Water consumption
The amount of water used by the dishwasher in one washing cycle. Usually, it is indicated for a standard cycle — at full load, without pre-rinsing, etc. Accordingly, in special modes, the consumption may differ from the indicated one.
The lower the consumption — it better; this is especially true for those who consume water by metres or who have a limited supply of water (for example, it is drawn from a well with a low productivity). On the other hand, a reduction in consumption can have a negative effect on the quality of the wash. So, choosing an
economical dishwasher, you should pay attention to the washing class (see below). In addition, only models of the same capacity can be compared in terms of consumption — after all, the more dishes, the more water is required to wash them.
Dryer type
The dishwasher has a drying function. Drying can occur both due to the natural evaporation of water from the surface of the dishes (
condensation drying), and due to its
blowing with heated air; the first option is more economical, since it does not require energy and there is also an improved one —
with a heat exchanger; the second, in turn, provides faster drying. The recently introduced new type of
Zeolith drying combines two methods, as it first collects residual moisture and then converts it into heat, which dries the dishes and belongs to premium segment models. Note that not all dishwashers are capable of drying dishes to dryness; see drying class for details.
Energy class
The energy efficiency class characterizes the the economy of a dishwasher's electricity consumption. Initially, the classes were denoted in Latin letters from A (high degree of economy) to G (high consumption). But later, with the development of energy saving technologies, more advanced classes than A appeared. They are denoted by the letter A with a certain number of pluses (
A+,
A++, etc.); the more benefits, the higher the economy. Most modern built-in dishwashers comply with energy classes from A to
A+++(the last is 30% more economical than the original class A). More high consumption models, such as classes B and C, are much rarer and gradually disappear.
More economical models cost more, but the difference can be recouped in energy savings. Also note that the energy consumption class does not describe efficiency in general, but in comparison with other similar models; therefore, the actual consumption of a small class A device may be lower than that of a large class A++ model.
Beam on floor
The light indicator of work of the dishwasher. During the operation of the device, a special light mark is projected onto the floor in front of it; at the end of the programme, this mark goes out. Thus, one glance in the direction of the device is enough to determine its current state. And for fully integrated models (see "Type of installation"), this function is also convenient because it is no need to open the door to check the status of the device. Actually, the vast majority of units
with a "beam on the floor" are fully integrated.
Also note that in high-end dishwashers, not just a light mark in the form of a dot can be used, but a miniature projector, which is a
beam on the floor with a time indication or with other auxiliary information.
Chamber lighting
The presence of a
lighting system in the working chamber of the dishwasher.
Modern dishwashers have deep working chambers which can make it difficult to see the contents, even when the machine is installed in a brightly lit place. A proprietary lighting system solves this problem by improving visibility and doesn't depend on external light sources.
Door closer
The presence of an
door closer in the design of the dishwasher.
An auto-closer is a device that helps close or open a door smoothly to the fully closed or open position, preventing the door from remaining in an intermediate position. It has two functions: ensuring the door is fully closed to prevent splashes and damage, and providing soft closing/opening to prevent shock and damage.
Child lock
A protective system designed for those cases when there are small children in the house. To prevent a curious child from injuring himself and ruining the dishwasher, various locks can be provided in the design — usually for the door, sometimes also for the control panel.
The child lock function turns off in a way that is easily accessible to an adult but not accessible to a child.
Dimensions (HxWxD)
Dishwasher dimensions in height, width and depth. An obvious parameter; we only note that when determining the amount of space required for integration, the width and height of the unit are important.
In most modern built-in dishwashers, the width corresponds to one of the standard values (about a centimeter):
45 cm for narrow models,
60 cm for standard ones and
55 cm as a compromise between these dimensions. As for the second dimension, dishwashers with a height of up to 60 cm inclusive are usually classified as
compact, they require installation at a certain height above the floor.
Full-size models, with a height of more than 60 cm, can also be installed at floor level.
