How to Check a Dishwasher Before Buying: Recommendations for Dishwasher Buyers

Installation

Dishwasher installation is best left to the experts. The fact is that there are certain norms that regulate both the connection to the power supply, and the connection to the water supply and sewerage.

In general, the connection process boils down to the following steps:

• Preparation of a place for installation (you need to correctly mark the future location of the machine in order to provide access to water and electricity, fit into an existing environment or fit the kitchen to its dimensions (for built-in models).
• Purchase of additional accessories.
• Connection to the waste system.
• Connection to the water supply (by the way, you need to connect only to cold water, connection to hot water is strongly not recommended by manufacturers).
• Electrical connection.
• Leak check.
• Checking work.

Correct installation is a guarantee of a long service life of your dishwasher.

Tip 2. Decide on capacity

Sometimes on the Internet you can find advice on choosing the most spacious dishwasher - so that as many dishes fit as possible. This is justified if you have a reception every day with several meals or you have a large family of at least eight people.

The capacity of the machine should be chosen according to your needs

For the rest, be guided by common sense: the more spacious the dishwasher, the more space it takes up in the kitchen and the more expensive it is.

Therefore, match your needs with the size of the kitchen - why buy a large unit that will take up all the free space?

Perhaps you need a compact model

Capacity is the number of sets of dishes that can be washed in one cycle. In turn, the set is: three plates, a cup and saucer, a glass, a set of cutlery.

The following categories of dishwashers are distinguished by capacity:

• Full-sized, sixty centimeters wide. At a time, they can wash 11-17 complete sets of dishes.Such a device is suitable for a large family, where guests often come. However, keep in mind that it will take up a lot of space in the kitchen.
• In narrow machines forty-five centimeters wide, 6-10 sets can easily fit. This dishwasher is ideal for a family of three to four people. Unlike the previous model, it is quite compact, so it can be easily placed in a standard kitchen.
• Small desktop dishwashers with edges of 45 centimeters on all sides are most often placed directly on the countertop or built into cabinets. They can wash no more than four sets of dishes at a time. Ideal if you live alone, a maximum of two, or you have a very small kitchen.

Video: TOP models 2017-2018

From this video you will learn about the best models of 2017. Do not rush to buy a dishwasher. It is better to wait a while, to weigh everything, but not to make a mistake with the choice.

The opinion poll was conducted among the owners of Bosch SPV 69T00, Bosch SGS 44E12, Bosch SKS 50E16, Bosch SGS 44E12, Siemens SN 66M054, Siemens SN 55M540, Hotpoint-Ariston LFTA+ 42874, Hotpoint-Ariston LFT 2167, Electrolux ESL 67070 R, Zanussi ZDTS 300. The most popular among buyers were cars from Bosch, Electrolux, Hotpoint-Ariston. These brands combine build quality and ease of use in their technology. Often, dishwashers of companies can boast of quiet operation. For all three firms, the noise level rarely rises above 50 dB. They consume no more than 1 kWh of energy. Ordinary users are pleasantly surprised by the price-quality ratio. Which dishwasher to choose? Reviews will help you make the right choice! Read carefully about each model on the Internet.

Control and display

Modern manufacturers most often use electronic control, which includes mechanical and touch buttons. This is a good approach, because you can customize the operation of the device as much as possible. The display does not have unnecessary elements, and the instruction will help you quickly figure out what and when to press.

But, in turn, companies are trying to compensate for the lack of a display using LED indicators that correspond to different modes of operation. Most often they are responsible for the presence of detergent, rinse aid.

Modern brands have begun to use a unique indicator that is broadcast on the floor. In built-in models, the company uses an indicator beam that allows you to understand how much time is left until the end of washing without opening the door. The beam will glow until the PMM is functioning, turn off or change color after completion of work.

Advanced options offer beam projection of even the selected program, the exact time until the end of the wash. It is very convenient and practical, but the price is correspondingly high.

Consider whether there is a built-in backlight in the car. The presence of this option simplifies the process of arranging dishes and unloading them.

How to choose a place to embed?

It often happens that a dishwasher is bought after the headset, when it is bought and installed. For the right choice in such situations, there are several options:

• One of the floor cabinets.
• Organization of a special niche. To do this, you can dismantle parts of the furniture that are not used.
• Under sink installation.
• The device can be placed on refrigerators.
• Can be put in place of a stove or oven that is not in use.

The main thing is to provide access to all communications for the model, including water and electricity.

