Does a dishwasher save water: an unexpected result
According to experts, a dishwashing machine saves money on the family budget. This statement seems controversial, because this is a fairly expensive technique. However, simple calculations show that the machine spends noticeably less water than goes down the drain when washing by hand. Let's carry out calculations and determine whether these savings justify the cost of purchasing a dishwasher.
Let's define the conditions for comparison
Of course, any comparisons in the household field will be quite rough without a precise definition of the objects that will be compared. Each dishwasher has its own set of characteristics, which determine how many liters of water and kilowatts of electricity will be spent per cycle. When washing by hand, you can also use various techniques that save water (or, conversely, increase consumption).
We can only talk about savings when using modern technology. A dishwasher model from Bosch was chosen as an object for comparison: SPV 40E30. This is a relatively narrow car (its width is 45 cm). Here are its main indicators:
- Electricity consumption class in washing and drying mode: A. This means that the machine spends 0.78 kWh in ECO washing mode - 50 °C.
- The capacity of the loading compartment is approximately 9 sets of dishes.
- The full cycle time (washing and drying) is about 2 hours.
As an alternative, the mode of manual washing under running warm water was chosen.In this mode, 9 sets of dishes can be washed in 30–40 minutes. It is worth saying that this type of dishwashing (this method is most common in Russia and the post-Soviet space) is considered by experts to be very uneconomical.
Does it save water?
An analysis of the indicators of hot and cold water supply meters suggests that in one “session” of manual washing in the described mode, about 70–75 liters of hot water and 30–40 liters of cold water are consumed. Of course, this amount can be reduced somewhat if you periodically open and close the water (for example, while washing dishes). However, such savings will increase the procedure time and require more effort.
According to the instructions for the dishwasher taken as a comparison object, the consumption per cycle should be approximately 9 liters of cold water. The actual consumption (as determined by the meter) was 10 liters.
Water consumption is significantly affected by its hardness. Soft water (containing few Ca and Mg ions) washes detergents less well, so it is consumed in large quantities. At the same time, hard water shortens the life of the machine.
Calculating the cost of washing dishes in the selected modes gave the cost of one hand wash - 15.4 rubles, and machine washing - 5.5 rubles. The following tariffs were used for calculations:
- 1 cu. m of hot water including drainage – 178.19 rubles.
- 1 cu. m of cold water including drainage – 57.12 rubles.
- 1 kW of electricity during the day – 3.71 rubles. (at night the cost of 1 kW is 2.07 rubles, so if you start the car at night, one cycle will cost about 3 rubles.)
If we assume that we wash dishes in this mode once a day, then we will spend 5.5 thousand rubles on hand washing in a year. Using the machine will save almost 3.5 thousand rubles.
Additional bonuses
In addition to the fact that the machine significantly saves water, its use brings some additional bonuses:
- The high temperature of washing dishes in the machine (in some models it can reach 90°C) will ensure almost complete sterilization of the dishes. This advantage will be appreciated primarily by families with infants. True, reaching such high temperatures will increase electricity consumption and reduce savings.
- The use of softening conditioners when washing will ensure impeccable cleanliness of the walls of glassware, which is unattainable in regions with hard water by any other method.
- As with washing machines, the principle applies: the larger the volume of the dishwasher, the greater the water savings achieved per cycle.
The main bonus, without a doubt, is the time saved. Of course, before loading the dishes into the machine, you will have to clean the dishes from large solid pieces of food, sort them and carefully place them in brackets. But this will take no more than 15 minutes, and the rest of the time can be devoted to other household chores, relaxation or hobbies.
Is it worth buying a dishwasher?
Before deciding to buy a dishwasher, you need to weigh all the pros and cons. First of all, evaluate the dimensions of your kitchen and think about whether the new unit will fit into it. Also evaluate how much capacity of the car you really need.
Please understand that some types of dishes will still need to be washed by hand. These are large-sized dishes (pans, baking sheets, large pots), as well as dishes with unstable coating (Teflon frying pans, plates with metal rims, etc.).
Calculations show that the dishwasher will pay for itself in full within 3.5–4 years of operation.With an average lifespan of 5 years for such equipment, this allows us to say: a dishwasher is not only a household helper, but also saves water.
The dishwasher is great for cleaning baking sheets, large pots and stove grates. The main thing is that the basket is adjustable in height and there will be no problems. I don’t know why it should be written that this is hand washable. Lampshades (it’s better not to risk it with a pattern), vases, soap dishes and similar household items are also excellent for washing.
