Dishwashers

Buying a Dishwasher

Types of Dishwasher in the UK

Dishwashers in the UK come in three basic types. Suitable for most environments, Freestanding machines offer perhaps the greatest flexibility but of course the front of the machine stays visible. These come in full-size, slimline and compact variants. In contrast, Built-in machines are less visible once they are installed. Again there are three main types: firstly, fully integrated which are completely hidden by a door front and have their controls at the top of the dishwasher door; secondly, semi-integrated which are covered by a matching kitchen door up to the height of the drawer line and finally, in-column which are usually built in at chest height to make loading and unloading as easy as possible.

Other Main Features and Items to Think About

Energy Rating

With the current emphasis on all things environmental, it is hardly surprising that today's dishwashers have been built to use less energy than required by hand-washing the dishes! Whatever the type of dishwasher you decide is best for you, running costs can be reduced by: not rinsing the dishes under the hot tap before loading the machine; making sure that the dishwasher is fully loaded before running it; using 'off-peak' electricity where possible; using the economy cycle unless washing a heavily soiled load and finally by connecting to the cold water supply rather than to the hot.

Manufacturers Guarantee

All manufacturers provide a twelve month parts and labour guarantee. Some also offer extended parts guarantees but these frequently require you to use the manufacturer's engineers - at a higher cost than that charged by independent service firms.

Half Load Function

This allows you to tell the machine to wash a smaller load using only the top tray. In practice it is still preferable to fully load the dishwasher before running as many components operate fully regardless of full or half load settings.

Noise

Current machines have been built for quiet running. As you would probably expect, the more expensive the dishwasher, the quieter it will run. As a rule of thumb, some 50 db or below is usually held to be an appropriate noise level.

Programmes and Temperature Settings

All machines have a regular cycle. Many also come with a rinse-only cycle and an additional delicates cycle using lower temperatures. The temperature should be a maximum of around 55°C (although the drying cycle in some dishwashers will exceed this). It is worthy of note that reducing the temperature from 65°C to 55°C improves energy consumption by about 25%. It is also worth avoiding the drying cycle when cleaning delicate items.

Reliability and Machine Life

When thinking about the total cost of ownership, bear in mind that despite cheaper brands seemingly costing less, they may result in more engineer call-outs and not have the 'better' brands' durability. Cheaper brands may therefore actually cost more to own in the long term.

Timer

If you have the option to use 'off-peak' electricity at lower rates (usually at night), you may wish to consider a dishwasher with a delay or timer function. This allows you to ask the machine to wait until a particular time before commencing the cycle. This can significantly reduce energy consumption and running costs.

Water Supply

Water and heating are both very important cost factors. A dishwasher that uses less water is therefore preferable. Virtually all current models can be connected to either cold or hot water supplies. A cold supply connection is preferable because the water is only heated in the machine during the cleaning and final rinse cycles - although heating the water does lengthen the cycle. In contrast, when you connect to the hot water supply, the dishwasher demands hot water for all cycle elements including rinsing and pre-washing.

Water Softener

People in hard water areas will be all too familiar with calcium stains on glasses and cutlery. Most current dishwashers have a built-in water softener, utilising iodine-free salt. More advanced models may offer electronically controlled softeners which are activated when needed (at a setting of your choice).

Other Functions

These vary enormously depending upon the manufacturer, model and price. Examples include movable upper trays which offer greater flexibility when washing larger plates; specially designed holders for glasses and / or bottles; and numerous safety options.