The headset is upgraded in the following order:

1. The facade is removed from the niche. Cabinets inside are completely removed.
2. The shelves are dismantled.
3. The loops are removed. This will protect the equipment from scratches.
4. Part of the cabinet at the back is removed.

You can order a completely new facade if the dishwasher is a conventional built-in dishwasher. Manufacturers are trying to expand the range of manufactured panels for models. It remains to choose the option that looks perfect in a particular interior. It is recommended to study in advance the rating of dishwashers in terms of quality, reliability.

Attention to detail

Having found out that the device you like has a set of all the necessary and desired characteristics, it is worth emphasize on its practicality. That is, how the model is suitable for your kitchen, whether you can competently use the dishwasher, observing the rules of operation and loading

Only the owner knows what kind of dishes to be washed in the machine. Maybe there is a lot of fragile glass in his household, there are large frying pans and pots or baking sheets of complex shape. All this will be washed in the dishwasher, which should be able to ensure the cleaning of all dishes.

Dish container design

The standard equipment of the dishwasher is two baskets, which are used to load dishes into the hopper and fix items. The bottom one has the maximum capacity. It is designed for plates and large items. The top is used for washing smaller dishes.

Here you can also wash glasses if you fix them with special holders. Some models of machines are equipped with an additional third container, which is intended for cutlery.

It is very good if the plate holders located in the lower container have a folding design. In this case, if necessary, it will be possible to place large items in the basket

You need to know that the quality of washing dishes with a unit is largely determined by the design of the container. Proper loading makes it possible to get rid of all contaminants.

What to consider. It is very good if the lower container is equipped with folding holders. This will make it possible, if necessary, to “adjust” the basket for washing any size dishes, including large baking sheets and dishes.

Having a third basket is also highly desirable. Practice shows that cutlery is washed much better if loaded into a tray intended for them. In addition, knives that are washed with plates can scratch and ruin them. In addition, in the third basket you can also wash small dishes, which is convenient.

A few more important points. It is very good if it is possible to change the height of the pinning of the top container. Thus, it will be possible to increase the height and capacity of the lower one.

The working chamber of the dishwasher is made of stainless steel, but some of the accessories can be made of plastic. The latter are not very resistant to aggressive environments, so the less plastic there is, the longer the structure will last.

Plastic inside the working chamber should be as small as possible. This applies to trays, various holders and clamps.Plastic in an aggressive environment, namely this is the detergent composition, quickly deteriorates, becomes brittle. Which leads to broken parts.

Availability of additional accessories

The manufacturer can complete the device with all kinds of additional accessories, the use of which makes the operation of the machine more convenient.

What could it be:

• Holders for small items. Most often they are made in the form of hooks of various sizes and shapes, on which container lids, baby bottles and any other trifle are fixed.
• Holder for tall glasses. Rack where four glass goblets on a high leg are fixed. Allows you to wash such dishes without the risk of breaking them.
• Bottle holder. Brackets that allow secure attachment of baby bottles and other similar utensils.
• Box for devices of the unfolding type. A kind of symbiosis of boxing and tray. Equipped with clamps that turn the structure into a closed container. In this case, cutlery can be washed here. If necessary, it is laid out in a flat tray.
• Nozzle for cleaning baking sheets. Sprinkler of a special type, put on in place of the standard one. Makes it possible to wash large kitchen utensils as cleanly as possible.

These accessories may or may not be included with the instrument.

Racks for washing glasses can be very useful if the family has glassware with a long stem. They may come with the device, but more often they have to be purchased separately.

In the latter case, if necessary, they can be purchased additionally.

What can be washed besides dishes

The owners of the dishwasher are trying to operate it to the fullest.Not only dishes are loaded there, but also other household items that withstand the procedure quite successfully.

Sponges

It is advised to wash the foam sponges in the unit. They become like new, the unpleasant smell disappears. In addition, the soap solution kills pathogens that have accumulated inside the porous material.

Soap dishes, cups, toothbrush containers

If hygiene items are made of durable plastic, then it will withstand the washing procedure successfully. It is only necessary to load products separately from kitchen utensils.

cosmetic brushes

The constant use of brushes for mascara, shadows leads to their pollution. And since there are a lot of oils in cosmetics, the dishwasher is the best way to clean items.

Hair brushes

Natural oil from the hair gets on the brushes that are combed daily. It is difficult to make an item clean due to the often spaced bristles. And jets of hot water in the machine will put the hairbrush in order. Before loading, it is necessary to remove the accumulation of hair on the bristles.

