Convenience Of Dishwashers

Modern dishwashers have all kinds of features today that allow you to customize your wash. Do you have bone china you want to machine wash? Put the machine on a gentle setting. Do you have a couple of huge pots caked with cooked-on food? Put it on a tougher setting.

And now, when you can have a solid dishwasher for anywhere from $200 to $1800, what reason do have for not buying a dishwasher? Some people say that space is at a premium. Well, with smaller units, and even portable units, your kitchen can afford to eek out some extra space.

You can buy dishwashers at Sears, Menards, Target, ABC Warehouse, or at any number of large appliance outlets. You can also buy online and have them delivered for a fee.

Most quality dishwashers come with a 3-year warranty for most key parts, and a 20-year warranty for the casing and tub. Often you can buy a 5-year warranty, which is highly recommended. You never know which machines will break down; reviews always vary. A Bosch or a KitchenAid can be a lemon to one person, but be a savior to another.

When shopping for a dishwasher, keep water efficiency in mind. Up to 80% of a dishwasher’s power goes to heating the water via the heating elements. Older models used to use 10 gallons of water per wash. Now the standard is about 8 gallons. Check the size of the holes on the spray arms: the smaller they are, the more powerfully they spray. This will save you money on your electricity bill. Also ask for the energy efficiency rating. It should appear on the label.

Thicker insulation around the dishwasher tub will make the unit quieter. Check this out before you buy.

Most dishwashers range from $350 to $600. You can also get one for as little as $200, or as much as $1800. Just remember that inexpensive doesn’t necessarily mean cheap, and expensive doesn’t necessarily denote quality. More economical units tend to have fewer whistles and bells, and fewer dishwashing options. Many people like these for their simplicity and easy serviceability.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, some dishwashers can cost $1000 to $2000. Usually, these more expensive models simply have a greater number of features, such as timers, antibacterial cycles, delicate and tough settings, etc. This can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on how you want to look at it. It’s your choice.

Basic Dishwasher Installation

Installing a built-in dishwasher requires basic mechanical, electrical, and plumbing skills, so the average handy person can install a dishwasher in 1 to 3 hours depending on if it is a new installation or a replacement dishwasher. If you are replacing an existing dishwasher, it will take less time.

New Installation

1. Prepare the cabinet area in which the dishwasher will be installed. The opening should be 24 inches wide for most models, 24 inches deep and 34 1/2" from the floor to the underside of the countertop. The back wall can not have pipes or wires on it. The power and water supply lines will come into the cabinet in the 4"X4" area at the bottom back of the cabinet through a 1 1/2" hole. Make sure the floor is level and the cabinet is squared.

2. Choose your drain method based on your local codes and height of the drain tee. Some codes require an air gap. If the drain tee is less than 18 inches from the floor, you must use an air gap. If an air gap is not required and the tee is over 18 inches from the floor, you can use the loop method for the drain connection. If the drain hose will be connected to a garbage disposal, you have to remove the knock out plug so that the dishwasher will drain.

3. Inspect or install wiring by making sure there is a 120V, 60Hz dedicated circuit with a 15 or 20-amp breaker or time delay fuse. Wiring has to be 2 wire with a ground and rated for 75 degrees Celcius or 176 degrees Farenheit. The wiring can come into the cabinet from either side in the rear bottom area. The hole should be a maximum of 1 1/2", and it can be the same hole used the the water supply line and drain hose if its being hardwired. If it is a flexible power cord, it must have a separate hole. Hardwiring cable will come up the right side along the bottom 24 inches of the cabinet to the right front electrical connection on the dishwasher.

4. Prepare the water supply line that enters through the 1 1/2" hole in the rear bottom of the cabinet. Turn off the water to install a hand shut-off valve under the sink. The water connection is on the left side of the dishwasher. Use 3/8" O.D. copper line to extend a minimum of 19 inches from the rear wall. The water heater should be set between 120 and 150 degrees (closer to 120 if children are in the home to prevent scalding accidents) and the pressure should be between 20-120 PSI.

