Type of instalation
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Fully integrated -in. Fully integrated dishwashers are devices in which, with the door closed, the control panel is hidden inside. The controls are usually mounted on the top end of the door for this. The main advantage of such devices is a neat appearance: in the closed position, only a solid door is outside (on which sometimes there is even no handle, see “Opening without a handle”). Another thing is that the control panel is less prone to contamination. At the same time, you inevitably have to open the machine to access it; this can create inconvenience if the programme needs to be changed right in the process of work. The indicators are also hidden inside; this disadvantage can be partly corrected by the “beam on the floor” system (see the relevant paragraph), but it is not available in all such models.
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With an open control panel. Dishwashers in which the control panel is located outside, above the door. Thanks to this, the user has constant access to the controls, and to the display and other indicators; in this sense, such units are noticeably more convenient than fully integrated ones. Their disadvantage is primarily related to the design: the control panel will not fit into every kitchen interior, especially if the owner of the kitchen appreciates minimalism and the absence of unnecessary details on the kitchen set.
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.
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.