Vegetables (without the use of detergents)

A large number of potato tubers, beets, carrots can be washed in the car if detergents are not poured there. Before loading into the basket, it is necessary to clean the vegetables with a dry brush from the ground.

Plafonds

Plafonds are loaded together with glass figurines. It is difficult to wash them inside by hand. After washing in a household machine, the products will shine.

Products made of plastic or metal are not afraid of hot water. They are easy to clean any type of dirt.

Vacuum nozzles

With a narrow neck, nozzles are difficult to tidy. Therefore, they are put in the dishwasher, and after a while they become as good as new.

computer keyboard

Difficult to remove dust from the corners of the keyboard. They came up with the idea of ​​​​putting the keys down on the top shelf of the dishwasher. Turn on the delicate mode without the use of powders.

Caps

It is very difficult to wash a baseball cap by hand and in the washing machine. PMM comes to the rescue. Contaminated hats are loaded into it where glasses are usually located. Since water is supplied from below, after such a wash, the cap will not lose its shape.

Rubber Shoes

Rubber boots are superbly processed with jets of hot water and detergent both from above and inside. Together with dirt, pathogenic fungi that accumulate on shoe insoles are also eliminated.

baking sheets

It is difficult to load large baking sheets into the machine's tank. But medium-sized items can be washed with an effective cleaner like Boch. It will help to get rid of strong fatty contaminants.

Flower pots

It is easy to update planters, flowerpots for indoor plants by putting them in the sink of the unit. But if there are decorations, drawings on the pots, then they will turn pale.

Where does the water in the equipment from the store come from?

If a machine just bought in a store turned out to be wet inside, and there is water in the salt tank at all, this does not mean at all that the equipment was previously operated by someone. Where does the water in the new dishwasher come from? Immediately after assembly at the enterprise, even a dishwasher, even a washing machine, undergoes bench tests. The machine is driven mercilessly, checking all the necessary technical parameters. If everything is fine with the equipment, they remove it from the stand, pack it and ship it in order to put it in the store.

According to the regulations, the manufacturer should not drain the water remaining after testing, so the machine still comes to the store wet inside.If the machine is wet inside, this, from our point of view, is not always a bad thing.

1. This may indicate that the machine was recently removed from the stand at the enterprise, immediately entered the store and you immediately bought it. The equipment did not have time to stay in the warehouse and that's great.
2. This may mean that the seller is responsible for his duties. Before shipping the dishwasher for delivery, he launched it and checked it, although you usually don’t expect this from sellers.

1. This may mean that someone bought, installed and launched your dishwasher before you, and then for some reason refused to buy, returning the equipment back to the store.

The latter situation should alert you, however, the return of complex household appliances back is rarely allowed by sellers. If the machine is serviceable and has no flaws, then the seller will not accept it back just like that. This means that you, as a conscientious buyer, should not think about the bad. Fraudsters, of course, come across among sellers, but the moisture in the dishwasher is not at all the evidence that can point specifically to intruders. And that's good, less nerves.

How to understand that the equipment is not used?

So, you have a dishwasher with water inside, and you just can't calm down? Apparently our words did not really convince you. So, it remains to check whether your dishwasher was used before. When buying directly in the store, this is difficult to do, but at home it’s quite.

1. Inspect the drain hose carefully. In used dishwashers, the drain hose inside is contaminated with food residue.It is difficult to wash them clean from there, therefore, upon careful examination, small residues can be detected.
2. Unscrew and inspect the drain filter, as well as the grate. The goal is the same - you need to find the smallest food debris and traces of fat. After bench tests, a special program for cleaning the machine is launched at the enterprise, so that there should be no food residues in the new equipment. This is how Bosch dishwashers work.
3. Unscrew the salt tank and inspect it inside. If a compressed layer of salt is found, then the machine has been in operation for some time. If there is little salt, and it is not compressed, it means that the equipment was not exploited, but only tested.
4. Disconnect the inlet hose and get to the flow filter. This is such a mesh at the base of the intake valve. Remove mesh and inspect. In the new machine, it is absolutely clean, since the company uses specially prepared industrial water for testing. There are no impurities in this water, which means that nothing settles on the mesh. Can there be limescale on the flow filter of a new machine? Of course not, if the mesh is dirty, then you have been sold used equipment and you need to write a claim to the store.

