

You have %itemCount% in your cart.
Total being %total%
Surprisingly, the ever-so-convenient dishwasher isn't the most essential kitchen appliance.
But should it be?
How much water does a dishwasher use? The answer will surprise you.
Let's break down common dishwasher misconceptions and drop truth bombs on hand washing.
So really, how much water does a dishwasher use?
The short answer: 6 to 10 gallons of water per cycle.
Allow us to explain. Time and time again, the environmental impact of a dishwasher is questioned by society. Do dishwashers save more water or consume more water?
Answering the question “how much water does a dishwasher use?” boils down to the model and year of your machine, but newer versions have proven to be lighter on energy consumption. Many still believe the appliance requires a large amount of water in order to use it.
Perhaps the assumption has been made due to the water load needed for earlier models. However, in newer versions of the appliance, how much water a dishwasher uses has been greatly reduced without compromising its sanitation systems.
Earlier models of water dishwashers use about 9-14 gallons of water per wash. These dishwashers date back to 1994 and have clearly evolved since then.
Nowadays, a conventional or average dishwasher uses 6 to 10 gallons of water per cycle, with energy use of 0.87-1.59 kWh per load.
This water usage was deemed too hefty by industry standards. The standard was then reduced to five gallons per cycle so as to not consume too much water on dishes.
Further appliance developments have produced dishwasher models with more water-conserving features. These models are known most especially for their Energy Star rating, which is a program that certifies the energy efficiency of an appliance.
For dishwashers with an Energy Star rating, only four gallons of water per cycle is used. Compact Energy Star-rated models use only up to 2.7 gallons of water per cycle.
Such reductions consume almost 5,000 gallons less water usage per year, based on calculations made by the Department of Energy.
What good would this dishwashing VS hand-washing comparison be without explaining how dishwashers work? This is important to discuss, especially for those who have never seen a dishwasher at work yet. Not only that, but you can’t know how much water a dishwasher uses without knowing how a dishwasher works first.
So how does a dishwasher fully get rid of food remnants on plates and utensils? A dishwasher works through a number of sanitation processes once activated:
A dishwasher keeps track of the time it spends on a step and only requires a small portion of the bottom to be filled with water. Simply supply the dishwasher with its corresponding detergent and provide details on the dishware to be washed.
Aside from thorough cleaning, all dishwashers are designed to remove food remnants and process excess food just as garbage disposal would. Newer models offer a menu of add-ons that elevate the wash cycle, such as sanitize, extra dry, and extra scrub.
Despite these features, research shows that a dishwasher is one of the least used appliances at home.
Now you might be wondering, should you switch to hand washing instead? That's what the next section is for.
The two systems, both proficient, have long been a subject of debate amongst people, and here's a brief comparison of them.
As stated above, the average dishwasher uses only up to 10 gallons per cycle. Get your appliance from trusted dishwasher brands, and it could even slim down to less than 3 gallons per cycle.
Hand washing will use up to 27 gallons of water to wash a full dishwasher's worth of dishes. That's a crazy amount in comparison to the maximum of 10 gallons per cycle of your average dishwasher.
Water used for an average clean-up via hand washing is 17 gallons more than the maximum expenditure dishwashers use. That's a huge amount of water consumed in a home.
Your water usage at home increases when washing your dishes by hand when you wait for your water to heat up. And when you do the math, those 27 gallons plus the water used for heating up is just way too much water.
When you wash dishes by hand, your temperature threshold can only go as far as your hands can handle. Washing dishes via a dishwasher can make use of higher temperatures since it is machine-operated. This also means more in-depth sanitation due to the hot water heater.
The amount of water saved increases for dishwasher models that pass the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star standards. To further quantify the comparison, you can save up to $413 worth of water and energy by using dishwashers.
So, why are dishwashers the better choice?
Dishwashers use fewer amounts of water at home, therefore giving your home fewer expenses, all while being more environmentally friendly.
We all want to conserve water and lower expenses at home. That’s why it’s imperative to know how a dishwasher works and how much water a dishwasher uses.
At the same time, we don't want to sacrifice washing dishes to save water either. Aside from dishwashers already saving more gallons of water as it is, you can reduce water usage even more through the following tips:
How Much Water Does A Dishwasher Use?
The Answer: Significantly lesser than you thought!
Though it may be a heftier price to pay, you do reap the benefits well. And if you follow the tips suggested above, you not only get your money's worth but conserve water too.
Whether you are a dishwasher fanatic or a hand wash type of person, you can’t deny the wonders of a dishwasher. The worries of spending precious time at home in front of a sink are long gone, thanks to the advancement of this magical appliance.
Say goodbye to long minutes spent washing and drying. It's a win-win!
So there you have it! The answer to the commonly asked question: How much water does a dishwasher use?”
The answer is important because it illustrates how dishwashers are an efficient way to clean dishes and save water. They use less than half the amount of water as hand washing, and they can be set to run at night when your energy rates are lower.
If you’re looking for ways to improve the water quality in your home, installing a dishwasher is a great place to start. You may also invest in a filtration system to protect your hair and skin, and reduce toxins.
Find out more about us and how we can help or shop AquaBliss products to start using a clean water filtration system today.