5. Prepare the dishwasher by checking the door balance and adjusting the spring tension if necessary. If the legs have to be attached, do that close to where it will be installed.

6. Connect the drain hose to the dishwasher's drain port if it did not come factory-installed. Position the electrical wiring and water supply lines so that the base of the dishwasher will not catch them. Slide the dishwasher in front of the opening so that you can feed the drain hose through the hole you drilled for it.

7. Inch-by-inch slide the dishwasher into the cabinet as you fee the drain hose through its hole. Stop with a few inches left and make sure nothing is kinked or pinched. If all is in good order, push the dishwasher all the way in so that the edges of the door are behind the cabinet frame. Test the door for smooth opening and closing.

8. Level the dishwasher front to back and side to side by adjusting the leveling legs.

9. Align the brackets and secure the dishwasher to the countertop according the manufacturer's instructions.

10. Through the access panel, connect the water supply line and electrical supply. Also connect the drain hose under the sink. You are ready to do a wet test with the "rinse only" cycle. Check for leaks and proper draining.

Replacing an Existing Dishwasher

You will not need to drill the holes since they will already be there from the existing dishwasher. However, you do need to inspect the wiring and plumbing to make sure they are capable of servicing the new dishwasher. Once that is established you should turn the power off at the main and turn the water supply off before beginning the removal of the old dishwasher. All lines and wires must first be disconnected. Take the drain hose off the garbage disposal or drain pipe under the sink. If the dishwasher has a power cord, you need to unplug it. If the dishwasher is hardwired, you have to open the access panel and electrical junction box. Remove the wire nuts and disconnect the black and white wires. Also remove the ground screw to disconnect the green ground wire. Use a catch pan while disconnecting the water supply line. Once all of these lines and wires have been disconnected, you can take out the screws and brackets that hold the dishwasher in its place and carefully pull out the old dishwasher.

Then follow the same procedures to install the new dishwasher with the exception of drilling the holes and running the wiring and water supply lines.

Once you have installed your new dishwasher and tested it for leaks, you are ready to start cleaning.

Do More Than Wash

In a world where “convenience” and “ease” are terms we love to hear one can only imagine that also when applied to Dishwashing features, the machine must also clean dishes thoroughly. However, what about taking this a step further, and instead of just focusing on functionality, buying a state of the art machine that looks like a built-in extension of your kitchen.

Form and Function

Besides the traditional dishwasher, the one that measures 24 inches and fits under a counter, manufacturers have begun to make alternative sizes and designs to add to the mix. With function being a priory, a pretty dishwasher, no matter how big or small, needs to clean and should meet energy star rating specifications.

High End Dishwashers

Brands like Miele and Asko are the Mercedes of the dishwasher world. These machines are more expensive because you are paying for the brand name but they also offer excellent quality, as well as beautiful design. Manufacturers typically have a range of models: from the more basic model to the one with all of the bells and whistles. You can find this with a Maytag, Kitchenaid, Bosch or just about any large manufacturer. Features one would expect from in a high end dishwasher would include: sound dampening insulation, to provide quietness when running, and also fully or partially integrated controls.

Favorite Innovative Dishwashers

Attending to space concerns some manufacturers have designed smaller sized machines: the Miele 18” slim Dishwasher, for example. For the need to accommodate and clean more dishes, one can buy a 30” machine with 3 racks. And to accommodate one’s desire for a small dishwasher at the bar or in the kitchen island, dish drawers designed by Fischer and Paykell are a designers dream.

Buying Guide For Cookware

Cookware Sets

Great cookware is one of the best investment you will make. There are so many choices and picking the right product can be difficult.

First you should determine what kid of cooking do you do, and how many people do you cook for? Your choice of cookware should be built on choosing basic pieces first and then adding specialty pans as needed.