Nobody canceled the standard inspection of the packaging and the body of the machine. If there are minor damages on the case, and the box has clearly been opened inaccurately before, this is additional evidence in favor of the version of a used product. In general, be vigilant, but do not stigmatize the seller ahead of time. Gather evidence first, and then present it in a verbal or written claim. If you set a goal, you can "bring to clean water" even the most cunning scammer.

So, if you find that water has leaked out of a brand new dishwasher, do not rush to think about the bad. Perhaps the water remained after testing at the enterprise where the machine was assembled. However, it will not be superfluous to check, especially since it is not difficult to do this at all. Good luck!

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What to look for when buying?

When buying a device, you should pay attention to a number of important parameters. Here are the main parameters to pay attention to:

Here are the main parameters to pay attention to:

The more powerful the device, the faster it finishes washing and the more effectively it cleans the dishes from heavy dirt. However, it must be remembered that high power requires a higher power consumption, so truly efficient devices will not be economical.

Internal volume

The larger the volume of the inner chamber, the more the device has seats for dishes. For a small family of two or three people, a unit for six to seven sets of dishes is enough. But for a large family this will not be enough. Remember that the more seats for dishes in the inner chamber, the larger the external dimensions of the equipment and the more space is needed for its installation.

Functional

Dishwashers usually have several different modes to wash different dishes or for different degrees of soiling. The more modes, the more comfortable it will be to use the purchase and the more versatile it will be.

Usually branded devices are more expensive, but more reliable and have a longer service life. Of course, there are quality products from little-known companies. But running into a marriage when buying it is much higher.Therefore, try to give preference to models of equipment from well-known, proven brands.

Build quality

Dishwashers use water and have electrical components. If they come into contact, a short circuit may occur, which can not only damage the wiring, but also cause harm to the health of the user. Therefore, before buying, you need to carefully inspect the device for the tightness of the inner chamber: it should not let liquid through. This is not only a guarantee of safety, but also a guarantee of long-term operation of your purchase.

Price

The most reasonable choice in the case of a dishwasher would be a mid-range appliance. On the one hand, in this case, you can no longer be particularly afraid of poor quality or serious marriage. On the other hand, the equipment of the middle price category does not cost sky-high money and almost everyone can afford it.

Before buying, it is better to read on the Internet the reviews of people who have already purchased the model you like and managed to use it. It is from this source that you can learn about all the pitfalls that arise during the operation of equipment - not a single manufacturer will report them openly. You can also read the reviews of independent experts. But here the risk of running into a biased review that does not reflect the real state of affairs is already higher.

How to choose the right functionality and options

The first thing that all buyers, without exception, who choose a dishwasher, pay attention to is its dimensions and capacity. The next object of their attention is the set of programs that this technique is capable of performing.

All models of dishwashers have several washing modes, first of all we are talking about standard, fast and intensive washing. Each dishwasher model has its own capabilities, so be guided by your preferences when choosing. Ask, for example, how long the quick wash cycle lasts, or how much energy the machine consumes when operating in economy mode.

But the above washing modes are the minimum set of functions that even the simplest machines have. More "advanced" (and therefore more expensive) models may have a number of additional features.

Control type - electromechanical or electronic

The choice of functions and settings available in the machine is carried out using the control system, which can be electromechanical (with conventional buttons and rotary switches) or electronic (with touch buttons and a convenient display).

Dishwashers with an electromechanical control system are more suitable for older people. The last traditional buttons and conventional light indicators are more familiar, which means that it will be easier to master the new technique. Another undoubted advantage of machines with an electromechanical type of control is a relatively low price.

Dishwashers with electronic control, as a rule, have a display, and more and more often not just information, but touch or touch buttons. The menu on the display will help you choose the most suitable program and temperature setting. The display will also show information about the time remaining until the end of the wash, the presence of detergent and rinse aid in the tanks, the hardness of the water used, as well as information about malfunctions, if any.

Dishwashers with a large number of functions are equipped with electronic "brains", so the high price of such models is a consequence not only of their beautiful and informative screens.

Useful programs

When choosing a dishwasher, we advise you to first of all focus on the presence of those programs that you will really use on a daily basis. In this case, we are talking, first of all, about the basic washing modes, which we have already mentioned above: economy mode, fast or intensive washing modes.

In addition to the standard, there are a number of special programs designed for washing a particular type of dishes.

Here are just some of the most useful and interesting examples:

1. The "Delay start" function allows you to delay the start time of the machine. The dishwasher will start working automatically at the designated time that is most convenient for you (for example, at night). A similar function is available in almost all modern dishwashers. You can choose a machine with a 3, 6 or 9 hour delay start or a model with a 24 hour timer.

