When we think of wasted energy in our homes, we usually think of leaving the lights or heating on. But as it turns out, misusing your dishwasher may be spiking up your energy bills more than you might think.
We’ve put together the five most common mistakes you should avoid to help save you money through the winter.
Light washes
Just like with your laundry, half-loads could be causing your energy bills to creep up. The idea that smaller loads are more efficient is wrong, as dishwashers operate on a fixed mode, meaning the same amount of energy is used regardless of how many dishes there are. This doesn’t mean overload your dishwasher, but definitely make full use of each wash you do.
Rinsing dishes
Dishwashers of old may have struggled with stubborn food residue, necessitating a rinse beforehand, but modern dishwashers are more than capable. Scraping any remnants into the bin will save on water and energy, and let the washing machine do its job.
Avoiding eco mode
Though these washes are slower, using less water and lower temperatures, it’s unlikely you’ll need your dishes so urgently that you can’t use eco cycles. These cycles save tremendously on energy usage, so are definitely worth using for the overnight washes.
Drying through heat
Of course, using heat to dry dishes will expend lots of additional energy from your dishwasher. Simply leaving dishes to air dry requires the same amount of effort, with none of the energy wastage.
Both heat-drying and eco mode are available through control panels, but these are often inside the doors – something we ignore until we’ve finished loading the washer. With a semi integrated dishwasher, like the ones at Wellingtons Home Electrical, this control panel is more accessible, allowing you to maximise your dishwasher’s efficiency with ease.
Overusing hot water
Many dishwashers can heat water internally, but this feature may be turned off, with your dishwasher instead relying on hot water from the main supply. This feature will ramp up energy bills, especially when you run it between 4-9pm.