Today, the dishwasher is one of the main elements of kitchen equipment. Once it was a luxury, now we will meet it in almost any apartment. Makes cleaning much easier, allows you to wash dirty dishes and, above all, save money and time. In addition, the dishwasher takes care of our hands and protects the environment. Let’s consider how to choose the right dishwasher.
There are many models of dishwashers on the market. We can adapt them to our individual needs – to meet visual and technological expectations. The devices differ in power, size, mode of operation and, of course, in price. To begin with, you should ask yourself basic questions. The main thing is our budget. Will it be a built-in dishwasher or perhaps a stand-alone dishwasher? Another aspect is the capacity, dimensions and energy class or efficiency of the sink. Another important element is the brand and manufacturer of the dishwasher, as well as the planned frequency of washing, taking into account the number of households.
How much water does a dishwasher use
The most important question that dishwasher buyers ask themselves is the water consumption of this appliance.
Some people believe that hand washing uses much less water. But this is not so and depends on how and how many dishes to wash. If you live alone and don’t often eat at home, or use delivery services, and the dishes don’t get dirty a lot, buying a dishwasher may not be rational. But up to 80 liters of water can be used to wash dishes for a family of 4 under running water. These are significant costs, much higher than when using a dishwasher.
Today, dishwashers are very economical and environmentally friendly. Small compact and more advanced with traditional dimensions (45 cm or 60 cm) can use less than 10 liters of water during one washing cycle. However, the fact that they also consume electricity should be taken into account. But despite everything, this is a much cheaper solution.
The average water consumption in economic or standard mode according to the water consumption data is indicated in the technical specification of the product.
Energy class
Savings will generate the corresponding energy class of the dishwasher. Most models available today have the highest energy class, i.e. A +++, A ++ and A +. The more advantages, the more water and energy savings.
Washing efficiency class
The washing efficiency class is also an important parameter. It was introduced as an energy class based on standards. This applies to the effectiveness of washing dishes with hard-to-reach dirt. The scale is measured from A to G. A very good energy class is usually combined with good efficiency. Nominal capacity is also used for this measurement. It is thanks to it that we find out how much we can save compared to other models of dishwashers.
Noise level
An important parameter of household appliances is the noise level. Kitchens are often open to the living room, and noisy appliances can interfere with conversation or relaxation. The quietest dishwashers work with a sound of 39-40 dB.
Dimensions of dishwashers
Dishwashers are usually 60 cm wide, just like standard kitchen cabinets. However, we can also buy smaller ones with a width of 45 cm. The first version holds 12 to 14 sets of dishes, i.e. a standard set of plates with cutlery and glasses or cups for one person . Smaller models hold an average of 10 sets of dishes.
Nevertheless, there is not always a place in the kitchen, within the furniture, to accommodate additional equipment. Then you can use such a solution as a compact dishwasher. It can be placed on the kitchen table. Its width is 55 cm, and its height is 45 or 60 cm. We will place 6-8 sets of dishes inside. Another solution is dishwashers for modular assembly, which can be installed vertically or horizontally.
Control panel
An important element of a dishwasher is the control panel. It can be integrated. This means that the control is located on the top bar of the door, and after it is closed, the panel is not visible. The outer panel is located on the front of the door. It’s worse if we have small children at home who can easily take it as fun entertainment.
Dishwasher programs
Dishwashing programs differ in temperature and duration. When choosing the appropriate one, the type of dishes and the degree of soiling should be taken into account, as we can choose a program intended, for example, for glass or pans. In each model we will find the ECO mode. Other features you may find useful. example:
- Glass washing program;
- Fast (especially if we have guests, and the demand for new clean plates quickly appears);
- Hygienic, which, thanks to the elevated temperature of 70-75 °C, eliminates bacteria and gives a cleaning effect in the dishwasher and takes care of hygiene and a pleasant smell.
Built-in or standalone
How to choose a built-in dishwasher? What you cannot forget when buying is the exact measurement of width and length. If we are just in the kitchen design stage, this is the perfect time to create a dedicated cabinet. The front of the dishwasher is decorated with the same panel as the rest of the furniture. It is very aesthetically pleasing visually. In the future, this can cause a problem if you want to replace the device with a new one, because, for example, it will constantly fail. The built-in dishwasher is perfectly combined with the kitchen decor, where everything is in harmony with each other.
A stand-alone dishwasher gives you much more room to maneuver. It can be installed almost anywhere or even in another room. A relief is that there are no restrictions that are suitable dimensions for the installation. In addition, some models have the ability to remove the worktop so that it can be placed under the kitchen set. The disadvantage, however, is that the appliance is visible, due to which it will stand out against the background of other elements of the kitchen. However, there are so many models now that everyone should find something for themselves.