How to Improve Dishwasher Efficiency
A dishwasher makes your housework a little easier, but it also uses a lot of energy. Between the water and heat needed to get the dishes clean, running the dishwasher can increase your energy bill. But that doesn't mean you have to stop using it altogether. You can save money by making some changes to help the dishwasher run more efficiently. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Rinse aid
- Dishwasher or meat thermometer
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Instructions
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Run the dishwasher only when it's full. Washing small loads is a waste of energy and makes the machine less efficient in terms of energy use. Only run the dishwasher when both the top and bottom racks are full.
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Turn off the steam and/or drying cycle on the dishwasher. Although using these features may speed up drying, they make the machine run less efficiently. Instead, open the dishwasher, pull out both racks and let the dishes air dry. Add a rinse aid to the soap dispenser, which will also help to speed up drying without using the internal drying feature.
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Turn off the pre-rinse cycle on your dishwasher. Instead, scrape loose food off the dishes and into the trash, then give them just a quick rinse under the tap. The dishes don't have to be completely free of food before putting them in the machine.
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Check the water temperature. Stick a dishwasher or meat thermometer into the dishwasher during the rinse cycle. The water temperature should be around 140 degrees. Any higher temperature is wasting energy, while any lower temperature will not properly sanitize the dishes. If your dishwasher has a built-in heat booster, make sure your hot water heater is set at 120 degrees. If the machine does not have a heat booster, set the hot water heater at 140 degrees.
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Turn off tank heaters and boosters on your dishwasher at the end of the day. If they are left on, they will continue to heat the water even while you're not using the dishwasher, and thereby waste energy.
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References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Goodshoot/Getty Images
