Five everyday dishwasher mistakes that could ruin your machine and cost you hundreds
THE way you load and use your dishwasher could be costing you extra cash.
Rising energy bills and the cost of living has us rethinking the way we go about daily tasks.
The average dishwasher uses between 1.2kWh and 1.5kWh per load, according to research by Compare The Market.
The device contributes to 8% of your overall electricity bill, according to the Energy Saving Trust.
So using it correctly could have a big impact on running costs.
Bear in mind that the exact costs can vary depending on usage and the dishwasher model you have.
Here are five common mistakes that could be costing hundreds a year – and how to fix them.
Not descaling your machine
One of the most important ways we keep your dishwasher in good condition is by descaling it, according to Leon Doyle, ecosystems director at Haier Group,
This reduces the amount of limescale that can build up over time.
But if you allow the hard water scum to build up, then the energy efficiency rating could drop – this could cost you an extra £100 (at least) a year.
An appliance energy rating rates how efficient properties are from A (the best) to G (the worst) – so the lower the the rating, the more expensive it will most likely cost to run.
You can find your property’s energy rating on the government’s website.
Limescale build up affects the rating because the more limescale it has, the harder the machine has to work and so the more energy it uses.
“You can drop an energy rating every year that you don’t run a descaler programme,” he said.
“Over two years you could be looking at 15% extra electricity [use].”
Leon said that by year four of having your dishwasher, it could cost as much as 100% more to run.
Leon added that a triple A graded machine could cost 50p to run, that’s £182 if you used it every day for a year.
But a grade B (which is only one grade lower) might cost 75p to run which would cost users £273 a year.
That’s nearly a £100 lost if your machine is one rating lower.
And if the energy rating continues going down, your costs will only go up meaning you could end up paying hundreds.
Using a timer
This will work well with the point made above, Leon said.
You’ll most likely need a timer to be able to turn your dishwasher on at 4 in the morning (unless you’re happy to set your alarm).
The timer will do this automatically but it’ll also switch your dishwasher off.
Leon said that if you don’t have a timer on your dishwasher, then you could purchase a timer plug which will connect to your device and switch it off.
They use a small amount of energy per hour and will make sure your dishwasher stops using energy once the cycle has finished.
At the time of writing, a timer plug was going for £7.45 on Amazon so it’s a tiny amount compared to how much your dishwasher could cost you during the day.
A timer plug could save households £147 a year according to British Gas.
Curry’s’ David added: Some smart plugs also allow users to input their electricity supplier’s prices into their respective apps, so usage can be monitored in real time – great for busy households with lots of gadgets on the go at any one time.”
Not cleaning the filter
Another common mistake Leon said is made by many people is not cleaning their dishwasher filter.
This part of the machine not only cleans the dish water that’s used during a wash cycle, but also helps to protect the dishwasher pump from getting clogged up with bits of food.
So if you’ve never thought to clean your dishwasher filter, then you might want to do it today.
Leon said the cost of it breaking if you don’t clean the filter, plus the call out fees and spare parts will outweigh any cleaning products.
The average call-out fee costs £105, according to Checkatrade.com.
Rinse aid, which can be used to clean it, costs as little as £2.75 from Amazon.
Plus, not cleaning the filer could contribute to decreasing the efficiency rating of your dishwasher and therefore increasing the cost of energy.
Not making use of the eco-cycle
Finally, David said the using the eco-cycle option could save households money.
“By switching a dishwater onto an eco-setting, it can save the water use by 20-40% for each clean.
“Heat pumps on washer dryers are also another feature to look out for when thinking about upgrading your appliances.
“These help to ensure the drying process is gentler on clothes while keeping running costs down, so you don’t have to worry about running up a hefty electric bill.”
And Skintdad.com said households can say around £37 a year by using the eco setting on a dishwasher.
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