How to choose a dishwasher

For some reason, in the domestic open spaces, it is generally accepted that a dishwasher is a luxury item, and not a forced need for a house, despite the fact that we cannot do without refrigerators, vacuum cleaners, washing machines and other large household appliances. It is in vain that many housewives underestimate the dishwasher, since it is intended not only for washing dishes, but also for thoroughly drying them.

In addition, the technician performs these unpleasant procedures much faster and better. There is also significant water savings. So why not get such an amazing assistant? The only thing left to do is to find out how to choose the right dishwasher for your home in 2020, so that it lasts longer, really benefits and saves your budget.

Why do you need a dishwasher

A dishwasher is certainly not something without which we cannot imagine everyday life, but recently it has taken an important place in our kitchen. Mountains of dirty dishes that take so much free time will not bother you, you can spend all this time with your family and loved ones, do more useful things. By purchasing a dishwasher, you will save a lot of time every day, but before buying something good, you must definitely familiarize yourself with the main criteria, and that is why we have sorted out for you a number of parameters that should be followed when buying.

The most important parameters

When choosing a home assistant, we tried to consider all the most important points that will help you determine and select the exact dishwasher in terms of parameters that will match the price of quality, and not be inferior to more expensive firms from well-known manufacturers. So let's start with the most important thing.

type of instalation

There are two main types of dishwashers that are found on the electrical appliance market: built-in and partially built-in. The first option is more common on sale, however, as practice shows, the second type is more convenient. Let's take a closer look at each of them.

Embedded

After installation, built-in appliances are completely hidden under the furniture profile, so you can not pay much attention to its design. The panel for controlling the dishwasher in these models is located at the end of the door and is well suited for kitchens with a complex design style.

The best built-in dishwashers

• Bosch SMV 40D00
• Hotpoint-Ariston LSTB 4B00
• Hansa ZIM 628 EH
• Samsung DW50H4050BB

Partially recessed

Partially built-in models differ mainly in that they are always visible, that is, the control panel is not hidden behind the furniture facade, it looks more aesthetically pleasing, and access to the control panel is always free.You will be able to keep track of the dishwashing process, the remaining time, etc. Dishwashers of this type are much higher in terms of cost.

The best partially built-in dishwashers

• Bosch SKE 52M55
• Siemens SC 76M522
• Flavia SI 60 ENNA
• Kaiser S 45 U 71 XL

It is worth noting that there are also compact dishwashers, they are called tabletop. They are small in size, therefore, they are designed for a small amount of dishes. It is worth purchasing such a narrow free-standing technique if you are satisfied with its capabilities.

What size dishwasher to choose

The dimensions of a kitchen dishwasher are of great importance - they determine how many dishes it can wash at a time. Dishwashers are available in standard and narrow versions with a depth of 60 and 45 cm respectively. In order to correctly determine which size of the dishwasher is better to choose according to capacity, use sets of dishes. One such set consists of a spoon, one fork, two plates, a cup and a saucer. To choose the optimal model, count the number of people living in the house. For example, for 2-3 people, a dishwasher will be enough, which can hold from 4 to 6 sets of dishes. It is also suitable for small kitchens as it takes up relatively little space. Overall dimensions are dishwasher approx. 60 cm in width and not more than 50 cm in height.

If you need a machine for 4 or more people, then it is better to choose a standard size dishwasher designed for a load of 8 to 10 sets, they are most often found in household appliances stores. They have a great height, but the same dimensions in width and depth.

We could not help but mention the more spacious dishwashers, which can hold from 11 to 17 sets of dishes, these devices are designed for a very large family.

Why is it worth buying a slightly larger dishwasher if 2-3 people live in the house? Because this will allow you to use the machine not only for washing dishes, but for pots and pans that will have space.