We add to all this the cost of PMM + the cost of washing products in PMM and we find ourselves at a big disadvantage. Especially if in the summer I wash only with cold water. I only wash household dishes. soap, our body cannot digest the rest of the chemicals.
You can save even more by hand washing using a washboard and rinsing in a pond.
We add to all this the cost of PMM + the cost of washing products in PMM and we find ourselves at a big disadvantage.Especially if in the summer I wash only with cold water. I only wash household dishes. soap, our body cannot digest the rest of the chemicals.
The savings are very doubtful - the price, special dosed washing tablets (from 4 rubles each), the use of only cold water (you need electricity, and this is also not cheap now). After 3 years of payback, maintenance/repair may be necessary - then it’s a pipe, the cost of spare parts is impressive. You need to have a “stock” of dishes; you won’t wash one or two cups/plates while the next batch “accumulates.” Washing by hand still requires water; should I wash it in the dishwasher after every glass of milk? For manual washing, 70 liters of hot water and 40 liters of cold water? Yes, 9 more sets (you need to keep the 10th as a reserve, when washing in the PMM, in case someone shows up for a visit). Water consumption depends on the time of year, don’t you think? You bent the consumption, I have separate meters in my kitchen, per month 1 cube of hot and cold water maximum (i.e. ~30l + 30l per DAY)
The service life is almost 10 years, a second one has now been purchased, the first one has served its purpose. There wasn’t even a bit of doubt about whether to buy a second one or not. My mother-in-law also has a car in the village, life is simplified, my mother-in-law and I are incredibly happy and happy. and there are real savings.
Saving time is the main thing. You shouldn't run the machine to wash a couple of cups. To save electricity, you can wash with a delay after midnight if you have a multi-tariff meter. So use the machine with a full load; you can use other detergents as a detergent, not necessarily expensive tablets. And there will be free time for the family.
Yes, and don’t skimp on the car, take the one with the maximum capacity if you have a little space in the kitchen.Now we use a machine for 14 people with three trays and height adjustments.
hmmm machine was invented in Europe where a cube of water costs more than a couple of hundred rubles, and an hour of a woman’s time washing dishes is more than zero.
If you take into account the cost of the PMM itself and consumables, it is still cheaper to wash it manually from household items. soap. Moreover, in the summer I don’t turn on hot water at all when washing dishes.
PMM greatly frees up personal time. As for laundry soap, it is now not of the best quality. It is not easy to wash off by hand. You didn't check the dishes after washing, did you?
If we are only talking about savings, then because of the consumables, doing it manually is still cheaper. I've been using the car for five years and I'm very pleased. No one in this article said . that when we wash dishes by hand, there are also consumables and electricity that illuminates the room. Therefore the difference is insignificant. But the convenience is simply wonderful. Nowadays it doesn’t occur to anyone to give up their washing machine. I think the same times will come for the dishwasher. All household members put their dishes in the machine, and in the evening, when meals are over, you take a tablet, insert it where necessary, press the button and go to bed, and in the morning you always get an excellent result in the form of dry, perfectly clean dishes. Good luck to everyone and greetings from Nizhny Novgorod.
I completely forgot that when guests arrive after a feast, there is no desire to wash anything. threw it quickly, pressed the button and rest. beauty.
?
The consumption of water and electricity is calculated, but the lion's share of the price is made up of special detergents. Adding their cost, you will understand that a dishwasher will never pay for itself. But there are such words as: convenience and comfort! This is why they buy a dishwasher.
The article itself is about nothing. But here in the comments people consider it unprofitable to use a dishwasher because of powders and other crap. The value of this device is immediately obvious to people who value time. This device gives you the only irreplaceable resource TIME!
Laundry soap……. If the question is only about saving money, then you don’t have to wash the dishes at all. Or, for example, once a week.
To wash dishes from laundry soap, which has a high concentration of alkali, you need to pour boiling water over it. Otherwise, you will end up eating too much soap with your food every day. Bon appetit!
If you rinse immediately after eating by hand, WATER CONSUMPTION FALLS BY THREE.
