Dishwashers reduce the time and effort of cleaning dishes by washing them for you. However, you’ll have to make some changes to your kitchen setup and plumbing to accommodate this modern appliance.
Fortunately, hooking up a dishwasher doesn’t have to be complicated or frightening. It’s just a matter of identifying which water source you’ll use – hot or cold – and adjusting your setup accordingly. After reading this article, you will understand the requirements for installing a dishwasher in your home and know how to hook it up so that it runs efficiently and without issue.
Do dishwashers heat their own water or do they use hot water?
The answer is “it depends“. Older models might need hot water. Newer models often heat their own water as they have advanced heating elements in them.
These heating elements allow the dishwasher to pick the right temperature. This makes them more energy efficient. These heating elements are quite expensive and cheaper models might remove them.
Most dishwashers that you buy nowadays can work with cold water though. The manual of your dishwasher will indicate if you need a hot water supply or not.
The first step in installing a dishwasher is figuring out which water source you’ll be using. Hot water is harder to install as you need a nearby water heater. Cold water on the other hand is quite easy to install as you just have to add it to the water supply. If you are using PEX, this can be as easy as adding a pipe to the manifold and installing it.
For older dishwashers it used to be necessary to connect them to hot water as the heating elements in the dishwashers were not that powerful. Nowadays heat pumps are very powerful and manufacturers generally recommend that you connect them to cold water.
This will save you money as the heating element in the dishwasher is generally more efficient than running a water heater. That being said, some people still prefer to connect their dishwasher to the hot water supply. Check the manual of your dishwasher to make sure that this is allowed.
Hooking up a dishwasher to cold water feed
A diverter valve diverts the flow of water from the faucet to the dishwasher. Diverter valves are easy to install, and you can find them at your local hardware store. You’ll need to shut off the water supply to your house before installing the valve and for the duration of the installation. When you’re done, turn the water back on and open the faucet to make sure there are no leaks.
With the diverter valve installed, you’ll connect the dishwasher to the cold water supply. The valve on the dishwasher is usually marked as “cold,” while the valve on the faucet is “hot.” If you’re unsure, check the installation manual for your dishwasher to determine which valve you should use.
You have to turn off the water supply for this part of your home when you are working on installing the water supply for the dishwasher. This ensures that you don’t get a big water leak. Water is under a lot of pressure and can gush out of your pipes if you are not careful!
Hooking up a dishwasher to hot water
Dishwashers have sensors that measure the temperature of the water. If you supply hot water, the heating element has to work less. This can make your dishwasher last longer. Given that manufacturers generally recommend that you connect the dishwasher with cold water, this effect is not that big. Your water heater will have to work harder and this can compensate for the wear and tear on your dishwasher.
Can I connect my dishwasher to cold water?
Yes, in most instances you should be able to do this. Most modern dishwashers are able to heat up the water. They have advanced programs that allow them to completely clean dishes with cold water. There are some smaller models that don’t have a built-in heating element though.
It is possible that your dishwasher will work slower if you use cold water.
You also have to take the water hardness into account. If you live in an area with very hard water and you only have a water softener on the hot water supply line, it can be a great idea to connect your dishwasher to hot water (if your dishwasher allows this).
Is a dishwasher hot or cold feed?
Most dishwasher work with both hot and cold water. It is often recommended that you use cold water. The dishwasher can heat up their own water so a cold feed should do. This is easier to install and requires less energy from your water heater. Hot water is used for a lot of things in a home and if you can save it for other applications, it is often a great thing. This is why you should use a cold feed water supply for your dishwasher. It also makes it easier to install your dishwasher if you don’t have enough space in your kitchen.
Water heaters might run out of hot water and this makes it harder for your dishwasher as it might have to work harder on short notice. For this reason, it is more predictable for the system if you use cold water. This is also why manufacturers generally recommend this approach.
Do LG dishwasher connect to hot or cold water?
Both are generally possible. They note in their manuals the following: “If the hot water temperature can not be maintained below 65°C (150 degrees Fahrenheit), the dishwasher must be connected to cold water.”. Check the manual of your specific model to see if they have other requirements.
In general, connecting your dishwasher to cold water is the best option. Water heaters in dishwashers are very efficient. Furthermore, your water heater might run out of hot water and can stop the program of the dishwasher. This can result in dirty dishes and you might have to run the program again.
Do Whirlpool dishwashers connect to hot or cold water?
Often you can use cold water. Some systems might require hot water though. The manual for some systems include the following: “Be sure the incoming water temperature is set at 120°F (49°C).”
Most Whirlpool dishwashers will work with cold water as well as they have a heating element. It is quite challenging to input 120 degrees F water all year round. Manufacturers run a lot of tests but it can be hard to replicate these in your own house. This is why they publish recommendations. Your dishes will be just fine with cold water.
Indesit dishwasher hot or cold feed?
Both generally work. Check the manual of your Indesit model to make sure that you can use hot water though.
To conclude, we can state that most dishwashers work with a cold water supply. You can add a hot water supply if you have hard water and a water softener. You can also do this if you want to speed up the washing cycles.
This can use more energy though. It can also cause problems if your water heater runs out of hot water while the dishwasher is active.
Most manufacturers recommend that you hook up your dishwasher to cold water as these appliances have advanced water heating systems. Older dishwashers didn’t have this and you had to connect them to hot water.
Always check the manual of your model to make sure that you get the right water connection.
Source
https://www.bosch-home.co.uk/customer-service/get-support/dishwashers/hot-water