Management and essential programs

The control system in dishwashers can be implemented in two ways: electronic or electromechanical. The first type has great advantages, since in order to start the device into operation, it is enough to load the dishes and select the mode, it will do everything else on its own, including the choice of temperature, the amount of detergent and water, etc.

In terms of functionality, the devices differ depending on the number of programs. Several different modes are required in the dishwasher. Just imagine that you need to wash, for example, a heavily soiled frying pan. This requires a lot of effort. At the same time, there are several plates on which there is practically no food left - there is no point in washing them at the maximum load of equipment. When choosing a certain company, pay attention to the presence of at least 5-6 modes that may come in handy more than once, as standard on dishwashers there are about 4 of them.

List of required dishwasher modes

• For light dirt;
• For moderate soiling;
• For heavily soiled pots and pans;
• For soaking dishes before the main washing procedure.

For models with a higher price, additional operating modes can be installed, for example, gentle washing for fragile dishes, devices with such a program are equipped with a special holder for glasses, which is a very convenient device.

In general, the more programs provided, the better - thus, you can choose the best mode, significantly saving on energy and water consumption. But if the budget is limited, the standard modes will be enough.

An integral part when choosing a voluminous dishwasher is the ability to load in half, which will allow not to accumulate a large volume of dishes, but to load only one tray out of two.

Consumption of water and electricity

Dishwashers are very economical and will allow you to use water efficiently and save you money. On average, the device saves about 9000 liters of water per year. Today there are both economical and non-economical.

• Economical water consumption of about 9-10 liters per cycle
• Not economical ones consume about 18 liters of water per cycle (they can be found quite rarely)

If we talk about electricity consumption, it depends on the water consumption, the more water is consumed per cycle, the more the dishwasher consumes electricity.

Noise level

Modern dishwasher models They are distinguished by a fairly quiet operation, they do not cause any noise discomfort. This is also a merit of the fact that the technique is hidden under furniture profiles, which drown out the sound. Even at night, the typewriter located in the kitchen will not disturb your sleep. The standard noise level that the device emits is 38-55 dB. It is not recommended to buy models that are noisier in terms of parameters.

For work at night and light sleep, a model with a noise level of up to 45 dB is suitable. It won't disturb even a baby's sleep!

Ranking of the quietest dishwashers in 2020

• Electrolux ESL 98810 RA
• Smeg STA6539L3
• Smeg STA6539L2
• Electrolux ESL 6810 RA

Dishwashing classes

Each dishwasher model corresponds to a certain class of washing and drying. For their designation, Latin letters are used from A (maximum) to G (minimum). With regard to energy efficiency, other designations are used for it.

It is worth saying that dishwashers of class A below are a rarity on sale. Only some manufacturers offer class B drying. This means that after the procedure is completed, a couple of drops of water may remain on the dishes. There are certain standard requirements, on the basis of compliance with which a car is assigned a particular class. To choose a good dishwasher for your home, you first need to focus on the energy consumption class, since there will be no problems with the quality of washing - all dishwashers do this task perfectly.

Connection and installation

The way the dishwasher is connected is very important:

• To hot water - this method is more profitable in terms of energy saving, since hot water is immediately supplied. However, it is very important that its temperature does not go beyond 60-65 degrees, otherwise the equipment may break down.
• To cold water - this type of connection implies a higher power of equipment and increased electricity consumption due to the need for heating. At the same time, the performance of the machine will not depend on the availability of hot water in the house.
• Universal - models with this connection type are sold at a higher price. But at the same time, you do not have to worry about which water to connect the device to, thanks to the built-in mixer.

If you are not good at installing and connecting household appliances, then it is better not to experiment, but to entrust this work to specialists who will do everything correctly and efficiently.

Water sprayers

Water sprays are the main functional elements in a dishwasher. They spray water when washing dishes. All machines have two nozzles that actively rotate. It is better to take a model in which there is also a third atomizer, which is not installed in all devices. With it, the procedure for washing kitchen utensils is even better. The design of the third spray is similar to a shower, it does not rotate and is located at the top.

