Dishwasher Installation & Energy Savings
Standard & Electronic Dishwashers:
Installation & Energy Guidelines
My wife came from a family that had a dishwasher. I lived on the other side of the railroad tracks and had no machine. When we were first married, Kathy hated to wash dishes by hand. So, I ended up doing them as often as I could. I kept saying it wasn't that bad (what a fool!). Of course, I didn't know any better. It's like the people who used to live in Phoenix in the early 1900's without air conditioning.
On or about out 6th wedding anniversary, I remodeled our kitchen and installed a dishwasher. WOW! what a great machine! I was hooked.
Technology Marches On
There has always been a difference in the quality of dishwashers. Not all machines do a great job of cleaning. There are economy models that many tract builders use that simply squirt water around the inside of a plastic tub. I have received numerous complaints from friends who have been stuck with such machines.
You can spend a little more money and get a machine that does a lot more. They clean better and require little maintenance. In fact, I installed a new machine in my "new" home that I built 10 years ago. The machine has been used no less than 3,500 times and I haven't done one thing to it. Not only that, it does a great job of cleaning.
The new machines are different than my 10 year old machine. Some have electronic sensors that attempt to help you save money and do a better job of cleaning your dishes. This technology is very recent. In fact, not all manufacturers have embraced it just yet.
Big Brother Is Watching!
Take apart one of the new machines and you would think it is used in the espionage and spy industry. You will find electric eyes, and a multitude of sensors that spy on your daily habits, water temperature, and quantity of cleaning soap you use. This is a far cry from the dishwasher I use. My machine, I figure, has a grand total of one sensor. I believe it has a built-in thermostat that detects the temperature of the incoming water. It then knows how long to heat the water before starting to work. My machine is a Model T Ford compared to the new dishwashers!
Energy Savings
We need to be concerned about energy. There are several reasons. Number 1, saving energy usually means saving money. Number 2, saving energy means saving natural resources. However, proposed energy savings can sometimes actually cost you money. How you might ask? Well, I'll tell you.
Take the new dishwashers for example. Two of the models claim to save between 21 and 24 percent on your energy bills. Furthermore, the units may save on water usage as well. The trick is to determine if you actually get a reasonable payback on the extra money you have to spend to achieve these savings.
A Sample Calculation
Energy cost fluctuate seasonally and regionally. There is no way for me to calculate an across the board savings for every person in every city. You need to do the simple calculations yourself. All you need is a copy of your electric bill and water bill.
I just looked at my most recent bills. Here in Cincinnati, I pay $.077 for each 1,000 watts of electricity I use. I pay $.000267 for each gallon of water I use.
Remember how I said that my dishwasher has been used about 3,500 times. OK, lets do a rough calculation.
Every dishwasher has different water usage amounts. They can range from 4.8 to 9.0 gallons of water per load. For sake of discussion, let's say a machine uses 7 gallons.
Electricity usage varies as well, as the machine draws different amounts of electricity during the washing, rinsing, and drying cycles. For sake of discussion, let's say the dishwasher operates at 60% total load capacity over the entire washing cycle.
In my case, I would have used 24,500 gallons of water in 10 years. At today's cost, that would be $6.54 worth of water in 10 years!
Electricity will be more, that's for sure. Let's assume that a dishwasher runs for 1 hour total each load. In my case, at current rates, I would have used 2,100,000 watts over 10 years (3,500 x 1,000 x.6). The cost for this electricity at current rates would be $161.00. This means that the total utility cost over tens years of use is roughly $170.00. If a new dishwasher claims to save you say 30 percent on your utility usage, BIG DEAL! That would mean I would save $51 over 10 years. Would you pay $200 more for a dishwasher that saves you $51? I didn't think so. Wait for the prices to drop as technology improves. It will be worth the wait!
Manufacturers of Electronic and Standard Dishwashers
At the time this bulletin was published, there were only two manufacturers who made electronic dirt sensing "smart" dishwashers. These two happen to be General Electric and Maytag. The two machines accomplish the same task, but do it in a different manner. The General Electric machine has an electric eye that looks at the water passing through the water pump. The Maytag machine has numerous different sensors such as a detergent sensor and a fuzzy logic sensor that memorizes your washing habits and times of day that the machine is loaded.
I think that you will gradually see the other leading manufacturers bring an electronic dishwasher to the marketplace. As this happens, the technology will improve and the cost will eventually drop. As it stands, the current models are somewhat pricey. However, this is always the case with new technology. I recommend that you call these companies and request product literature. A few minutes of your time will yield impressive results.
