Dishwasher Energy Saving Tips

Most of the energy used by dishwashers is from heating the water. When shopping for a new dishwasher, look for the Energy Star label and compare the model you want with other models in the store. The Energy Guide label estimates how much power is needed per year to run the appliance and to heat the water used on the yearly cost of gas and electric water hearting. If you have an older dishwasher, there are still ways to cut your energy use without buying a new appliance.

First, do you know where the manual is for your dishwasher? Check the manual that came with your dishwasher for the recommendations on water temperature. Many current models have internal heating elements that allow you to set your home water heater to a lower temperature, such as 115 degrees. Heating the water is the greatest expense.

Scrape - don't rinse off large food pieces. Removing the food particles and placing them in a compost bucket is one more way to Go Green. Soaking or pre-washing is generally only recommended in cases of burned on or dried on food. And if you are going to soak it, you may as well wash it by hand.

Be sure your dishwasher is properly loaded, no water jets are blocked and the racks are full but not overloaded every time you run the machine. Do not use the Rinse/Hold cycle on your machine for just a few soiled dishes. It is a big waste of water and electricity as it uses 3 to 7 gallons of hot water each time you run the rinse cycle.

Let your dishes air dry. If your dishwasher does not have an automatic Air Dry cycle, turn off the Control Knob after the final rinse and prop the door open a little so the dishes will dry faster. Choosing the correct dishwasher soap will help the air dry dishes to be streak and spot free.