Leakage protection

Protection against leaks is an important function that must be present in a dishwasher, as in any other appliance associated with water.It's one thing if you live in your own house and there is a tile on the floor, or you need equipment for a summer residence. And what if a leak occurs, and as a result, water spills out on the ceiling of the neighbors living on the floor below? Many models have a system that provides protection against leaks, which is carried out thanks to a special valve. They are equipped with hoses and the body of the device. If suddenly there are any problems with the overflow of the machine pan, the system itself will block the water supply to the dishwasher. The water remaining inside the housing will go down the drain. There are also models of dishwashers, in which only the case is protected, this is usually inherent in budget models. In this case, for greater safety, it is necessary to buy special AquaStop hoses, which are not expensive and will protect you from possible troubles.

The importance of the dish drying function

Wiping off wet dishes is just as tiring as washing them. However, this task can be easily and more efficiently handled by an automatic dishwasher. After completing the entire working cycle of the technician, all that remains is to get the dishes and put them on the cabinets or shelves. Let's see what type of drying exists:

• Active (turbo);
• Condensing.

During turbo drying, the contents of the dishwasher are treated with warm air, which evenly passes through the entire chamber due to the operation of the fan. The procedure takes a minimum of time, but at the same time, increased energy consumption is observed, and the noise level also slightly increases.

Condensing drying is more time consuming but does not consume electricity or generate unnecessary noise. The technology is quite simple: since the dishes are rinsed with hot water, and then the dishwasher is turned off, after some time all the moisture evaporates and the contents become dry.

Which detergent to choose for the dishwasher

Not everyone knows which detergent to choose correctly, so as not to harm the dishwasher, the most correct way to solve it is to read the manufacturer's instructions, or consult a specialist.

Powders and gels

For washing dishes in a dishwasher, as a rule, use a traditional detergent type powder. It must be poured into a special container - dispenser. Do not neglect the instructions, as this stage is very important. It indicates which detergent and in what quantity is required for a particular mode. For a perfect wash, it is also recommended to use regenerating salt, which softens hard water and prevents the formation of limescale on the heating element, and for high-quality drying without streaks - a special rinse aid.

Tablets

There are other detergents - tablets and gels. One such tablet includes several of the aforementioned agents at once. The system is able to determine by itself which detergent you are using, and in accordance with this, make adjustments to the washing process. Although some dishwashers have a special button that switches the machine to a different type of detergent. There are no particularly noticeable differences in the quality of washing. It is still a little more convenient with pills, but their cost is also higher.

Care and correct use

In order for the dishwasher to last as long as possible, it is recommended to take into account the following tips from the masters:

1. Despite the great popularity of tablets with numerous components, it is worth filling the special compartments of the dishwasher with all the necessary substances separately - detergent, rinse aid and salt.
2. Perform a comprehensive cleaning of the machine regularly, as scale and grease build up on its functional parts as a result of frequent use.
3. Do not use regular dish detergents to clean the machine - it is best to choose the universal or special substances recommended by the manufacturer.
4. Clean dishes from all food residues before loading them into the chamber.This will not only simplify the cleaning procedure, but also avoid clogging.
5. Clean the appliance door seal regularly with a special cleaning agent.
6. Clean the filters at least every 3 months.

The best dishwashers of 2020

• Bosch SPV 40E10
• Indesit DISR 14B
• Electrolux ESL 94300 LO
• Hansa ZIM 436 EH
• BEKO DIN 26220

Summarize

Choosing a dishwasher for your home is an important and responsible process. Considering what parameters the technique should meet, paying attention to all the above criteria, tips and recommendations, you can choose a really good assistant in household chores. We hope that after all our recommendations, you understand which dishwasher to choose, built-in or partially built-in and what are their main differences. Let it please you not only with its functionality, but also with the price-quality ratio. Enjoy the shopping.