LinkTastic Online Shopping - Buyers Guide For Dishwashers
At present only around one in five households own a dishwasher. Whilst the majority of dishwashers are built-in there is also a wide range of freestanding machines available. Dishwashers are more affordable to buy than ever before. Dishwashers are also available in many sizes so limited space should not be a problem.
REASONS FOR BUYING A DISHWASHER
Hygiene:- The last rinse temperature is around 65-69 degrees Celsius, which means that dishes and cutlery are virtually sterile. There is also no need to use a tea towel, which becomes a major "germ trap".
Cleaner Dishes:- Dishwashers give you cleaner dishes because temperatures are higher, detergents are more effective and the wash and rinsing systems are far more superior compared to hand washing. Dishes are not only cleaner - they look good too.
Keeps the Kitchen Tidy:- The dishwasher is a superb storage unit that keeps dirty dishes out of sight and the kitchen looking cleaner and tidier.
Environmentally Friendly:- Dishwashers are also more environmentally friendly, using less electricity and water compared with hand washing.
Time Saving:- It takes just five minutes to load a dishwasher and there is no drying required. In fact research shows that you can save over 300 hours per year using a dishwasher!
Energy Labelling:- This allows you to compare the energy rating and drying efficiency of all dishwashers before you buy one. It also allows you to work out the annual water and electricity costs of running the machine.
DISHWASHER TYPES
1) Freestanding Dishwashers
There are a wide variety of freestanding dishwashers available from a range of manufacturers, which span a selection of prices for all budgets.
- Full Size Dishwashers:- The 60cm wide (full size) dishwasher is the most popular size. This dishwasher can take 12 or 14 place settings. One place setting is typically 10 pieces of crockery and cutlery. Full size dishwashers are the most economical to run as they use less water and electricity per place setting than slimline or compact dishwashers. These dishwashers can be built under the worktop and some can take décor frames.
- Slimline Dishwashers:- These dishwashers are 45cm wide and take 7 or 8 place settings. These dishwashers are ideal for small kitchens or if there are only one or two people in a household. These dishwashers can also be fitted under the worktop and some can take décor frames.
- Compact Dishwashers:- These dishwashers are small enough to stand on the worktop and are ideal if you have no floor space. These dishwashers can take around 4 place settings. Some dishwasher compacts can be built under a worktop or built into a wall cabinet.
2) Built-in Dishwashers
These are the most popular type of dishwashers on the market today and are available in three main types.
- Fully Integrated Dishwashers:- These dishwashers come ready to be fitted with a door front (supplied by the kitchen manufacturer) to match the kitchen furniture. The door covers the whole front of the dishwasher, with the control panel concealed neatly on the inside of the top rim of the dishwasher door. Fully integrated dishwashers are available in full size and slimline.
- Semi Integrated Dishwashers:- This dishwashers takes a kitchen door up to the drawer line height. Infill panels are usually supplied to match the drawer line of the kitchen.
- In-column Dishwashers:- This dishwashers is built in at chest height so that it can be loaded and emptied without bending down.
DISHWASHER PROGRAMMES
Most basic dishwashers offer four programmes that span usually one or more temperatures including a normal 65 degrees Celsius.
- Intensive
- Normal
- Economy
- Quickwash
More sophisticated dishwashers can offer up to six, eight or ten programmes, and more wash temperatures offering more flexibility and choice. These dishwasher programmes may include:
- Cold pre-wash
- Half wash
- Gentle wash
- Light wash
- Intensive wash
- Glass care wash
INSIDE A DISHWASHER
Racks
Dishwasher racks dictate how a dishwasher is loaded and play an important role in how well the dishes are cleaned.
Hidden Heating Elements
Heating elements are encapsulated inside the dishwasher rather than being exposed within the washing cavity. Dishwashers with hidden elements have more cavity space, will not melt plastic if they fall onto the dishwasher base and food particles will not burn on the element.
Adjustable Baskets
A dishwasher usually has two baskets to hold the crockery. Most dishwashers have an adjustable top basket so that you can move it up and down to accommodate different sized plates. Some dishwashers have foldable plate racks to accommodate space for casserole dishes and large saucepans.