- Admiral ... 515-792-7000
- Amana ... 800-843-0304
- Frigidaire Co. ... 800-685-6005
- Gaggenau ... 617-255-1766
- General Electric ... 800-626-2000
- Jenn-Air ... 800-JENNAIR
- KitchenAid ... 800-253-3977
- Magic Chef ... 800-536-6247
- Maytag ... 515-792-7000
- Rohl Corp. ... 800-777-9762
- Sears ... 800-359-2000
- Tappan ... 800-685-6005
- Viking Range Corp. ... 601-455-1200
- Whirlpool Corp. ... 800-253-1301
- White-Westinghouse ... 800-685-6005
Installing A Dishwasher - New Or Remodel
Less Complicated Than It Seems
Dishwashers can appear to be intimidating appliances to install. this is especially true if you are used to dealing with toasters and refrigerators. A dishwasher has three "hard" (permanently) connected items that can confound an unprepared homeowner. These three items are the power supply, the incoming water supply, and the drain line. These connections are really quite easy if you possess the ability to read, have some patience, and own a few basic tools.
Replacing An Existing Or New Machine
If your task is to install a new dishwasher in place of an existing machine, much of the work is already completed. The first job is to remove the old dishwasher.
Start by locating the fuse or circuit breaker that powers the dishwasher. Turn it to the off position. If you do not do this, there is the possibility of a serious and/or lethal shock hazard. I guarantee you that the power line will touch the metal part of the dishwasher as you detach the wire. You will get zotted if you don't turn off the power!
Now, find the water turn off valve that supplies hot water to the dishwasher. If you had a first class plumber install your first machine, the tee fitting that supplies water to the machine should be after the cutoff valve that controls the hot water to your kitchen sink. This means that you should be able to turn that valve off and the dishwasher and the hot side of the kitchen sink will be the only things without water. If you had a bad plumber, well, you may have to shut off all the water in the house!
After the water is off, it is time to take things apart. All of the necessary disconnections can be made by removing the lower front panel of the dishwasher. This panel is usually held in place by two screws on the kickplate. Remove them and jiggle the cover off. The power supply (electric line) enters a little box. Remove the cover, and disconnect the power. Take the wire from the box and immediately attach a wire nut to each bare wire. This is a safety measure in case some one turns the power on too early.
Now disconnect the water supply. The water line is usually a small diameter soft copper line that enters the front of the dishwasher. Use an adjustable open end wrench and rotate the brass compression nut counterclockwise. Once, loose, the pipe should pop right out.
The drain line is simply a flexible black hose that often is near the center of the work area. Loosen the clamp and pull it off.
The only thing stopping you from removing the machine are two screws that are located at the top of the dishwasher right where the countertop passes over the machine. Do you see them? Remove them and the machine should slide right out!
Installing The New Machine
The new machine should go in just like the old one came out. Make sure the adjustable leveling feet are not too high. This may cause the dishwasher to jamb as you slide it in place.
Get the machine level and make sure the reveal along each side looks good with the door closed. Be sure all of the leveling feet are touching the floor so the machine doesn't wobble. When you are satisfied with the fit, screw the dishwasher to the countertop.
I always recommend that you install a completely new flexible rubber drain line. The old one could rupture and cause a flood. Replace this line before you slide the dishwasher into place. Leave plenty of extra hose. It can be trimmed for length after you have the machine in place. Make sure the hose is not crimped!
Most dishwashers do not come with a special required fitting - a "dishwasher ell". This is a small 90 degree angle fitting that allows you to make a compression fitting connection to the machine. The outlet size of this fitting is critical! They come in two sizes: 3/8 and 1/4 inch. Take your old one off the other dishwasher and go to a plumbing supply house. From that fitting, they will be able to tell you the size. Don't forget to apply Teflon tape or pipe dope to the male threads when you install the new fitting into the dishwasher. Don't over tighten!! The place you attach this is often plastic. If you over tighten, you will split the plastic!
Reconnect the water line and power supply. Turn on the water first and check for leaks. Be sure the compression nut and brass o-ring are centered on the pipe when tightening! If you have no leaks, then turn on the power. Be sure all of the packing material is taken out of the machine before operating. Absolutely, read all the instructions before turning the machine on for the first time.
Read a tip about the dishwasher door gasket in the December 17, 2010 Newsletter.
Column B131