What to look out for – Tips on buying a dishwasher

January 20, 2009

When buying a dishwasher, there are various factors to consider. You want something that can get the job done, and at the same time, falls within your budget. Pricing depends on several elements such as capacity, special features, and the finishing. It is good to have an idea of the features that you want before going out to shop for a dishwasher.

Capacity

Capacity should be the first consideration to come to mind. You can choose between a 24 inch or an 18 inch compact dishwasher. An 18 inch dishwasher is adequate for 2 to 3 people – the size of a small family. For bigger families, you will need a 24 inch dishwasher. A 24 inch dishwasher provides 12 to 14 standard place settings.

Type of dishwasher

There are three different types of dishwasher to choose from – portable, built in or counter top dishwashers. Your decision will depend on the current design of your kitchen. In other words, is there a space for the dishwasher to fit nicely in?

Also, if you are renting an apartment or staying in some temporary accommodation, you may wish to buy a portable dishwasher so that you can take it with you when you leave the premises.

Energy saving

Most home appliances come with energy saving labels these days. The dishwasher is no exception. The more efficient the dishwasher, the more electricity you will be able to save. So you pay less for utilities bills.

Hard food disposal

This feature is not included in every dishwasher model. It’s meant to help scrape off stubborn stains before washing. You may wish to consult the retailer if this is a feature you want.

Dishwashing cycles

Similar to a washing machine, the dishwasher also has washing cycles. The most common cycles are econo, light and regular. There are other cycles like stemware, rinse and quick wash but these are mostly added for convenience. The econo cycle air dries the dishes instead of using heat. So that helps to save energy.

Performance considerations

Of course, when you buy a dishwasher, you want the machine to be able to do a job well – clean dishes efficiently and effectively. In general, a three tier system will provide a good washing for the dishes. If you want a more thorough wash, you may have to buy a system with more than three tiers. However, the better the system, the higher the price. Note that it is also useful for a dishwasher to have a child safety lock, just in case there are small children around.

Stacking options

Most dishwashers come with two racks but modern dishwashers these days come in three racks. When considering stacking options, the key here is to be able to stack items in all sorts of shapes and sizes into the dishwasher. For example, tall glasses, stemware, etc should be able to fit into the dishwasher without much problems.

Keeping these tips in mind will help you making better buying decisions. Buying the right dishwasher can most certainly help save a tremendous amount of time.