What is dishwasher power? How is it measured? what to do if it is insufficient?

The average power of a dishwasher is no more than 1 kW. This is the optimal indicator that allows you to perform all functions, including pre-rinsing and drying. However, it can deviate in smaller and larger directions. This material explains what affects power and how to correctly evaluate it.

What is the difference between power and performance?

First of all, you need to understand the concepts, since confusion often arises in them, not only in connection with dishwashers, but also with household appliances in general.

Power

A dishwasher's power (kW) is the amount of energy it consumes in 1 hour. It is quite clear that the lower this indicator, the better, especially if there is already a heavy load on the network (washing machine, kettle, air conditioner and other equipment).

How much a dishwasher consumes is directly reflected in its electricity consumption. For modern models, this figure is in the range of 0.4-2.7 kWh, and on average it is about 1-1.2 kWh. Since a standard wash lasts almost 3 hours, it is easy to calculate that for 1 cycle the unit uses 4-4.8 kW, which in rubles will be 15-25 rubles.

The power consumption of a dishwasher is spent on several processes:

• heating the water to the desired temperature (standardly 40-50 degrees, but sometimes 60-70);
• the functioning of sprinklers, as well as the pump pumping water;
• drying process.

Performance

A dishwasher's consumption does not always directly reflect its performance. This indicator shows how many plates or baskets will be processed in 1 hour. In the description of household devices, performance is usually not indicated, but it can be calculated indirectly. For example, the unit can accommodate 9 sets of dishes, each of them contains 4 appliances, and washing lasts 3 hours. Then the productivity will be 12 conventional plates per hour.

This indicator indirectly affects how many kilowatts the dishwasher consumes. It is clear that the more productive it is, the greater the energy consumption. However, for a small family this criterion is not particularly important. It is important only for units that are used in public catering (where productivity reaches 200-800 plates per hour).

Factors affecting power

The power consumption of a dishwasher depends on several factors:

1. Features of the heating element - the heating element consumes quite a lot of energy, especially at maximum heating of 60-70 degrees. This temperature is not needed in all cases, so you can choose programs with average values ​​(40-50 degrees).
2. A pump that creates pressure to effectively spray water. This part consumes approximately 100 watts every hour, which is quite normal. It is clear that the shorter the wash, the lower the dishwasher's energy consumption.
3. Pump that drains waste fluid.This is an even less expensive part, using only 30 W. Moreover, thanks to water purification, it is used several times, having previously undergone filtration.
4. Water volume - if the dishwasher consumption is 1-1.2 kWh (on average), then the volume of liquid can be from 6 to 12 liters. It is clear that the smaller it is, the less energy must be spent to heat to the desired temperature.
5. The duration of the program is a determining factor that greatly influences how much kW the dishwasher consumes. A standard wash lasts 3-4 hours, while a short wash lasts 40-60 minutes. During all this time, electricity is spent on the operation of pumps, heating elements and other elements.

Energy efficiency class

To make it easier for users to navigate how much electricity a dishwasher consumes, manufacturers have long been using a letter designation system from A to G. They characterize the energy efficiency class:

1. A - the best option, power in the range of 0.7-1.05 kW. Within this group there are also A+ and A++, which correspond to 0.6 and 0.4 kW. It is clear that such energy consumption of a dishwasher is minimal. Moreover, it retains all its functionality, that is, it uses resources extremely economically.
2. B – level from 1.07 to 1.1 kW.
3. C – power in the range of 1.1-1.5 kW.

The remaining classes are practically never found. Even category B and C models are rarely on sale because their energy efficiency is significantly below average. It is not often that you come across only old used units that consume 1.5-2 kW or more, which corresponds to the worst classes (D, E or F). The power consumption W of such a dishwasher is very high, but the functions are the same.Therefore, only class A, A+ and A++ models should be considered.

How to save electricity

How many watts a dishwasher consumes is always indicated in its instructions. Moreover, manufacturers declare an average value or stipulate a maximum consumption, which will not necessarily occur in reality. To reduce the power consumption of the dishwasher in kW, it is recommended to follow a few simple rules:

1. Do not accumulate too many dishes, put what you have in the chamber and select the half-load mode. It allows you to reduce the amount of energy consumed, as well as water, by about 30%.
2. When purchasing, find out how much the dishwasher consumes, and whether it is equipped with a heat exchanger. With this element, you can save about 20% on electricity.
3. Periodically remove scale from the heating element and use preventative agents that reduce water hardness.
4. Pre-clean the dishes from food residues so that they do not have to be washed. In addition, if the plates and other containers are not very dirty, you can select the economical, quick washing mode. Then you won’t have to worry about how much electricity the dishwasher consumes.

If the load on the network is too heavy, it is worth buying models that consume a minimum of electricity. It is necessary to study all technical parameters, including how many kilowatts the dishwasher consumes. The indicator should not exceed 1.05 kW, otherwise the load on the network and financial costs will be quite noticeable.

Thus, the power consumption of the dishwasher plays a rather important role. But you should not think that if the indicator is large, then the cycle is quite intense.It's really a trade-off between how much energy a dishwasher uses and its capacity and performance rating.