How hot does the dishwasher get? (5 Pointers)
In this brief guide, we will answer the question, how hot does the dishwasher get?. We will look at various temperature settings of a dishwasher and the impact that high temperature could have on your dishwasher or the dishes.
How hot does the dishwasher get?
The dishwasher has a maximum temperature of 70 degrees Celsius or 158 Fahrenheit in the intensive setting.
Let us look at the temperatures at various power setting and their significance:
The temperature of the water has a significant role in cleaning dishes. Water on its own, is not as efficient at washing, especially in a dishwasher. A high temperature loosens the food particles on the utensils’ surfaces and also kills germs that feast on these residues.
Hence, the water temperature is significant in determining how fast and how clean your dishes get.
The Main Cycle of a dishwasher operates at 130 to 150 F. At this level, the water must dissolve the detergents and use it to wash the dishes free of food debris.
When the dishwasher has used the detergent to scrub and make the dishes clean, it now proceeds to rinse them.
At the rinsing step, the temperature of water elevates further to 180 F. The high temperature ensures that the detergent gets washed off from the utensils. Any residual detergent is also cautiously removed by the dishwasher to make the dishes safe to use again.
The following information has been provided by an Australian company called the Reduction Revolution.
At minimum load, at a temperature of 35 C, the energy usage lies as low as 0.72 kWh.
At half-load, the temperature gets around 45 C or 113 Fahrenheits. Here, you have the option to run the dishwasher for either 1 minute or 2 minutes.
If you set the temperature at 60 C, the dishwasher will run for under a minute.
At the highest power, at a temperature of 70 C, the energy usage lies as low as 1.37 kWh.
Is the temperature of your dishwasher hot enough to clean all the dishes?
If the dishes do not come out clean and shiny, you need to increase the temperature setting of the dishwasher. Also, the detergent tablet must dissolve thoroughly and, any particles or the residual tablet must not remain undissolved. If it isn’t, the dishes will not be clean and, you may need to run the dishwasher again.
If you cannot set the dishwasher’s temperature to at least 122 F; consult the dishwasher manual or a technician.
Can a high temperature of the water be detrimental to the dishwasher or the dishes?
A high temperature is necessary to clean the glass dishes thoroughly, but the higher is not always better. Your dishwasher could be harmed by a high temperature, especially if it is not in top-notch condition.
The detergents, whether for clothes or dishes, have enzymes as constituents. Enzymes are usually a naturally occurring substance that speeds up a chemical reaction. When added to such cleaning agents, they do a similar job. As enzymes are specific to their host, they combine with the complementary substrate and make them come loose. For example, the lipases will attach themselves to fats compounds on the dirty dishes, and a chemical reaction will cause the fats to disintegrate.
Not all dishes and kitchen utensils are safe to be put inside the dishwasher, especially plastics. Before you put your containers and Tupperware, check if they are microwave safe or dishwasher safe. Plastics, regardless of being dishwasher safe, need to be placed at the top rack of the dishwasher where the temperature is not very hot. If you put your plastics at the bottom, they could melt and, the residues could cause serious damage to your dishwasher. Even if the plastic appears unharmed, exposing them to high temperatures releases toxic compounds that could have negative health consequences in the future.
Hot water could cause glass utensils to obtain a cloudy hue gradually. The hot water agitates and alters the glass molecules, which gives the glass a cloudy appearance. The damage to glass at high temperatures is brought on by Soft water only.
A process called scaling causes calcium and magnesium deposits on the surface of the dishwasher. The limescale needs to be removed at least once a month.
A few End-Notes
Dishwashers also come with a drying feature. A person can opt for Heated Drying after the dishes have been washed.
The temperature at which you set your dishwasher is strongly correlated to energy consumption. The higher the temperature at which you run the dishwasher, the more the power consumption of the dishwasher.
In this brief guide, we answered the question, how hot does the dishwasher get?. We looked at various temperature settings of a dishwasher and the impact that high temperature could have on your dishwasher or the dishes.
