HowStuffWorks "How Dishwashers Work"
[http://www.howstuffworks.com/] SUBSCRIBE Adventure Animals Auto Culture Entertainment Health Home & Garden Lifestyle Money Science Tech Video Shows Quizzes Appliances Green Living Home Decor Community Living Home Improvement Lawn & Garden Stain Removal Real Estate Home / Home & Garden / Home Appliances / Kitchen Appliances How Dishwashers Work by Ed Grabianowski Page 1 How Dishwashers Work 2 Dishwasher Basics 3 Using a Dishwasher 4 Dishwasher Buyer's Guide Dishwashers have become a staple in just about every kitchen. Learn More: The Ultimate Appliances for Tight and Tricky Spaces Quiz The Ultimate Refacing an Appliance Quiz Should all of my appliances come from the same manufacturer? Basically, a dishwasher is a robot that cleans and rinses dirty dishes. Humans have to load the dishes, add detergent, set the proper washing cycles and turn it on, but the dishwasher accomplishes a whole series of functions by itself. A dishwasher: Adds water Heats the water to the appropriate temperature Automatically opens the detergent dispenser at the right time Shoots the water through jets to get the dishes clean Drains the dirty water Sprays more water on the dishes to rinse them Drains itself again Heats the air to dry the dishes off, if the user has selected that setting In addition, dishwashers monitor themselves to make sure everything is running properly. A timer (or a small computer) regulates the length of each cycle. A sensor detects the water and air temperature to prevent the dishwasher from overheating or damaging your dishes. Another sensor can tell if the water level gets too high and activates the draining function to keep the dishwasher from overflowing. Some dishwashers even have sensors that can detect the dirtiness of the water coming off the dishes. When the water is clear enough, the dishwasher knows the dishes are clean. In this article, we'll discuss exactly how a dishwasher gets the job done, how to use one properly and what features to look for when buying a dishwasher. Inside a Dishwasher Although dishwashers are watertight, they don't actually fill with water. Just a small basin at the bottom fills up. There, heating elements heat the water to 130 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Then a pump propels the water up to the water jets, where it is forced out and sprayed against the dirty dishes. Think about a garden hose with no nozzle - if you put your thumb over the end of the hose, decreasing the space for the water to come out, it sprays out more forcefully. The dishwasher's jets work on the same principle. The force of the water also makes the arms that hold the spray jets rotate, just like a lawn sprinkler. When the washing and rinsing is finished, the water drains down to the basin again, where the pump propels the water out of the dishwasher. Depending on the type of dishwasher, the drain water might go right into the pipes under your sink, or travel up a hose into your sink itself. The final step in a wash cycle is optional - the dry cycle. The heating element at the bottom of the dishwasher heats the air inside to help the dishes dry. Some people just let them dry without heat to save energy. Dishwashers are not very mechanically complex. In the next section, we'll take a look at the main parts of a basic dishwasher. Get your dishwasher fixed quickly! Go to Repair.com to schedule a service appointment today. Print Cite This! Close Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks article: Grabianowski, Ed. "How Dishwashers Work" 28 March 2006. HowStuffWorks.com.
17 August 2014. Citation & Date Feedback Page 1 How Dishwashers Work 2 Dishwasher Basics 3 Using a Dishwasher 4 Dishwasher Buyer's Guide 5 Lots More Information More To Explore More Great Links Top 10 Wacky Inventions for the Home 10 Home Office Storage Solutions Name the Price: Mansions Dollars and Sense: House Buying Quiz Home Construction Pictures Watch home & garden videos >> You Might Also Like How can portable dishwashers improve small kitchens? Dishwashers are great, but they take up a lot of space. Those with ultra-cramped kitchens shouldn't give up hope, however. Portable dishwashers can save room and clean your dishes, too! The Ultimate Garbage Disposal Quiz Efficient, smooth and clean garbage disposal is the hallmark of any well-run home. Whiz through this squeaky-clean garbage disposal quiz and find out. Popular Articles The Ultimate Dehumidifier Quiz What is the right size washer for you? Time Warp: Light Bulbs in Microwave Most Popular Most Watched Most Popular Top 10 Low-light Plants Exterior Painting Pictures 10 Remodeling Mistakes Newbies Make Quiz: Do you know how fluorescent lights work? 10 Quick Tips for Removing Stains from Clothing Most Watched Appliances: Deconstructed Toilet Videos Learn to Build Your Own House Your First Dream Home Doesn't Have to be a Nightmare Living the Green Life in a Hobbit House Don't Miss Stuff You Should Know: Demystifying Your World Stuff Mom Never Told You: All Things Women and Gender Stuff You Missed in History Class: Fact or Fiction? CHECK OUT OUR PODCASTS HOWSTUFFWORKS NEWSLETTER THE LATEST AND GREATEST SUBSCRIBE HOWSTUFFWORKS Adventure Animals Auto Culture Entertainment Health Home & Garden Lifestyle Money Science Tech MORE STUFF Blogs HSW Tools RSS Maps Podcasts Quizzes Newsletters Video HSW Brazil HSW China STUFF WEBSITES BrainStuff CarStuff Fw:Thinking Stuff Mom Never Told You Stuff of Genius Stuff They Don't Want You to Know Stuff to Blow Your Mind Stuff You Missed in History Class Stuff You Should Know CUSTOMER SERVICE Advertising Contact Us Help CORPORATE About Us Careers @ HSW Privacy Policy Visitor Agreement TAKE US WITH YOU FOLLOW US Copyright © 1998-2014 HowStuffWorks, a division of InfoSpace LLC