Learn how much water a dishwasher uses and how you can conserve this resource with some easy tips from Finish®. Help the environment and your wallet.
No one would judge you for assuming that a dishwasher uses a considerable amount of water with each load. After all, its typically one of the largest appliances in your home. Youve probably wondered: do dishwashers save water, or do dishwashers use a lot of water? It depends on the make and model of your machine, but many newer dishwashers are more efficient than you might think. Of course, a modern, Energy Star-rated dishwasher is going to be far more efficient than an older model. In fact, dishwashers manufactured before 1994 can use as much as approximately 9-14 gallons of water per load.1
However, new standard-sized Energy Star dishwashers use less than 4 gallons for every load. They are designed to heat and use the exact amount of water they need to clean dishes effectively. Washing up the same number of plates by hand could see as much as 40 gallons of water literally poured down the drain!
Dishwashers pump fresh hot water into the wash cavity and drain between each cycle, wash, rinse and heat dry. They do not use the same water over and the heat dry raises the temperature over the boiling point scalding the dishes to sanitize the dishes.
How to save water when using your dishwasherÂ
Not only are newer dishwashers more efficient with their water usage, you can also use them in ways that will further conserve water. These tips can help to reduce your water usage and ensure your dishwasher has a long life of producing sparkling clean dishes.
- Save water by skipping the pre-clean rinse in the sink. We waste as much as 20 gallons of water each time we rinse a load of dishes before putting them in the dishwasher.
- Avoid running unnecessary cycles by waiting until you have a full load.
- Ensure the inside of your dishwasher is clean and that the arm sprayer isnât hindered by obstacles. This will eliminate the need to run multiple dishwasher cycles.
- Choose an eco-setting, which will use less energy by washing your dishes at a lower temperature and use less water during each cycle.
- Use a quality detergent like Finish® Quantum® to ensure your dishes come out clean the first time, every time.
Take a look at our Benefits of a Dishwasher collection to learn more about the differences between using a dishwasher and handwashing, and whether using a dishwasher saves you money.
VERIFY: Does running the dishwasher every day save water?
FAQ
Do dishwashers reuse the same water?
Do all dishwashers use the same amount of water?
Do dishwashers use both hot and cold water?
Does running your dishwasher every night save water?
Does a dishwasher use more water than a handwash?
Although many people believe dishwashers use more water than washing dishes by hand, running the dishwasher uses the same amount of water used in just two minutes of handwashing an average of eight dishes, explains Morgan Eberhard of P&G Home Care brands.
How much water does a dishwasher use?
Dishwasher water usage differs depending on the appliance brand, model, and age of the appliance. Older dishwashers made before 2013 may use between 6 and 16 gallons of water per cycle. Meanwhile, as stated above, new dishwashers made after 2013 only use up to 5 gallons of water per load and Energy Star dishwashers use closer to 3 gallons per load.
How does a dishwasher work?
A dishwasher is an ingeniously simple machine. While watertight, it does not actually fill with water; instead, the water pools on the bottom of the chamber, heating up to over 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Once nice and hot, the water is directed to the water jets, pressurized, and propelled against the dirty dishes.
Does a dishwasher save water?
Using a dishwasher does save water. A modern dishwasher uses about three to four gallons of water compared to up to 27 gallons when washing the same amount of dishes by hand,” says Jeremy Tompson of YouthfulHome, a cleaning services specialist. “Older dishwasher models may use as much as 15 gallons of water—but that’s still less than handwashing.”