Cycle Time

Three tips for cleaner dishesTry these tips for cleaner dishes, or get a new dishwasher at UAKC Here are three suggestions to make sure you're getting the most out of your dishwasher:1. Don't pre-clean your dishes.Some people want to give their dishwasher a little help by pre-washing their dishes. While you certainly don't want to put your leftover for baked on food in your dishwasher, it is not a good idea to rinse off your dishes before placing them in the dishwasher. Dishwasher detergents contain chemicals that keep food particles removed from the dishes in suspension so that they don't get redeposited on your dishes. If you put only clean dishes in the dishwasher, the detergent will find no dirt particles and wind up as a film on your already clean dishes.2. Hot water gets dishes clean.Typically, dishwashers will heat incoming water to 150 degrees or more depending on the cycle selected. However, the incoming water needs to be 120 degrees for this to happen. Even if your water heater provides water at 120 degrees, if your dishwasher is located too far from the water heater, the hot water may not be hot enough by the time it gets to the dishwasher. My water heater is at one corner of my house, and my dishwasher is clear over at the other corner, as far as it can be from the water heater. We need to run the hot water at the sink near the dishwasher for a few minutes before we

Choosing the Best WasherGetting ready to buy a new washing machine? Here is the first decision you'll need to make. There are three basic types of washers to choose from. We describe each washer type below and provide an example from each of the three major brands.1. GE Traditional Agitator Type Top Loader WasherAgitator type washers were the primary type of washing machine used in the U.S. since the post WWII era up to the 2000's. They're still a popular choice for those who want a washing machine like Mom used to have and prefer the high-post agitator in the middle. Here's an example from GE.GE® 4.2 DOE cu. ft. stainless steel capacity washerGTW485ASJWS ENERGY STAR® qualified Stain PreTreat Speed Wash Rotary electronic controls with cycle status lights2. Whirlpool HE Top Load WasherHigh Efficiency top load washers have been around for about twenty years. They're absent the high post agitator of traditional washers. Instead, they have an impeller in the bottom of the tub that turns and moves the clothes in much less water than traditional agitator top loaders, but they still do an amazing job of cleaning clothes. Below is a Whirlpool HE Top Load Washer:4.3 cu. ft. High-Efficiency Top Load Washer with a Low-Profile Impeller Model #: WTW5000DWPresoak Option Deep Water Wash Cycle Clean Washer Cycle with affresh® Washer Cleaner Smooth Wave Stainless Steel Wash Basket Quick Wash Cycle 3. Electrolux Front Load WasherFront load washers have become very popular over the last 20 years. Originally popularized in

Appliance Operation Tips from UAKCWe regularly use this blog to provide tips on how to save money on appliance purchases. See blogs below:Two Viking Range Events Will Save You MoneyLuxury Appliances on a BudgetHow to Get Free AppliancesHowever, today we're offering 5 tips on saving money on the operation of your appliances. Clean appliances operate more efficiently. A dirty gasket on your refrigerator can create air gaps and let cool air escape, causing the refrigerator to run more. Clogged up ports in your dishwasher spray arms make dishwasher run longer to get dishes clean. If possible run appliances during off peak hours to save on electricity. Many appliances have delay timers that allow users to set start and stop times. Use energy saving cycles. It's not enough just having a light wash, a vacation mode, or a cold water cycle on an appliance. In order to actually save energy/money appliance owners must select and utilize these cycles when appropriate. Clean filters regularly. Range hoods, dishwashers, refrigerators, and dryers, all may have filters that need to be either cleaned or replaced periodically so that they can operate properly and efficiently. Wash full loads in the dishwasher and washing machine. It takes as much water and electricity to run a complete cycle whether the appliance is full or half-full.Of course, when buying a new appliance from Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center (UAKC) look for an Energy Star appliance. An Energy Star dishwasher, for example, will use 41% less energy than the federal

Dishwashers to get your dishes clean quicklyAvailable now at Universal Appliance and Kitchen CenterOne of the most common issues that comes up on dishwasher reviews is the amount of time that it takes for a dishwasher to complete a full cycle. Customers report their frustration with dishwasher cycle times that can exceed three hours.Over the last decade dishwashers have radically reduced the amount of energy that they use, the amount of water that they consume, and at the same time dishwasher noise levels have dropped dramatically. However, these fantastic improvements have not occurred without tradeoffs. For example, instead of washing dishes in both racks simultaneously, several dishwasher brands now have spray arms that alternate washing dishes on the top rack and then switching to the bottom rack. With only half the dishes getting washed at any given time the sound levels go down, but naturally the wash times go up.So now, to address the consumer complaints of extended wash times, some dishwasher brands have quicker wash cycles for lightly soiled dishes or glasses.Jenn-Air touts a one hour wash for quick cleaning on the new Jenn-Air Trifecta™ dishwashers.Frigidaire's new dishwashers with the OrbitClean® wash system include a 30 minute Quick Wash.Miele trumps both Jenn-Air and Frigidaire with a 19 minute cycle on its model G7859. How can they get dishes clean with such a short wash cycle? Well, this Miele model is a commercial dishwasher that works on 208v. It's really designed for a community center, a day care facility, etc.