How to choose a dishwasher

Want to buy a dishwasher, but do not know what better? Our tips and detailed overview of the types and functions of modern cars will help determine the choice.

Model G 6000 ECOFLEX (Miele) is able to wash and dry the dishes for 58 minutes with a cleaning class A. Photo: Miele

Dishwashers appeared long ago - 130 years ago (more precisely, in 1886), the inventor was American Josephine Cochrain. And about 100 years ago their use in households in developed countries began. The widespread introduction of dishwashers occurred later, after the war, when prices for this technique decreased, and the cost of manual labor, on the contrary, rose. Now about three-quarters of all households in Western Europe and the United States are equipped with these devices, in Russia, most of the houses and apartments have not yet been equipped with such equipment.

Photo: Miele.

The fastest spread of these, undoubtedly useful devices interfere with the modest dimensions of domestic kitchens. Lack of place is the main reason why the Russians postpone the acquisition of dishwashers. For the same reason, the popular neglected (45 cm) models that are still easier to find a place in the kitchen were popular in Russia. As for the cost, now there are models of Chinese and Turkish production for 13-15 thousand rubles; The devices of famous European brands (Bosch, Electrolux, Candy, Hotpoint, Gorenje, Siemens) are, depending on the functionality, from 20-30 thousand to 50-70 thousand rubles.

In the fullness of embedded dishwashers, the control panel is located on the top door of the door. Photo: Asko.

Types of dishwashers

Dishwashers can be divided into four types by mounting method:

Fully embedded (the furniture panel completely covers the door, the control panel is located on the top end face);
partially embedded (control panel on the facade of the door);
separately worth it;
Compact desktops.

Embedded and separately standing models are not functionally different from each other, so here the choice is determined by the exceptionally general layout of the kitchen interiors, the fact that the type of technology is easier to integrate into an existing or projected space.

As for compact desktops, their choice is a forced measure to which it should be resorted when a full-sized or at least a narrow dishwasher can not be placed. The quality of the washing in such models is lower, and most importantly - in them it is usually impossible to wash large pots and frying pan, not to mention the nozzles. That is, the most dirty dishes still have to wash your hands.

In fully embedded dishwashers, the frontal side closes with a decorative panel. Photo: hotpoint

Narrow dishwashers in this regard are also inferior to full-sized, but not so much - the capacity of the technique has grown in recent years. If earlier for narrow dishwashers was considered the norm capacity in eight-nine sets, then the model is available for ten sets. And the capacity of full-size machines width 60 cm increased to 15-17 kits, a record for today is 18 sets of dishes in the XXL series at Asko.

Model HotPoint with Zone Wash and Active Oxygen technologies. Photo: hotpoint

What is a set of dishes?

This is the conditional name of the set of dishes for serving one dining place. It includes several plates, a cup with a saucer or a glass, cutlery. The kit may vary from different manufacturers. For example, the Asko option: one set is a small, deep and dessert plates, saucer, cup, glass, fork, knife, dining room, dessert and teaspoon. In addition, the dishwasher should fit both the dishes, which is not included, for example, a dish for meat, bowl, serving spoon.

In partly embedded models, the display and control buttons are deposited on the front panel. Photo: hotpoint

What program is more important?

What should be paid when choosing dishwasher? In addition to overall sizes and capacity, buyers are usually interested in a set of programs that technician is capable of performing. In most models, in addition to the standard washing, there is one or another kind of fast washing, as well as intense, for highly polluted dishes, and washing with incomplete loading (usually only with one bottom basket). Fast washing programs for weakly discrepanted dishes are particularly popular, and here manufacturers compete with might and main. Now the fastest programs are allowed to produce the whole cycle of washing (without drying) in just 30 minutes (the standard washing time is about 2 hours). The opposite of them are economical washing programs. Another option of programs is programs with particularly high-quality drying of the dishes or at all without it.

In the Indesit Extra Hygienic Dishwasher models, there is a Babycare function, which, due to its hygienic cycle, is particularly suitable for parents of young children. Photo: indesit.

There is also a number of special programs designed for a sink of any specified type of dishes, such as glass products and similar fragile dishes. Among the new developments, we note the Babycare special cycle from Indesit (for cleaning children's accessories: from cutlery and bottles for drinks and milk to toys), Crystal Crystal Wash Program at Asko (its secret in gradual increase in water temperature and further maintaining within ± 1 ° C). Many specialized programs traditionally offer Miele. In their machines, you can find "beer glasses" programs (wash in hot or cold water depending on whether they will be used immediately after washing) and "paste / paella" for dishes with starch: the remnants of pasta and rice are removed at high temperatures.

How to know about the end of the sink?

