hand-washing dishes (although if you take your time and are very miserly with water usage, hand-washing can be more efficient).
But your old machine probably does need to be replaced because it has already survived longer than most typical dishwashers. No matter which new dishwasher you select, it will use less electricity and hot water than your old one.
The vast majority of dishwashers made today exceed ENERGY STAR efficiency standards. Over the life of the new dishwasher, the energy and water savings can pay back its initial cost.
Most of the cost of using a dishwasher is for the energy to heat the water. Part of this energy is used by the home’s water heater; the rest, by a heater inside the dishwasher.
With this in mind, if a dishwasher design consumes less water, less energy is needed to wash a load. Always compare the overall water consumption specifications for an average load cycle among the models.
Making cleaning easier
Of course, the most important feature is how well a washer cleans dishes. If it does not clean well, people tend to run it on the heavy cycle when normal will do, or they hand-rinse dishes first. Rinsing can use more than 10 extra gallons of water.
Top-of-the-line dishwashers offer many cycle settings to fine-tune the process. This is a nice feature, but most families can get by with three basic cycles: light, medium, and heavy (for pots and pans).
Newer dishwashers are also much quieter than older ones, accomplished by better motor and pump design and more insulation.
Electronic controls offer greater convenience and efficiency. Hidden digital controls–which typically run along the top edge of the door–look good when the door is closed, but you cannot watch the progress of the cycle and see the time left. A dishwasher with exposed controls can be easier to see and use.
EFFICIENCY IDEAS
Washing dishes by hand
What about the efficiency of hand-washing dishes? Using a spray kitchen faucet with touch control allows you to minimize water usage when rinsing.
The overall energy savings when hand-washing is only realized during the winter. You can leave the warm sudsy water in the sink until it cools off. This heat is given off to the kitchen air, so the heating system has to run less. In the summer, though, the air conditioner has to run longer to remove excess heat and humidity.
