Is it economical to use a dishwasher at home?
Owning a dishwasher can save you a lot of time and effort whilst keeping a neat and tidy space to store all of your dirty dishes until they are ready to be washed. If you have never owned a dishwasher before then you will naturally want to know if it is actually economical to run and what features make for an energy efficient design. Here are a few points that are worth considering before you decide to take the plunge and buy a new dishwasher for your kitchen.
In terms of water usage studies have shown that using a dishwasher with an eco-programme requires only a little more water than an average washing up bowl for washing a 12-piece dinner set. It is likely that if you were washing this many items by hand you would probably use more water and in addition if you are someone who likes to keep their kitchen sink and work surfaces tidy then you may use several bowls of water throughout the day for washing up after breakfast, lunch and dinner.
When shopping for any new kitchen appliance it is a good idea to compare their eco-efficiency ratings and to also look at online reviews to see which models offer the most energy-efficient programmes. Trading Standards award kitchen appliances a rating between G and A+++ but it is also important to remember these are often applicable to the machine's most ecological programme. Some studies online also enable comparisons between different models' eco-programmes and standard programmes, depending on which you are likely to use most frequently.
The cost of running a dishwasher will vary according to your energy rates and the brand you have selected. On average the cost of running a dishwasher will lie somewhere between 22 and 72 over the course of a year. This may not seem like a huge difference at first but when you consider that over a period of ten years you could potentially save 500 you will realise that it pays to do your research before making a purchase.
Once you have bought a dishwasher you should try to use the most ecological programme in order to save energy. This may sometimes take longer but will save you money in the long run. Always ensure that the machine is loaded properly and to its full capacity and if you benefit from cheaper electricity rates at night then choose a machine that has a delayed start setting so you can leave it running after you have gone to bed.
In terms of water usage studies have shown that using a dishwasher with an eco-programme requires only a little more water than an average washing up bowl for washing a 12-piece dinner set. It is likely that if you were washing this many items by hand you would probably use more water and in addition if you are someone who likes to keep their kitchen sink and work surfaces tidy then you may use several bowls of water throughout the day for washing up after breakfast, lunch and dinner.
When shopping for any new kitchen appliance it is a good idea to compare their eco-efficiency ratings and to also look at online reviews to see which models offer the most energy-efficient programmes. Trading Standards award kitchen appliances a rating between G and A+++ but it is also important to remember these are often applicable to the machine's most ecological programme. Some studies online also enable comparisons between different models' eco-programmes and standard programmes, depending on which you are likely to use most frequently.
The cost of running a dishwasher will vary according to your energy rates and the brand you have selected. On average the cost of running a dishwasher will lie somewhere between 22 and 72 over the course of a year. This may not seem like a huge difference at first but when you consider that over a period of ten years you could potentially save 500 you will realise that it pays to do your research before making a purchase.
Once you have bought a dishwasher you should try to use the most ecological programme in order to save energy. This may sometimes take longer but will save you money in the long run. Always ensure that the machine is loaded properly and to its full capacity and if you benefit from cheaper electricity rates at night then choose a machine that has a delayed start setting so you can leave it running after you have gone to bed.
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