I just bought my new home and was doing a craft project and discovered that my dishwasher is hooked up to cold water only. I was told that will ruin my heating element sooner.
2006-10-22 12:37:09 · 12 answers · asked by sherry k 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Yes it is. I had my kitchen remodeled and the contractor did the same damn thing - I noticed it before I paid him the final amount, so he had to fix it *.
Your bottom heating element will have to run considerably more - which could make it go out sooner. It is only supposed to heat the water slightly and keep it hot during the cycle.
It'll also never get the water hot enough to do a decent job on the dishes - because the dishwasher timer will only give it so long to heat the water and then will move on regardless of whether or not it ever made it.
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* My old dishwasher was also hooked up to cold water - which is probably why it never worked so great. He tried to use that as an arguement - that he'd just hooked it up the same way it had been.
However, I pointed out in the installation instructions for the dishwasher (that he'd unpacked) where it said in very big letters to hook it up to the HOT water.
AND that he'd said he knew how to hook this stuff all up.
A friend called him a while later for a quote and found out
that he'd gone out of business - bankrupt right after next job he did after ours.
Oh well, he did a fantastic job - at a great price!
Once he got everything right that is...
2006-10-22 13:02:33 · answer #1 · answered by Jon W 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You need to have a plumber hook up hot water to your dishwasher. The water temperature should be about 130 to 140 degrees farenheit so you'll have to turn up the temperature setting on your hot water heater also. Your plumber can do that for you also.
The cold water as it is hooked up now, has to be heated by the heater element in your dishwasher which is supposed to be used only for a sanitary wash cycle...it heats the water super hot. This extra heating of the cold water can shorten the life of the heater element.
Hope this helps.
2006-10-22 20:06:04 · answer #2 · answered by Robert F 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The heating element inside your dishwasher is for drying the dishes, not heating the water. There should be a hot water feed to your dishwasher./
2006-10-22 19:42:40 · answer #3 · answered by reynwater 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Presumambly the dishwasher heats the water to a certain temp before using it. If you feed the dishwasher hot water you will save energy because the water will reach the temp. sooner.
2006-10-22 19:56:44 · answer #4 · answered by howie r 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is to be hooked up to the hot water. The heating element in the machine will heat the water up even more to properly clean and sanitize the dishes, and it also heats to dry the dishes.
2006-10-22 20:52:08 · answer #5 · answered by jollygreen60 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you bought a new home and the dishwasher is connected to cold water get the contractor to fix this at no cost. This is an improper connection.
2006-10-24 11:49:32 · answer #6 · answered by big_mustache 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Have a plumber hook-up it to thr hot supply. I would not turn up your water heater to 140 degrees if you have small children as this can scalding or 2nd & 3rd degree burns in a matter of seconds.
2006-10-22 20:20:20 · answer #7 · answered by gordon g 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
yes hot water hook up then you don't need the heating element. some one screwed up
2006-10-22 19:45:29 · answer #8 · answered by jswork8417 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well at the risk of sounding dumb I always thought that dishwashers had hot water run into them !
2006-10-22 19:45:41 · answer #9 · answered by sandiemay01 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
just bought a new house? then someone made a big boboo. they should be updated to the most current guidlines and codes. yes you do need hot water. contact the lender
2006-10-22 20:29:43 · answer #10 · answered by saldy m 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