With modern homeowners looking out for various ways to save energy in their homes, one of the most common ways they do this is to embrace the recent technology in smart home appliances. The right smart home appliances, like smart dishwashers, can help reduce the cost of your energy bills and make cleaning easier and more efficient. It also minimizes resource wastage at home. You can take advantage of smart dishwasher sales near you to explore all the benefits they can offer.
What is a Smart dishwasher?
Smart dishwashers are typically equipped with features for better functionality, such as Wi-Fi connections to your mobile phones, voice control from a virtual home assistant (like Amazon’s Alexa or Google Assistant), cell phone control, and more.
The Wi-Fi connectivity in smart dishwashers allows you to control the operation of your dishwasher remotely through your smartphone. That means you can start and stop dish wash cycles even in your absence, monitor the progress of the wash cycle from your phone, and access maintenance advice for your dishwasher through your phone. Some models of smart dishwashers have a diagnostic feature that detects potential faults with the appliance and sends notifications to your phone. This can save you money in the long run by avoiding faults that would lead to costly repairs in the future.
For homeowners who are searching for appliances that make chores easier and living comfortable, smart dishwashers are fast becoming a thing over standard dishwashers. That somehow explains the increased demand for smart dishwashers in the market.
Do Smart Dishwashers Work differently From Standard ones?
While standard dishwashers are one of the most commonly used kitchen appliances, many homeowners do not have a full understanding of how it performs their function. We must, however, note that knowing how a dishwasher works don’t help the washing process in any way. But it would help you better to understand the features of the smart version of it.
The wash process includes the following steps:
- Water is pumped and first passed through an ion exchanger to soften it
- The water then fills up the basin at the bottom of the machine
- The internal heater at the base of the dishwasher heats the water to your desired temperature while a pre-wash is sprayed on the dishes
- The detergent dispenser opens, allowing the detergent to mix with the hot water
- The hot soapy mixture is sprayed onto the dirty dishes through rotating spray arms in the dishwasher, washing off food particles from the dishes
- The dirty water is drained out of the dishwasher, and clean water is added
- The dishes are rinsed with the clean water
- The residual heat in the appliance dries the dishes
Although there are different types and models of dishwashers, they all follow the pattern mentioned above.
Smart Dishwashers: How Do They Work?
A smart dishwasher works essentially the same way as standard dishwashers. The dirty dishes are loaded into them just like in the standard dishwasher, and they have the major parts found in dishwashers, such as spraying arms that circulate the water and detergent, trays and racks that hold the dirty dishes, internal heaters that heat up the water, and a dryer that removes water from the dishes. However, added to these basic functions, they come with extra features that make them more convenient to use.
Features of a Smart Dishwasher
Smart dishwashers have been integrated with new innovations that enhance their function and proficiencies, as is seen in every other smart appliance.
The features of smart dishwashers include:
• Wi-Fi Connectivity
Smart dishwashers can be integrated into your smart home or connected to your smartphone through Wi-Fi connections. This would allow you to control your dishwasher through your phone.
• Smart Door Lock
Your smart dishwasher also allows you to lock or unlock the door through your phone. This may be helpful for child safety, especially if you have kids that love to run around or explore things in the home.
• Voice Control Features
Smart dishwashers have a voice control feature that permits you to enable different features with your voice. That is, you can begin the wash cycle and lock or unlock the door with your voice.
• Phone Notifications
You can get notifications on your phone when your wash cycle is complete when the cleanser or rinse aid is low, or when there is a leak or a malfunction.
In addition to “smart” features, smart dishwashers can come with other improved mechanical features such as:
• Advanced rack design
Standard dishwashers often have a simple rack design for all types of dishes, but smart dishwashers have several racks for different sizes and types of dishes to allow the dishwasher to predict the water pressure that is required for certain dishes and also regulate where it directs the water.
• High-efficiency nozzle
Some smart dishwashers are configured to use less water than required by using high-pressure or water-efficient jets.
• Soil sensors
Soil sensors can detect how much grime that is on the dishes or in the wash water. Dishwashers with this feature can automatically change the wash water or adjust the water pressure and temperature to remove the grime. Some smart dishwashers can pre-select the wash settings based on how much grime is on the dishes.
• Water filtration systems
Water filtration systems help to keep the wash water clean. Dishwashers with water filtration systems remove oil and other food debris after they contaminate the water to ensure they don’t stick to the dishes.
Benefits of a Smart Dishwasher
Smart appliances always have the edge over traditional appliances. Some benefits of smart dishwashers include:
• They are Energy Efficient
Various home and kitchen appliances use a lot of energy and can add to the energy bills, and this may be a lot of expense for some people. Investing in more energy-efficient options may be something to consider for most homeowners. Generally, smart appliances are designed to be energy efficient, and so is a smart dishwasher. Compared to traditional dishwashers, smart dishwashers are more conservative with water and energy and can help reduce energy bills.