The display in fully embedded dishwashers is hidden from the eyes of users, so manufacturers offer an interesting mechanism that processes the image of the display numbers to the floor covering. Similar indicators are found in Bosch, Siemens, AEG models.

Separately standing dishwasher can be placed in any comfortable corner of the kitchen area. Photo: hotpoint

Engineering solutions of dishwashers

Dishwashers are a complex technique. They have many details that are periodically improved by engineers. Therefore, when choosing a car, it will be useful to pay close attention to their design.

Pallets and baskets for dishes

In dishwashers, there were two retractable pallets, in modern models, the third may be added to them for cutlery (it is placed on top). The design of these pallets is generally similar (in the bottom basket there are hinge holders and there is more space for a saucepan and pan, in the upper basket - places for cups and glasses), but in detail all manufacturers differ in detail. Someone, like Miele and Asko, for example, offers special holders for high glasses and other varieties of fragile dishes. In HOTPoint models, a flexible storage system allows you to place dishes in 15 areas, including vertical zone vertical locations. And in the Extra Hygienic Dishwasher model (indesit) there is a special removable box for children's bottles and toys.

Photo: Miele.

Adjusting the height box

In a number of models, the top box can be rearranged in height - this is useful if you need to wash in the lower box with large-sized dishes. Similarly, you can rearrange in height and third, upper box for cutlery. So, using the InstantLift height adjustment system in Asko models you can free more space in the top basket. In the raised position, the tray space is 40 mm in height, and in the lowered position - up to 58 mm. Similar features provide 3D pallet from Miele.

Why wear? In the Models of the ComfortLift series (Electrolux), the retractable mechanism of the lower basket is supplemented with a lifting mechanism that allows not bending when loading and unloading dishes. Therefore, choosing a technique, think about what type of dishes you will wash most often and what variant of the pallet design you will be more convenient.

Drying

In dishwashers there are two types of drying: blowing hot air and condensation, using heat exchanger. The last option is considered more economical and quiet, but the drying of hot air is made much faster. From innovation in this area, we note the technology of Drying Autoopen (Miele) and Airdry (Electrolux). Thanks to them, the dishwasher door automatically opens by 10 cm after each washing program, and the utensils becomes completely dry using natural ventilation.

Photo: Miele.

Lighting

This option is provided, alas, far from all models. Lighting the working chamber washing makes it more convenient to work with it, because its presence facilitates loading and unloading dishes.

The bright LED backlight will be a convenient help when loading dirty and unloading freshly made dishes from the work chamber of the dishwasher.

Economy

To date, the highest class of power consumption A +++ have some Asko, Beko, Bosch, Candy, HotPoint models. And some Miele models have already exceeded this indicator and have an energy consumption class A +++ -20%. Compared to conventional dishwashers with class A, such a technique consumes roughly twice the electricity (less than 0.5 kW • h and 1.00-1.05 kW • h, respectively). It is not difficult to calculate that when used, let's say, once every two days (let's say, a two-hour sink program is used) a more economical machine is consumed about 180 kW for the year, and less economical model - twice as much.

The transition from the dishwasher of a lower power consumption to the technique of a higher class annually gives an average of saving to 40-50 kW.

Photo: Miele.

Low noise

Very important characteristic, especially for open-plan kitchens. After all, the washing of dishes is often moved by homeowners for the night hours. During operation, the average dishwasher produces noise 50-55 dB. And the quietest models are no longer less (40-42 dB).

Dishwasher Electrolux ComfortLift ESL 98810 RA. Photo: Electrolux

How is a high level of efficiency achieved?

For this, a number of technologies operating at all stages of washing have been developed. Thus, in a number of Miele models, the option of connecting to cold and hot water pipes is implemented, it gives savings to 50% of electricity. New detergents make it possible to achieve high quality washing at a lower water temperature. The use of a condensation drying with a heat exchanger allows you to dry the wet air without the need for additional heating. In addition, the properly constructed heat exchanger (such is Bosch, Siemens, Miele) allows you to simultaneously warm the cold water entering the tank.

And in many machines, intellectual sink programs with a differentiated approach to dishes with varying degrees of contamination are implemented. So, in the Zone Wash technology proposed by HotPoint, the technique carries out independent control over the sprayers. And if necessary, it increases the intensity of water supply to 30% and temperatures up to 70 ° C in the selected dishwasher zone. This technology in combination with an inverter engine is 30% more efficient compared to the intensive cycle at full load.

Why do you need a heat exchanger?

The heat exchanger is a block with two separate contours of water passing. One of these contours contains cold tap water, the second - hot, resulting after the last stage of the mode of operation of the machine: it circulates in the system and helps to pre-warm cold water entering the tank. Thus, the consumption of electricity required to heat the water is reduced to the desired temperature, which increases the energy efficiency class.