Dishwasher Buying Guide

Buying a dishwasher is something you want to get right. It’s not exactly a small purchase and you’ll be kicking yourself for years if you don’t get the best dishwasher for your home.

We’ve put together this brief buying guide to identify all the different things you need to consider. From the size, to the amount of place settings you need, additional features, noise levels and more, read on for our expert knowledge of dishwashers and how to buy the best dishwasher for your home.

What Size Dishwasher Do I Need?

Dishwashers ostensibly come in two sizes: slimline and full-sized. A full-sized dishwasher is about 60cm in width and a slimline is about 45cm.

You can get a compact model that looks like a large microwave and sits on top of your counter. These are good if you live alone or in a couple.

Dishwasher size and in turn, capacity, is signified by the number of place settings it has. A full size dishwasher will have up to 16 or 17 place settings whilst a slimline model may have 10 or less.

A place setting is generally defined as a plate, dessert plate, a bowl, a tea cup & saucer and some cutlery. So, 12 place settings will fit 12 lots of the described. So, what size do you need?

Most dishwashers are 12-place settings and if you’re a family household, any full-sized or slimline dishwasher should be enough to cope with the workload.

So really, it depends on the space you’ve got to work with. If you live alone or in a couple, you wouldn’t need any bigger than a slimline dishwasher.

Installation Types

Here at Appliance City, we sell freestanding, semi-integrated and integrated dishwashers. Freestanding dishwashers can be placed anywhere in the home. Although, as your dishwasher isn’t likely to go outside of your kitchen, the choice between freestanding and integrated is entirely up to your preference.

If you would like your dishwasher to be concealed and consistent with your counters, then an integrated model is for you. If not, a freestanding model is a good bet and can be freely moved anywhere you see fit.

Our freestanding dishwashers all have every sleek, neutral designs, and are easy to install. So, not concealing them shouldn’t be an issue as they won’t disrupt your kitchen design that much. They’re also available in a number of colour options to suit any interior.

How Energy Efficient are Dishwashers?

Dishwashers use less water than washing up by hand and the amount of power they use is very negligible.

If you want to ensure you’re buying an efficient dishwasher, look at the energy ratings. Anything rated A and above is a good, solid investment that will be kind to your bills and our planet.

If it’s not rated A, don’t worry. It’s not going to cost a fortune to run and it’s not the end of the world, but as a general rule, A-rated appliances and above are a good benchmark to aim for.

Things you can do to improve the efficiency and impact of your dishwasher include:

• Only use your dishwasher when it is full.
• Use the coldest setting.
• Use biodegradable and environmentally-friendly detergents
• Use ‘eco’ programmes.
• Buying an A-rated dishwasher for both wash and dry programmes.

Dishwasher Noise Levels

An important thing to consider is the noise level of your dishwasher. If your kitchen is an entertainment hub or a well-lived in thoroughfare of your home, then making sure your dishwasher is nice and quiet is important.

Noise levels are measured in decibels, and they are what is called ‘logarithmic units’. This means that one decibel isn’t a set value.

For example, the decibel level of silence is 0 dB. A noise that measures at 10 dB isn’t ten units louder than silence, but rather 10 times more powerful than the sound of silence.

This means that a dishwasher that is 55 dB is actually well over twice as loud as one that is 45 dB. So, if you see a dishwasher that’s only a few dB louder than another, don’t be fooled into thinking that it’s a tiny difference.

A good decibel range to aim for is 40-45 dB. This is well under the noise level of a normal conversation (60 dB). 45-55 dB will be noticeably louder but not uncomfortably loud. The quietest dishwashers money can buy are around 38-39 dB.

Additional Features

Some handy features to look out for when shopping for a dishwasher are as follows:

• Hidden Controls – many dishwasher will put their controls on the top edge of the door, giving you an integrated look in a freestanding model.
• Child Lock – self-explanatory, a good option for families.
• Anti-Flood – a common problem that arises in dishwashers is flooding. It’s an unavoidable symptom of an ageing dishwasher, but if your dishwasher has anti-flood technology, it can detect when a flood is forming and will shut down.  
• Flexible Storage – a feature in most dishwashers, flexible storage allows you to configure the position of baskets and racks to your taste.
• Water Hardness Level – giving you the power to set your water hardness level.
• Preset Programmes – use these to their full potential. These include half-load cycles, delicate cycles, eco cycles, rinse only and more.
• Time Delay – run your dishwasher when you’re not in, or at night for cheaper power tariffs.

Our dishwashers come from top, market-leading brands and are available at competitive prices. Choose from our selection of freestanding, semi-integrated or integrated models.

We also have a section of Dishdrawers from Fisher & Paykel, for a truly innovative way to wash your dishes. Free delivery available when you buy online today, options to suit any budget and interior!

Don’t miss our other helpful dishwasher guides:

• How to Install Your Dishwasher
• How to Maintain Your Dishwasher