2. The "Half load" mode is useful when there is too little dirty dishes, at least not enough for a full load. This feature is especially useful in large, roomy models. Washing in this mode is faster, the consumption of water and electricity is reduced, the load on the machine components and, therefore, their wear is reduced.

3. The program "Automatic wash" can be very useful.When activated, the dishwasher itself will assess the degree of contamination of the dishes and, based on this, calculate the time, temperature (from 40 to 75 degrees) and washing intensity.

4. The "Delicate wash" mode is designed for gentle washing of crystal or fragile glass items. Water in this mode does not heat up above 30-45 degrees.

5. Babycare - a special program that provides very high-quality washing and disinfection of milk bottles and other baby utensils, as well as all kinds of children's accessories and toys.

6. The "Sterilization" function allows you to kill all germs that can remain on the dishes even after washing in hot water without the use of aggressive chemicals. In different models, sterilization can be implemented in different ways, for example, by steaming or using ultraviolet light.

7. Bio-programs will be relevant for you if you plan to use special detergents that contain enzymes that effectively break down fats. In this case, special programs are required, since most enzymes work at a moderate (40-50 degrees) temperature, but they die in hot water.

Programs and features

This criterion is considered the most important when choosing a PMM, since it determines what tasks the machine will perform, regardless of whether it is built-in or freestanding. Accordingly, the number of programs and functions determines the cost of the product, the more functionality, the higher the price. Therefore, if you immediately decide on the most basic modes of operation of the built-in machine, solo, etc., you can save a lot by not overpaying for unnecessary programs.As practice shows, most users work with 2-3 main modes, and modern manufacturers are able to offer more.

1. The automatic program is when the PMM independently selects the optimal mode for washing dishes. To do this, sensors are built into the equipment.
2. Bioprogram is a special option for working with detergents, which contain special bioadditives designed to combat fat and severe protein contamination.
3. Quick wash - designed for washing lightly soiled dishes.
4. Intensive wash is a function that is best used if the kitchen utensils are very dirty. Here the water temperature rises, the washing time increases. Ideal solution for washing pots and pans.
5. Delicate wash - designed to a greater extent for dishes that do not tolerate high temperatures, that is, for glass objects - the ideal solution.
6. Economy program - this option provides for a decrease in water temperature to 50-55 ° C, which allows you to save up to 25% of electricity.
7. Rinse - the function simply rinses the dishes. You need to use the mode if you plan to start the sink, only a little later, having reported the dishes, but you are afraid that the already laid dishes may emit an unpleasant odor.
8. Half load - suitable for those who intend to start the PMM, but have not loaded the set limit of dishes.
9. The delay start timer is a classic option that allows you to start washing dishes for a certain time. This is ideal for those who have a two-rate meter when the price of electricity at night decreases.
10. Automatic determination of water hardness - this contributes to the correct consumption of softening salt. In PMM models of the budget and middle price segments, this is set by the user independently, and you need to find out the hardness of the water yourself.
11. Washing baby dishes - you can wash nipples, bottles and other products for children, achieving sterile cleanliness.
12. Sound notification after washing is completed.
13. Hygiene+ is a feature designed for families with allergies.
14. Pre-soaking - if the dishes are dry, then this option will help you get rid of dirt.
15. AutoOpen is an option that allows the door to open automatically after work has been completed. The dishes in the chamber will not suffocate, even if you forgot about them.
16. The silent program is a mode for washing dishes at night, the PMM works with minimal noise.

In addition, keep in mind that each manufacturer develops its own programs and modes that are available for use only in its equipment. For example, the Electrolux brand has a FlexiWash mode of operation. The essence of the program is that it can be used immediately for washing glass glasses and pots. This mode raises and lowers the water temperature and supply pressure for both the upper and lower trays.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

New appliances seem difficult to use, but that's only at first. Once you understand how it works, there will be no problems. To facilitate the first steps in the operation of the dishwasher, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with several thematic videos.

Testing and first launch of PMM:

The dishwasher will relieve the hostess of the need to soak, boil dishes, scrape off burnt food residues.You just need to make sure that the equipment is working, decide on the necessary functions and buy the right household chemicals.

Test the new appliance, adjust the settings and enjoy the rest, and entrust the unpleasant duties of the kitchen to the dishwasher.

Do you have experience connecting and starting a dishwasher yourself? Or want to ask questions on the topic? Please comment on the post and participate in the discussions. The feedback block is located below.