Most of the energy used by a dishwasher is for water heating. The Energy Guide label
estimates how much power is needed per year to run the appliance and to heat the
water based on the yearly cost of gas and electric water heating. When it is time to buy
a new unit, look for the ENERGY STARĘ label. Appliances account for about 20% of your household's energy consumption, with
refrigerators and clothes dryers at the top of the consumption list. Check the manual that came with your dishwasher for the manufacturer's
recommendations on water temperature; many have internal heating elements that
allow you to set the water heater to a lower temperature. Scrape, don't rinse, off large food pieces and bones. Soaking or re washing is generally
only recommended in cases of burned-on or dried-on food. Be sure your dishwasher is
full, but not overloaded. Don't use the "rinse hold" on your dishwasher for just a few soiled dishes. It uses 3 to
7 gallons of hot water each time you use it. Let your dishes air dry; if you don't have an
automatic air-dry switch, turn off the control knob after the final rinse and prop the
door open a little so the dishes will dry faster. Remember that dishwashers use less water than washing dishes by hand, about 6
gallons less per load; they also use hotter water than you would use if you were
washing the dishes by hand, so they can do a better job of killing germs. About The Author: Roger King is a successful author and publisher of http://www.1st-home-decor.com
Dishwashers and ideas to showcase your homes
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