Dishwasher wastes energy?

[lonelyt]

At my apartment, water is paid, but I pay for electric. Does using the dishwashing machine waste more electric or water? If you paid both electric and water bills, where would using the machine frequently hurt more? Thanks.

 

[Rubycon]

Use air dry, the electrical cost is minimal.

 

[vi edit]

As far as water is concerned, I've seen many manufacturers state that their washers only use around 8 gallons of water per use. It sounds like a lot, but depending on your dishwashing habits, you could easily use that much up filling up the dish water, and then with your rinsing. You also want to maximize your dishwasher by filling it up with dishes each time and not running it half full.

The energy consumption should be minimal if you aren't using the heated dry feature. Just let it finish, then open it up and let it dry out over a few hours time.

 

[Eos]

Plus, the super hot water in the dishwasher gets your dishes much more sanitized than with handwashing.

 

[Baked]

Originally posted by: eos
Plus, the super hot water in the dishwasher gets your dishes much more sanitized than with handwashing.

I used up a bottle of chlorox bleach each time I wash dishes, with my hands.

 

[Itchrelief]

Water bills are usually much smaller than electric/gas bills unless you are operating a waterpark in your back 40.

Depends of course whether you live in a desert or have to power a well pump or such.

I would guess the bulk of the cost of operating a dishwasher lies in the cost of heating the water and the dry cycle. The first part you can reduce by getting a more efficient water heater, the second by using air dry.

 

[thomsbrain]

they use less water than washing by hand. they don't use too much electricity if you air-dry. run the dishwasher, it will save YOU so much energy.