Do dishwashers worth investing?
I have washed a-
- pressure cooker,
- a greasy pan,
- a stained stockpot,
- and a rack full of other dirty dishes by just clicking some buttons.
I really can’t stress further how convenient it is to have the dishwasher doing the dishes when-
you are sick, busy, or just plain lazy!
However, we need to dig deeper to know if the convenience outweighs the maintenance expenses of a dishwasher.
Here in this article, we will discuss all of that.
Here is a quick summary of the efficiency of a dishwasher. Dishwashers are worth investing because-
Dishwashers work faster and smarter while using 6 times less water in doing the dirty dishes as compared to handwashing. As it uses hot water the dishes come out more hygienic too. The energy star-rated dishwashers with inbuilt water heaters only contribute approx. $4 in your bill per month.
They are a convenient option when you don’t want to put in high effort and save both money and time. The dishwashers having self-cleaning filters and hard food dispensers demand less care. By using a septic tank-safe dishwashing detergent, you can both have a dishwasher and a healthy septic tank.
But I am not going to fill this article with good words only. There are a few setbacks too of having a dishwasher. I will further discuss this in this article, along with a detailed explanation of expenses while running a dishwasher.
Content:
- Benefits
- Bills to pay
- Longevity
- Convenience
- Drawbacks
- Final verdict
More Advantages of Using a Dishwasher
A dishwasher is an electrical machine that uses hot water and detergent to clean your utensils. Another optional step may include using rinse aid to add shine to your dishes. There is a drying function too.
Depending on the brand, various functions, and model types, you will have a wide variety of dishwashers to choose from. A dishwasher that comes with a self-cleaning filter and hard food dispenser is a bit pricey. But worth it in the long run.
There are several benefits of using a dishwasher instead of doing dishes on your own.
A dishwasher can really save up your time and allow you to utilize that time in something else of your choice. The dishwasher can definitely clean things better than manual washing. It can also sanitize better since it will be using really hot water. It also saves a lot of energy and water that you might be wasting in a sink. We use up to 102 liters of water in a sink, whereas a modern dishwasher uses 11 liters only per load.
Not to mention, the dishwasher makes your job way too much flexible and manageable. Sometimes you can skip dishwashing of one time and do that in the next cycle to utilize the load capacity fully. Some strong stains and stubborn food can also easily get cleaned in a dishwasher which can take a lot of energy and time in the kitchen for you.
As, every appliance comes with some essential caring process, you can minimize that with a dishwasher by buying a self-cleaning filter. Self-cleaning filters help in filtering food debris from the dishwasher while keeping itself clean on its own.
How expensive it is to use a dishwasher? – Bills To Pay
Let’s assume you bought the latest dishwasher model which is energy star certified. This type of model uses 3-4 gallons of water per load. Whereas handwashing the same number of dishes in a sink will take up to 26 gallons of water. Clearly, handwashing the dishes are more expensive than using an energy star rated dishwasher.
Let’s talk about power consumption. The modern models of the dishwasher are usually 1200 watts. If you take a load or cycle time of 1 hour, the machine will use 1.2 kilowatt-hours (kWh). On a 10 cent/kWh electricity plan, that accounts for 12 cents per cycle. In case you are running the machine 5 days/week, the total payment per month will be $2.40.
Now dishwashers use hot water to clean the dishes. If you are buying a dishwasher with a built-in heater, then let’s calculate the cost. Suppose, the temperature of the inlet is 68°F and the machine is working on heating it up to 120°F. If it is heating 3.2 gallons per load then it will cost only 0.38 kWh or 3.8¢ per hour. Adding the operating cost of 12¢, it will come to 15.8¢. Clearly, at 20 loads/month your overall cost will be $3.16.
As electricity plans differ from place to place, these are some links where you can know and compare your plan. Compare Electricity Bill in United States, U.K, Canada, New Zealand.
A dishwasher comes in various price ranges. There are different kinds of models available in the market from many brands with different functionalities and different energy-saving features. Prices vary with functionalities. But make sure you are buying an energy star rated dishwasher. Other than the cost of water and electricity, the bill of dishwashing detergent will also add up.
How long a dishwasher can last?
According to Consumer Report, a dishwasher can on average last up to 10 years. However, this does not mean you will face trouble-free 10 years. If you don’t build-up caring habits for your dishwasher along the way, then many things can go wrong with that appliance.
If you follow the instructions given in the manual by the manufacturer then there will be very few chances that it will give any headache. Like other appliances in your household, a dishwasher’s lifespan depends on many factors. Such as frequency of use, care, maintenance, brand, and quality. If you are spending reasonable effort and maintaining it well then, any dishwasher can last up to ten long years.
How convenient it is to use a dishwasher?
Getting a dishwasher is a great solution for your daily household work. But it comes with some questions. A dishwasher in your kitchen will require a dedicated space in the lower cabinet so you need to figure out that first, you may need to call a carpenter and a plumber to place the machine correctly. It will also require sufficient water and electricity supply so after all these things you are all set to go with your dishwasher. And after setting up, there are no such hassles that you might need to deal with.
What are the drawbacks of using a dishwasher?
It can be a little expensive to use and manage over time. A dishwasher would not be safe for many of the utensils and cookware so this can be a major disappointment for many users. It can consume a lot of space in a lower cabinet, It can cause leakage problems and drainage problems as well. The performance of the dishwasher depends on multiple factors and therefore it might be difficult to achieve consistent performance every time.
Final Verdict:
Household chores are stress of another level for everyone. The modern era has enabled us with so many alternatives and solutions to make our daily life easier and simpler. Dishwasher machine is one of the debatable topics around the world when it comes to cleaning dirty dishes. Because every other job has been altered by so many different machines and tools except cleaning the kitchenware.
If you are having confusing thoughts about whether you should get a dishwasher or not then my recommendation would be to have one. Dishwashers are a way better approach than cleaning your dishes with your own hands. It makes your work easy and efficient and it also saves a lot of time and keeps you away from the mess and heavy detergents. Flaws of the dishwashers are easy to neglect because it provides amazing benefits for years to come with just one-time purchase.
