Integrated Dishwashers

Buying an Integrated Dishwasher

Types of Integrated Dishwasher

Integrated dishwashers offer the advantage of being less visible than their freestanding counterparts once they are installed. There are three main types. Fully integrated dishwashers are completely concealed by a kitchen door front and have their controls positioned at the top of the dishwasher door to allow for this. Semi-integrated dishwashers are covered by a kitchen door up to drawer line height, above which the controls are visible. In-column dishwashers are designed to be built in at chest height to ease the loading and unloading process.

Other Key Features and Things to Consider

Energy Efficiency

With so much concern surrounding environmental issues, today's dishwashers have been built to use less energy than is needed to hand-wash the dishes! Whatever type of integrated dishwasher you decide is appropriate to your needs, you can further reduce its running costs by: not rinsing the dishes under the hot tap before loading them; ensuring that you have fully loaded the machine before running it; using 'off-peak' power where available; using the economy cycle unless the load is heavily soiled and finally by connecting to the cold rather than to the hot water supply.

Guarantee

All manufacturers provide twelve month parts and labour guarantees. Some offer extended parts guarantees but these often require that you use their own engineers - at a premium cost in comparison to independent engineers.

Half Load Function

The 'half load' function is now common on many machines. This function allows you to tell the dishwasher to wash a smaller load in the top tray alone. It is still better to wash a full load however as many elements operate fully regardless.

Noise

Almost all modern machines have been built for quiet running. As you may expect, the more expensive the machine, the more quietly it runs. As a rule of thumb, some 50 db or lower is generally held to be an appropriate noise level.

Programmes and Temperature

All dishwashers offer a regular cycle. Most machines also have a rinse-only and a further delicates cycle using lower temperatures. The maximum temperature should be 55°C (although the drying cycle in some machines will exceed this). It is also worth remembering that reducing the temperature from 65°C to 55°C drops energy consumption by around a quarter.

Reliability

When considering total costs, it is worth remembering that although cheaper brands may cost less to buy they may require more engineer time and spares and may not have the longevity of 'better' machines. Cheaper lines may therefore actually cost more in the long term.

Timer Function

If you have 'off-peak' electricity, you may wish to consider a dishwasher with a delay function or timer. This means that the machine can be asked to wait until a given time before starting the wash, reducing energy consumption and your overall costs.

Water Supply

Water and heating are both important costs so a dishwasher that requires less water is preferable. Most dishwashers can be connected to either the cold or the hot water supplies. A cold connection is preferable because water is then only heated in the machine during the cleaning cycle and final rinse - although heating the water lengthens the cycle. In contrast, when you connect to the hot water supply, the dishwasher requires hot water with all cycle elements - even rinsing and pre-washing.

Water Softener

Buyers in hard water areas will be familiar with calcium stains on glasses and cutlery. Most current dishwashers have a built-in water softener, using iodine-free salt. More advanced offerings may provide an electronically controlled softener which is activated when needed.

Other Features and Functions

These vary depending upon the manufacturer, model and price range. Examples include vertically adjustable top trays; special holders; and various safety options.