• Features can be accessed through a smartphone
One of the aims of smart appliances is to make chores easier and more convenient for users. So convenient that users can get their chores done from the comfort of their bed, while at work, or during bedtime. A smart dishwasher allows you to have full control over your dishwashing process. You can schedule it to your convenience or stop the cleaning mid-way if you need to all through your phone over a Wi-Fi connection.
• It can be used remotely
Sometimes, homeowners get really busy with work and do not have time to attend to chores like dishwashing. Smart dishwashers make it less of a problem for people who work round the clock to earn a living; by simply enabling the features on their phone, they can do their dishes from anywhere they are.
• You’ll spend less on service calls
Oftentimes, consumers experience faults with a product. Some brands, like Whirlpool, Thermador, Jenn-Air, Bosch, etc., may allow the customer service center to connect to the customer’s appliance remotely to troubleshoot a problem. They can either suggest a quick fix or help them determine if they need to hire a technician.
How to Care for Your Smart Dishwasher
While smart dishwashers have fully automated functions, they still require a level of care and maintenance to function effectively and provide better energy efficiency. Caring for your smart dishwasher would increase its lifespan and improve its functions
• Clean your dishwasher filter frequently
Tiny bits of food particles, grease, and other residues from washing may get stuck in the filter over time. If they are not removed, they will decay and leave a bad odor in your dishwasher. If your dishwasher has a bad smell, the filter is likely to be dirty.
• Clean the spray arm.
The spray arm in the dishwashers sprays the water onto the dirty plates. Over time, it can get clogged with food particles. To help the spray arms of your dishwasher function better, wipe it with a damp towel regularly. At monthly intervals, you can take out the spray arms and clear out the blockages with a toothpick or a needle.
• Sanitize with vinegar once a week.
You can disinfect your dishwasher regularly to rid it of germs or bacteria. Using a vinegar solution is a natural and cost-effective way to disinfect your dishwasher. Simply place a bowl of white vinegar on the rack in the dishwasher and turn on the wash cycle as you normally would. The vinegar would dispense and circulate throughout the unit. Wipe after with a clean cloth and fresh water. Cleaning with vinegar would also dissolve any hard water residue in the dishwasher.
Brands of Smart Dishwashers to Consider
Many brands offer exotic offers on smart dishwashers, but if you’re looking at investing in a smart dishwasher with high performance and energy performance. Here are some brands to consider.
• Frigidaire (Gallery Fully Integrated Dishwasher)
Frigidaire is a well-known appliance brand. Their smart dishwasher collection doesn’t only offer high cleaning performance but also comes with a lot of high-end extras too. It features a favorite cycle that lets you select your preferred option with just one touch after being programmed. Their dishwasher also provides you with more energy-saving options by allowing you to wash half loads in its upper rack when you don’t have a full load.
• LG
Dishwashers from LG have a reputation for their effectiveness in cleaning heavily soiled loads. Their innovative QuadWash and TrueSteam model comes with four spray arms rather than two, which is seen in most dishwashers. The four spray arms spin with the pressure of the water, which helps it to reach every corner and surface of every dish in the washer.
It also has a smart diagnosis app feature that allows downloading extra cycles to your dishwasher if needed. The smart diagnosis app can alert you through your smartphone at the end of the cycle using Alexa or Google Assistant. It is also designed in a way to help you solve problems in the event of any issues.
• Beko
Beko’s 24-inch dishwasher features a filter with built-in water jets for self-cleaning. While cleaning a dishwasher’s filter is something most people forget to do, with Beko, all you have to do is select an option on the control panel when you want the filter cleaned. Also, the dishwasher has a large capacity for carrying large loads and is designed to spray water in a square pattern so that it reaches every corner of the washer. If you’re the kind to host parties, you don’t have to worry about cleaning up after your guests.
• Samsung
Samsung’s water wall dishwasher not only has an exotic design but also comprises extensive features that make it stand out amongst other smart dishwashers. The waterfall model is seamlessly quiet with a sound output of 38 dBA. It has a large capacity and can wash large loads of dishes, including pots, all at once. It also has a smart leak-detecting sensor that notifies you of even the smallest leaks.
Is it Worth Buying a Smart Dishwasher?
If you’re wondering if it’s worth buying a smart dishwasher, we think it is absolutely. No doubt smart dishwashers cost more than standard dishwashers; however, they offer more features, are more convenient to use, are more efficient in cleaning, and provide better energy efficiency.
A smart dishwasher may not come off as necessary to you if you’re on a budget, but in the long run, it can be more economical than standard dishwashers. So, if you’re looking for long-term benefits, they are an ideal choice to make, considering their energy efficiency and conservative use of water and other resources. It would be best if you also took the time to do proper research on the brand you want to go for and other key features you need.
How The Dishwasher Has Evolved Over The Years