Cutlery Basket
Dishwasher cutlery baskets are becoming more sophisticated, as they are being made more hygienic and easier to unload. Some dishwashers now include a long knife compartment. Silver canisters to prevent silver from staining are also now available although these are usually an optional extra.
Spray Back Facility
Some dishwashers have a facility where the top basket can be removed and a pan-washing accessory can be added. This attachment sprays water outwards washing for example, oven and fridge shelves.
Detergent Compartment
A detergent compartment is where you put your detergent. It is called the dispenser because it dispenses detergent into the machine during the wash cycle. They are usually situated in the door of a dishwasher, and some dishwashers may have two compartments, one for the pre-wash detergent and one for the main wash.
FEATURES AND BENEFITS OF DISHWASHERS
Quiet Operation
Today's dishwashers are far quieter than their predecessors. The quietest dishwasher available emits 42dB re 1 pw of noise - quieter than a kettle.
Delay Timer
A delay timer allows you to delay the start time of the dishwasher so that you can take advantage of cheap rate electricity.
Filter System
Dishwashers use recirculated water so a filter system is needed to take out all the bits of food and debris suspended in the water. Most dishwashers have a three or four-stage filtration system incorporating a coarse filter, fine filter and a micro-filter. Dishwasher filters retain any residues and keep the circulating water filtered and clean. Dishwasher filters will have to be regularly removed and washed to retain their efficiency.
Water Soilage Sensors
Some top of the range dishwashers with a pre-rinse cycle have and in-built sensor, which automatically detects the degree of soiling in the water. If the pre-rinse water is clean enough it is then reused in the main wash, thus saving around 4.5 litres of water, but still ensuring good wash results.
Heat Exchanger Systems
Heat exchanger systems save electricity by using the heat generated in the first wash cycle to heat the water used for subsequent rinse cycles.
Indicator Lights
Indicator lights remind you to refill the salt or rinse agent in the dishwasher. Some dishwashers also have progress lights to let you know how far the cycle has to go before completion.
Flood Protection
The majority of dishwashers have safety features to reduce the risk of flooding, usually in the form of a safety level switch that activates a pump if the water level appliance exceeds a safe level. Most dishwashers with this feature will have some form of cut off device to cut off the water supply to the dishwasher in the event of a leak.
Fuzzy Logic
Fuzzy logic is a term for electrical goods that are able to make decisions using incomplete information. A "fuzzy logic" dishwasher will gather information on load size and level of soilage and then decide how best it will be washed. These are extremely economical machines and use only the exact amount of water and electricity needed. Wash results are optimised, wash-time kept to a minimum and they are simple to use.
Memory Function
Dishwashers with a memory function will remember the last programme chosen and will, if you want it to, automatically repeat it on the next wash.
Dish Drying
All dishwashers dry dishes to a certain extent. Some dishwashers dry dishes passively, some dishwashers dry dishes actively. Passive drying dries the dishes using the hot air in the cabinet at the end of the wash cycle. Active drying or turbo drying heats the water during the final rinse to a higher temperature as the rinsing water is pumped away. As drying begins the cabinet fills with steam. A turbo fan is used to draw out the steam, which is condensed, or mixed with the cool, dry air to avoid releasing it into the kitchen.
DISHWASHERS - OTHER INFORMATION
Child Resistant Door Lock
Child resistant door locks are available on some dishwashers. Some dishwashers also have a programmable delay function, which makes it necessary to push and hold the start button for several seconds before running.
Salt
Salt is essential in hard water areas to ensure the water softening unit functions correctly. If salt is not used then mineral deposits can be left on the dishes.
Salt Regeneration System
Models with the salt regeneration system, once set, can calculate when salt needs regenerating, thus saving up to 30% in salt consumption.
Rinse Agent
A rinse agent is what makes glasses, cutlery and china sparkle. During the final hot rinse a tiny amount is automatically released. By breaking the surface tension of the water, a rinse agent prevents water droplets from clinging to tableware.
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