What to look for when choosing a dishwasher

A dishwasher makes life much easier for any family. Still, it’s always nice to shift part of everyday life to mechanics. However, the wrong choice of technology can only bring problems and losses. Today I will tell you what you need to look for when buying a dishwasher.

Basics

First, about those parameters that you should pay attention to first. If they do not correspond to what is desired, the device should not even be taken into account.

Size and volume

You need to start from the dimensions of the kitchen. There are different types of dishwashers. For example, they can be standard and hold a maximum of 17 sets. Or there are narrow models. These are suitable for a small kitchen and wash up to 13 sets of dishes at the same time. And there are also very compact units. Outwardly, they resemble a microwave oven. These will fit less than a dozen sets.

However, you shouldn’t run to the kitchen, count all your plates and cups and take the maximum size. Firstly, it is unlikely that anyone on a regular basis uses all the dishes in the house at the same time. Secondly, it’s better to be short here. Even if sometimes you have to wash the glass with your own hands, but the equipment will not work half empty.

Important! There is no specific standard for what cookware is included in one “set.”In fact, the unit can hold fewer utensils than indicated by the manufacturer.

Drying method

Includes condensation, convection and zeolite. In the first case, the dishes are doused with boiling water and the moisture evaporates. In the second, convection air movement is created - turbo drying - when the heater and fan are running. The latter is the most modern. With it, zeolite - a natural material - absorbs moisture. However, such drying is rare.

Why is this parameter so important? Because there are some finicky dishes that the same boiling water can damage.

Operating modes

In short: the more there are, the better. And all so that the dishwasher can adapt to a wide range of tasks. By default, for example, work in standard mode at 60 degrees. And when the dishes are only slightly dirty, turn on economy. If the utensils, on the contrary, are heavily soiled, use the intensive mode at a temperature of 75 degrees Celsius.

Connection to water supply

Can only be connected to a hot or cold pipe. Or to both types of water supply at once. The last method is the most flexible and is the most common. However, this needs to be monitored closely. What if the machine you like is unexpectedly only for the hot stream?

Safety

This includes having a child lock feature. With it, the unit blocks the doors and control panel during operation. Leakage protection can also be installed, which is divided into complete and partial. The latter is triggered if the pan is full.

Extra options

Now about those things that are not so important, because you can still do without them.

Efficiency

No, I'm not talking about how well the dishwasher will wash dishes. I mean water consumption, electricity and equipment class.And, paradoxically, the cheaper the model, the more expensive it will cost. And all because there will be a lot of light. So it is better to choose units with energy consumption A+ or A++. Water consumption is also indicated by a letter. The closer it is to the beginning of the alphabet, the less resources the model spends.

Control

It can be mechanical, when the owner independently adjusts all the parameters. More often found in budget models. Modern units have electronic, automatic control types, with a touch screen and several operating modes.

Additional options

Among them are a special filter with a self-cleaning function, a sensor indicating the purity of the water, and the ability to delay the start. The presence of each of the listed features sometimes greatly affects the cost of the unit.

Noise

Another parameter that directly depends on the price. The higher it is, the quieter the machine operates.

It is recommended to take the manufacturer into account separately. Give preference to better proven models that have managed to collect enough positive feedback.

The listed parameters will allow you to buy a high-quality dishwasher. The main thing is to decide in advance what criteria it must meet, and what you can refuse. For example, if there are no children in the house, you should forget about completely silent models and special protection.