How Dishwashers Work - Dishwashers

How Dishwashers Work
by Ed Grabianowski

Inside this Article
Introduction to How Dishwashers Work
Dishwasher Basics
Using a Dishwasher
Dishwasher Buyer's Guide
Lots More Information
See all Kitchen Appliances articles
Home & Garden Videos

More Home & Garden Videos »

Typical dishwasher controls. See more dishwasher images.

Basically, a dishwasher is a robot that cleans and rinses dirty dishes. Humans have to load the dishes, add detergent, set the proper washing cycles and turn it on, but the dishwasher accomplishes a whole series of functions by itself. A dishwasher:
Fills itself with water
Heats the water to the appropriate temperature
Automatically opens the detergent dispenser at the right time
Shoots the water through jets to get the dishes clean
Drains the dirty water
Sprays more water on the dishes to rinse them
Drains itself again
Heats the air to dry the dishes off, if the user has selected that setting
Shopping for a dishwasher?

Visit our consumer product pages for dishwasher reviews and prices to get the information you need before you buy.

In addition, dishwashers monitor themselves to make sure everything is running properly. A timer (or a small computer) regulates the length of each cycle. A sensor detects the water and air temperature to prevent the dishwasher from overheating or damaging your dishes. Another sensor can tell if the water level gets too high and activates the draining function to keep the dishwasher from overflowing. Some dishwashers even have sensors that can detect the dirtiness of the water coming off the dishes. When the water is clear enough, the dishwasher knows the dishes are clean.
In this article, we'll discuss exactly how a dishwasher gets the job done, how to use one properly and what features to look for when buying a dishwasher.

Inside a Dishwasher
Although dishwashers are watertight, they don't actually fill with water. Just a small basin at the bottom fills up. There, heating ...

HowStuffWorks.com
One Capital City Plaza
3350 Peachtree Road, Suite 1500
Atlanta, GA 30326
404-760-4729
email form: http://www.howstuffworks.com/contact.php?s=hsw&ct=feedback