Besides getting your dishes cleaned, do you actually know how your dishwasher works? For the vast majority of homeowners, the answer would be no. And, that's okay! If you are curious as to how specifically your dishwasher works, then this blog article is for you. Once you've educated yourself, head on over to NuvoH2O's website, and invest in our NuvoH2O Dishwasher System that helps to prevent and remove hard water scale buildup and leave your dishes gleaming. Shop today!
Water is Key
The main component to getting your dishes cleaned is water, specifically hot water. After all, you not only want your dishes to be cleaned, but you want them to be sanitized, too. The water temperature inside your dishwasher should be between 130 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Your dishwasher uses water from your hot water heater to accomplish this.
Detergent is Necessary
While washing with water can adequately clean and sanitize your dishes, you'll need soap in order to cut through the food scum and ensure proper sanitization. Thus, the water in your dishwasher is mixed with the detergent at the bottom of your dishwasher. This water and soap combination is then sprayed through the spray arms onto your dirty dishes. The spray arms are usually located at the top and the bottom of your dishwasher.
The Cycles of a Dishwasher
Your dishwasher runs on cycles and uses a timer and a sensor to know when to move on to the next phase of the cleaning process. There's a sensor to detect the water and air temperature, so neither gets too hot to damage your dishes. Another sensor ensures the water level at the bottom of your dishwasher doesn't get too high, so your dishwasher won't overflow. Some dishwashers are considered "smart" dishwashers and sense how dirty your dishes actually are and adjust the cycles accordingly.
The Three Water Cycles of Your Dishwasher
Most dishwashers enter and exit through three water cycles. These include:
- Pre-wash/rinse. This is the first phase of water shooting through the spray arms onto your dirty dishes. This is to get your dishes wet and some add additional cleaning powder as well. This cycle only takes a few minutes.
- Main wash. The main wash of your dishwasher is where the cleaning power exists. Water will be heated, sprayed, and whisked away. This cycle takes about an hour to complete.
- Final wash and rinse. New hot water will be used to spray your dishes to ensure they are thoroughly cleaned. This process takes between 20 to 60 minutes to complete.
Dirty Water is Whisked Away
Once your dishes have been sprayed, the water is now mixed with food gunk and needs to be drained. Usually, the water drains into your sink, which is why your dishwasher is located next to your sink. Once this is finished, your dishes will be sprayed once more to rinse any residual soap and food away. Then your dishwasher will drain a second time.
The Drying Process
Finally, your dishes will be dried, so when you open up your dishwasher, they are easy to put away. Your dishwasher will heat the air to accomplish this task.
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