First think you should look at in purchasing cookware is the type of material they are made from. You need to look at construction of the cookware set. An essential quality you should look for in all cookware is weight. A heavy pot or pan will sit securely on the burner. Just make sure it is easy for you to lift.

Types of Cookware Material

Aluminum: Aluminum is the most popular material in cookware. It is an excellent heat conductor and spreads heat evenly throught the pan. Aluminum can be anodized to harden the surface. Hard-anodized cookware is harder than steel and is extremely durable. Plus, it is dishwasher safe. This type of cookware is also very inexpensive compared to other materials. The drawback of it is if the aluminum is untreated, it is prone to staining and reacting with foods. For this reason, we highly recommend aluminum with a non-stick interior, because it is much less likely to discolor or react with foods.

Carbon steel: Caron steel is used in very expensive cookware as well as some of the least expensive cookware. It is maintained like cast iron, but it is much lighter in weight. It works well for cooking that requires quick heat changes because it maintains its temperature well. The most common pans made out of this material are Woks and Stir-Fry Pans.

Cast iron: Cast iron is very thick and heavy duty. Even though it takes a bit longer to heat up, it retains and distributes heat evenly. If you are browning, braising, stewing, slow cooking and baking, this would be the best choice for you. Cast iron comes in bare iron or with enamel coating.

Bare iron needs to be seasoned before use. The seasoning process will give your pots and pans a nonstick surface that lasts forever. Once seasoned avoid soaking and washing with soap. The best way to clean cast iron is to wipe them with a clean cloth.

Enamel-coated cast iron provides all the benefits of cast iron. The advantage of this type of cast ion is it requires less maintenance and cleaning. However, some foods do not cook well in cast iron. Acidic foods will react with it and will strip off the seasoning. In that case you just have to reason your pan again.

Ceramic: Ceramic cookware is a great insulator, so it does not react quickly to heat. It can usually be found in the form of casserole dish or other shapes that are great for cooking slowly at a constant temperature. It is lighter than cast iron, but also more fragile. There are three categories: porcelain, stoneware and earthenware.

Procelain is the strongest of all three and it is fired to become very hard and durable. It can usually be used on the stove, in the oven and in the microwave.

Earthenware is less strong and prone to chipping and scratching. This type is usually used as a serveware.

Cald: Using two types of cookware materials together to get all the benefits of both materials develops clad cookware. Most of the time, stainless steel is clad with aluminum. Aluminum gives you the thickness and excellent heat conductivity and stainless steel prevents it from corrosion and it is easy to maintain. This type of cookware will last you a lifetime. Only downsize of this type of cookware is that it is generally heavy and very expensive.

Copper: Copper is the best conductor of heat. It is the best if you are cooking on top of the stove, where you have to control the temperature. Copper, however, can react with foods and can be toxic. Therefore, copper pots and pans are usually lined with another material, which is usually stainless steel. The biggest disadvantage of using copper is maintenance. Copper can discolor, so once in a while you need to polish it to remove discoloration. Also, copper tends to dent and scratch easily.

Stainless Steel: Stainless steel is a very good all around general-purpose cookware. It is light weight, durable and easy to clean. It is, however, poor conductor of heat so usually many stainless steel pieces are made with a copper or aluminum disc on the bottom to help distribute heat more evenly. Because of its smooth surface, stainless steel is easy to clean and it is dishwasher safe. It you notice some kind of discoloration, you can use a stainless steel cleanser that resotres the natural luster. Metal utensils can be used on stainless steel or aluminum surface.

Nonstick: Nonstick cookware has a coating inside the pan that makes it difficult for food to stick to it. This makes it easy to cook healthy, non-fact foods. Because food does not stick, it is very easy to clean. It can be found in combination with many metals that produce cookware. The disadvantage of this type of cookware is that it can be easily scratched. Stainless steel or other utensils can scratch the pan so it is highly recommended to use bylon silicone utensils.

Now that you know everything about cookware, it is time to go shopping.