In a bid to keep costs down, households may have had to reign back on common habits to reduce the costs of ever-increasing energy bills.
In an effort to curb rising energy bills, households may have had to adjust their usual habits.
Amid the cost of living crisis, people are seeing their bills soar and are having to incorporate new practices into their daily lives. While many have adopted new cost-saving strategies, experts warn that certain habits, particularly with dishwashers, could be unknowingly adding to costs.
A common feature in many homes, the dishwasher not only saves time but also reduces family disputes. However, it could be secretly adding to your already escalating bills. Home Water Treatment Expert Gene Fitzgerald of BOS has outlined seven ways to reduce the costs of running your dishwasher.
He suggests that a cost-effective decision can be made even before starting the dishwasher. The expert advises against running the appliance until it’s fully loaded, as half loads waste both energy and water.
Surprisingly, running a full load should cost less than washing dishes by hand. Furthermore, Gene recommends always choosing an eco-friendly setting. Although the wash cycle may be longer, it is significantly cheaper than other options. Pre-washing dishes should be avoided.
If your dishwasher needed to pre-wash dishes, it would be included in the main cycle. Moreover, you should avoid rinsing. It takes roughly two minutes to scrape food waste into the bin. Rinsing your dishes can lead to unnecessary and costly expenses. Gene also recommends understanding your water type.
If you reside in a hard water area, it could potentially affect the performance of your dishwasher (and other appliances). Leaving residue behind, hard water can restrict water flow and eventually cause your dishwasher to stop working.
Installing a water softener can prevent this. While a dishwasher’s job is to clean other items, don’t forget about maintaining the appliance itself. Cleaning filters, using limescale removers, and performing other basic maintenance can make a significant difference and enhance your dishwasher’s performance. Finally, he advises you to always research your product before buying.
Dishwashers come with various energy ratings. Choosing a model with a high-efficiency rating will cost less to operate.
