As someone who enjoys having a dishwasher, but also wants to be as eco-friendly as possible, you may understandably wonder, “How much water does a dishwasher use?”
Keep reading to learn the answer to this important question, as well as tips on how to make your dishwasher as efficient as possible to save water.
Dishwashers Use a Relatively Small Amount of Water
The answer to the question, “How much water does a dishwasher use?” may surprise you. The average dishwasher uses less than 4 gallons of water, while some Energy Star dishwashers use less than four gallons per cycle.
Older dishwashers use a larger amount of water per load. Dishwashers that were manufactured prior to 1994 may use between 9 and 14 gallons of water per load.
Meanwhile, a standard-sized Energy Star dishwasher will use about 5,800 fewer gallons of water over its lifespan than an older model.
Energy Star dishwashers feature:
- Soil sensors
- Enhanced water filtration
- Highly efficient jets
- Efficient dish rack designs
All of these features mean an Energy Star dishwasher can use less water and energy, while still delivering sparkling clean dishes.
It’s not unheard of for dishwashers to last up to 20 years, so you may have an older model in your home. And while 14 gallons of water is definitely more than four, this is still less water than what you’ll usually need to hand wash a sink load of dirty dishes and glasses. This brings us to our next point:
Hand Washing Dishes is Often Less Energy Efficient Than Using a Dishwasher
If your question, “How much water does a dishwasher use?” refers to a person doing dishes and not an appliance, the answer to this question may surprise you.
It may seem like a good idea to quickly hand wash the plate, cup, and fork you used for a snack. But in reality, this uses more water than you realize.
You’ll probably run the faucet for a bit to allow the water heater to heat up the water, then wash and rinse the items. This could easily use up to 27 gallons of water.
Granted, you may have to wash dishes by hand if your dishwasher is broken and awaiting repair. But as often as you can, it’s best to let your dishwasher do its job and wash your dishes for you.
How To Save Water When Doing Dishes
To help your dishwasher be as efficient as possible, and reduce your water usage in the process, consider the following tips:
Skip Pre-Rinsing Your Dishes
Here’s some great news: You don’t have to pre-rinse your dishes before loading them into the dishwasher. Modern-day dishwashers and detergents don’t require you to pre-rinse your plates, glasses, silverware, or whatever you wash in your dishwasher.
Prior to loading the dishwasher, scrape your dishes off, removing as much food residue as you can into the disposal or trash can. Then, load them into the dishwasher and run the cycle.
Your dishwasher probably offers a choice of cycles, depending on how dirty the dishes are. For items with a lot of build-up, choose a longer cycle. This will still use a smaller amount of water than washing by hand and will help scrub stubborn stains off your dishes.
Run a Full Dishwasher Whenever Possible
When you wonder, “How much water does a dishwasher use?” you may think it uses less for smaller loads.
But actually, your dishwasher will use the same amount of water whether you have three dishes and two coffee cups inside, or a full load.
So to get the most bang for your water buck, try to run the dishwasher when it’s full. Depending on how many people are in your household, you may only need to run the dishwasher every few days.
This tip can help to significantly reduce the number of times you’re using your dishwasher, especially if you were running a partially full load every day.
For instance, dishwashers that use 6 gallons of water per cycle will use 42 gallons in a week when run daily. Running the dishwasher twice a week will use only 12, which is over 70% less water.
Consider a New Dishwasher
Dishwashers, like other appliances, do eventually need to be replaced. It may be time to start shopping for a new and/or larger dishwasher if any of the following is true for your appliance:
- Your dishwasher is not cleaning dishes thoroughly
- It was manufactured before 1994
- You have a large household and are running it more than once a day
Look for an Energy Star-rated dishwasher when shopping for a new appliance so it can be as efficient as possible. Big families may also wish to upgrade to a larger dishwasher that can clean more dishes at once.
Dishwashers Are More Efficient Than Ever
As you can see, the answer to, “How much water does a dishwasher use?” is pretty impressive. An Energy Star-certified dishwasher is more efficient in its water use than ever, and still cleans dishes as well as older models that use more water.
Newer dishwashers are manufactured with water and energy savings in mind but if a new dishwasher isn’t in the cards for you right now, just remember that even older dishwasher models still use less water than hand washing.
So skip the pre-rinsing and/or hand washing, and let your dishwasher do what it’s designed to do for a more efficient kitchen.