The only benefit is the hostess’s free time. If a dishwasher saves only 2,000 rubles per year (for water), then will it really pay for itself in 3.5-4 years? It turns out that a dishwasher should cost 7-8 thousand rubles. I looked on the Internet for the cost of a compact budget dishwasher - 14,000 rubles. What about the result? As a result, the cheapest one pays off only after 7 years.
A pack of soda, rubber gloves - for two months, a 4-5 liter basin for 10 years, heat 1.5 liters. water for washing and the same amount for rinsing 3-4 sets of dishes. Bonus: calorie consumption for labor costs. While washing, you can listen to something - an audiobook, music or news. Therefore, words about saving on dishwashers cause a slight grin.
Bravo! Do I agree with you on everything?!
And they wash by hand without detergents and in complete darkness. And I won’t say anything at all about the quality of washing with household soap.
I've had my car for 10 years. And if it breaks, then without a doubt I’ll run for a new one. My husband and I live together, our daughter has grown up and lives separately with her family.The two of us fill the machine))) we have a big one. And the pots and pans are glass.
In addition to aluminum (meat grinder) and Teflon. No deposits on spoons or tea cups. Clean forks and plates. Which “crunch” from cleanliness)))
You can also buy a washing board for this basin and you don’t need a washing machine. And what? It most likely won't pay off either. I rubbed it on a board with the same household soap, so I wouldn’t waste money on powder and fabric softener, and I don’t need an iron. We saw how expensive they are. You can also use a rolling pin on the table, as in ancient Rus', again, saving energy. And your waist will become thinner?
It should be used to a minimum. It washes the dishes perfectly. But it doesn’t save much. We ate, washed with soda and it’s economical and environmentally friendly. A couple of times a week we loaded everything up and ate and washed again
With our Hotpoint dishwasher, first of all, time is saved, and water savings, of course, exist, although at first it is not particularly noticeable.
+1. In addition, I live outside the city, calling a sewer truck costs a lot of money. If you pour 100 liters three times a day, you will be left without pants.
Honestly, they didn’t believe that PMM saves water. But from the moment you purchased PMM Hotpoint, the savings are still felt.
With our PMM Indesit, water is saved in every way more than with the same manual washing.
PMM really saves water, consumption is minimal, if you take a 60 cm (large) machine, it takes 10-11 liters of cold water for the entire cycle - the effect is immediately noticeable in the receipt for housing and communal services. Jets of water are supplied at a speed of approximately 80 km/h, and if the dishes are loaded correctly, even dried deposits in the forks are washed off.And now about the tablets and rinse aid: Somat 3in1 on promotion often costs 1000 for 100 tablets, glass balm 130 rubles 0.5 liters, softening salt 130 rubles 1 kg - and this is enough for a long time! And the result is squeaky clean dishes, free of bacteria and viruses, shiny glasses and flawless cutlery! Even my children immediately put the dishes in the PMM and start them themselves when they are full. The kitchen is always clean and tidy, and the sink is empty!
I BUY TABLETS ON THE INTERNET FOR 4.6-6 RUB/PC. I DO NOT USE SALT OR RINSE AGENTS (OUR WATER IS SOFT). THE CAR IS SMALL, BUT IT DOES GREAT HELP. ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE WAS ECZEMA ON YOUR HANDS. THAT'S WHY WE BUYED THE FIRST CAR. NOW IT'S THE SECOND. IT IS ALSO IMPOSSIBLE TO WASH WITH GLOVES - YOUR HANDS WILL Sweat. AND AFTER THE GUESTS, IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO WASH SUCH A MOUNTAIN OF DISHES. 2 CUPS AND 2 PLATES CAN BE WASHED BY HAND.
I have been using the dishwasher for 3 years. I have a Bosch. There are 5 people in the family, 2 of whom are small children. Saves a lot of time and now you don’t need to wash greasy pans. I don't use salt. Detergent - synergistic with Sima Land (1000 rubles for 5 l). I pour it into the bottom of the container (quite enough). With this expense, the funds will last me for a year. And the biggest plus is saving time. Therefore, I am definitely FOR a dishwasher.
after 5 years these machines break down :) and again you need to spend 40-50 thousand.
I've been using a dishwasher for several years now. We have a large family and there is always a lot of dishes after meals. The most important thing that a dishwasher saves is time. It is most important. But I specifically looked into the old receipts. Water bills have become lower, the difference in a year is 4-5 thousand. This means that the simplest dishwasher will pay for itself in 3 years. And it will last another 5 years without breakdowns if used correctly.