There’s a simple trick that can help your dishwasher both clean better and dry dishes more quickly. The best part is that anyone can do it and it only takes a minute or two.
If your dishes aren’t as clean as you’d like or you’ve noticed that it’s taking too long for them to dry, it might be because your water isn’t hot enough. This can be a particular problem in the winter months. Anyone who has ever washed a dish can tell you that cold water isn’t very effective at getting dishes clean.
I know you’re saying, “Doesn’t my dishwasher have a heating element to heat the water up?” That heating element is designed to maintain already hot water at the right temperature, not warm up cold water.
Why is your water on the cold side? It could be that your water heater isn’t working as well as it used to, or it could be cold in the garage or basement where the heating unit is placed. Cold weather can also make your water pipes cold. Plus, dishwashers just don’t get as hot as they used to because they’re designed to be more energy efficient.
Since the hot water line for most dishwashers is the same line that connects to the kitchen sink, just running the hot water in the sink for a few minutes can heat it up sufficiently. Not only does hotter water clean better, it evaporates faster for speedier drying.
But remember, the heating elements in modern dishwashers don’t get as hot as older models, so the dishes may not dry as fast or as thoroughly as they used to.
If this trick doesn’t help you get cleaner dishes, it may be time for a service call or to start thinking about a newer model. Call 419-893-3374 to speak to our service department or click here to check our large inventory of in-stock dishwashers.