dishwasher running cost

MATH

Every DW I've had over the last 15yrs has been cold feed. I thought they were always like that. What you say makes sense though.

I swithched to an American Top Loader washing machine which is supposed to be very energy inefficiant cos of all the hot water it uses (8 times normal washer) but cos it doesn't have a water heater and you use water heated by your gas system it's still cheeper to run and I can wash 10kg at a go.

MarkyMarkD

Many new dishwashers are cold feed only these days... "so they can support the 35 degree glass wash" (sales pitch)

Mine does the following
1) cold rinse
2) hot wash
3) hot rinse/rinse aid
4) clean cold rinse (+aid?)
5) Hot Dry

I use 2/3's less electricity by switing it to a hot water feed, and we all know that heating water by gas is cheaper then by electricity right

Not if you run your dishwasher and/or washing machine overnight on Economy 7 electricity, if you have it.

MATH

I read somewhere the other day that the national average usage of econ7 electric is 55%. I have checked my meters and I use about 65% on cheap rate. Sometimes a re-schedule of when you do something can save quite a bit on leccy, especially now the price increases have started to bite. Powergen have added the increase to day rate and left the night as was so econ7 is even cheaper in comparsion to day rate.

MarkyMarkD

I'm amazed it's as high as that, honestly.

Considering it's for 7 hours a day out of 24, and those hours are when you are asleep.

Obviously things like fridges and freezers use 7/24 of their energy on economy seven so that's around 30%.

But lights, hoovers, stuff like that is mainly used during the day.

Our split is about 1/3 night and 2/3 day and that's due to running all the major appliances (washer, dishwasher) overnight.

loafer_2

Not if you run your dishwasher and/or washing machine overnight on Economy 7 electricity, if you have it.

I do - in fact 45% of the power in our house is on the night tarrif.
So is it cheaper then? My night rate is about 2.2p KW/h.
And my gas 1.5p KW/h Even if my boiler is 75% efficient it's cheaper isn't it?

MATH

It is usually cheaper to heat water with gas unless your boiler is really old and costly to run (like mine). I use leccy for hot water unless running my central heating but when I upgrade the boiler I will switch to using gas.

MATH

Forgot to say: It's worth checking your leccy meter to make sure you're getting econ7 when you think you are. Mine is set 1am-8am but the clock is 2 1/2 hrs later than real time. So my econ7 kicks in at 3:30am and goes off at 10:30am in the summer. I don't get any more econ7 but it is at better times. The meter has been like this since we moved io 10yrs ago and despite contacting the leccy co they havn't bothered to come and adjust it. I'm happy with it just as it is as the extra time in the morning means I can get 2 loads of wash/dry and 2 loads of DW done on cheap rate.

MarkyMarkD

I do - in fact 45% of the power in our house is on the night tarrif.
So is it cheaper then? My night rate is about 2.2p KW/h.
And my gas 1.5p KW/h  Even if my boiler is 75% efficient it's cheaper isn't it?

Well, interesting point. I suppose that based on the figures it might be but:

(1) there will be heat losses between the boiler and the machine or during the water's time in the tank (if it's a tank-based system);
(2) many cycles will NOT use hot water from the tank whether you want them to or not. Our machine only uses hot water fill for 60 degree washes upwards - and my wife hardly ever washes at more than 40/50 degrees. For the lower temp washes, our machine thinks it's better for the washing to fill cold, and heat gradually. So we save a lot more by running on Economy 7 than if most of the cost was the hot water from the supply.

scouselass

Thanks for the good tip Sheel, I have been onto Cathy and now I'm on the white stuff too! The soap powder of course.

Also as the discussion has moved slightly onto economy 7, I would just like to add that I was on this tariff with Scottish Power (Manweb) and I had a meter called a Twin Heat B. This allowed two episodes of cheap electricity 3am-7am and then again 1.30pm-4.30pm. This was much more convenient for me as the afternoon session was great for ironing/washing/drying etc. A further advantage was that the storage heaters would also get their boost at the same time, and because of the afternoon period they remained warmer much later in the day. Other posts I've read indicated that their storage heaters were losing heat too early. Now I'm off this tariff as I have gone over to gch.

Whilst we are on white goods, I've just gone for a gas dryer...and its fantastic. It's by White Knight, a British Co (!) and I'm chuffed because it is so cheap to run. Just thought I'd add this further tip whilst we are looking for moneysaving with our appliances!

loafer_2

Forgot to say: It's worth checking your leccy meter to make sure you're getting econ7 when you think you are. Mine is set 1am-8am but the clock is 2 1/2 hrs later than real time. So my econ7 kicks in at 3:30am and goes off at 10:30am in the summer. I don't get any more econ7 but it is at better times. The meter has been like this since we moved io 10yrs ago and despite contacting the leccy co they havn't bothered to come and adjust it. I'm happy with it just as it is as the extra time in the morning means I can get 2 loads of wash/dry and 2 loads of DW done on cheap rate.

Radio clock in mine No chance of that 'walking' by fair means or foul.