Dishwasher Help!

HelloDolly86

I have absolutely no idea if this is the right sight or even forum but I thought it would be a worth a shot or at least someone could give me some knowledgeable advice!

I have had a dishwasher for years, I never used it. It was here in the house when I got it. My electricity bills are sky high,not to mention my water bill. The following questions I really need guidance towards:

-I know that dishwashers do not have a external plug socket so it means that the electricity is constantly being used on the dishwasher even if I don’t use it! So how would I stop the electricity from going to the appliance? Would I have to get someone in for it?
-if the electricity is constantly going to the appliance is this why my electric bill is so high?
-I also want to sell the dishwasher, where would I go to sell it? Has anyone ever sold there’s? Are there specialist shops for second hand washers like a buy and collect thing?

Thankyou so much! I’m a young property owner who doesn’t have family to ask for advise towards this situation so any help would be much appreciated!, there’s only so much google can teach me!

gardner1

It won't use any electricity

Robin9

HelloDolly86 wrote: »

My electricity bills are sky high,not to mention my water bill.

Sky high to some is low to others. What is your annual consumption in kWH not £; what is your tariff. Re water are you on a meter or do you pay be rateable value?

PS Your dishwasher is easily disconnected DIY with common sense. It has a simple water feed but may be wired into a wall outlet rather than a socket - switch off at the mains before you do anything. But whether its worth anything is a different matter.

cajef

If the dishwasher is not being used it is not using any electricity and most are plugged into a normal socket.

chiny

You'd have to be extra careful in washing up to use less water by hand washing (rather than a dishwasher). It might be possible but it would be difficult and your savings would be blown by a moment's inattention when your mobile squeaked, doorbell rang, OH spoke... Not a MSE issue unless you are metered, although your eco-conscience might be pricked.

Incidentally, many devices do use power when apparently switched off, although this use is almost-but-not-quite vanishingly small.

EachPenny

Websites like Freecycle regularly have dishwashers being given away.... that might give you an idea of the second hand value if you do want to sell (i.e. virtually nil), plus an option if you decide you really want to get rid of it.

However, one of the selling points of dishwashers is they can - in the right circumstances - use less water and energy than washing up by hand.

You probably don't realise how much water and energy you are using if you wash up as you go, especially if you use hot water to rinse. If you don't consider it essential to wash up as you go (i.e. you don't mind waiting until the dishwasher is full before using it) then you are likely to save money by using the dishwasher.

Do you know if it actually works? Why not give it a test run - don't bother buying detergent tablets - just to see if it works. Perhaps then try using it for a month and see if you notice any difference on your electricity bill?

Cardew

If you do use a dishwasher you will find just how clean and sparkling glassware can be; almost impossible to achieve the same results by handwashing without multiple changes of water and drying clothes.

firefox1956

My daughter got herself a dishwasher & her metered water bill has dropped by nearly £5.00 per month since fitting it.
HTH

Robin9

I encourage my 95 yo MIL to use her dishwasher - it has a hotter cycle than she can handle.

PS Don't bother with Dishwasher tablets.

Boxman

Robin9 wrote: »

PS Don't bother with Dishwasher tablets.

Do please elaborate.

matelodave

If you wash up several times a day, you are probably running the hot tap until it runs hot thus wasting the water that you've run-off. It also leaves the same amount of hot water sitting in the pipework to get cold so wasting the energy that you paid for getting it hot.

As others have said if you run the dishwasher every couple or three days with full loads - not half empty then you'll probably save both water and electricity and have cleaner dishes as well.

It wouldn't be all that difficult to try a week or a fortnight of daily meter readings (both water and leccy) with washing up conventionally and then using the dishwasher to see if there is any difference. You could easily save twenty minutes or more a day which will also have some value (unless you actually enjoy washing up)

I doubt a s/h dishwasher is worth much, you might have to pay to get it taken away.