What is a half load dishwasher?

When buying a dishwasher, people often encounter salespeople who praise the appliance and mention the half-load feature. Amidst the deluge of information, consumers often don't fully understand what this feature is, how it works, or whether they need it. It's better to clarify all these questions upfront than to regret the purchase later. Let's take a closer look.

Half-load principle

Half load is a special feature that allows you to not only load fewer dishes but also use less water, which means faster heating and energy savings. While you can load fewer dishes in a dishwasher without a half load feature, you'll still use the same amount of water and the wash time won't be reduced.

Please note! Modern, expensive models dispense with the half-load feature by incorporating special sensors that detect the soil level and quantity of dishes, automatically reducing the water supply and washing time.

Most dishwashers have a half load feature, and it can be selected for any of the three main modes:

• intensive;
• economical;
• preliminary.

Advantages and disadvantages

We've figured out what this feature means and how it works. But whether half-load is necessary isn't so easy to answer. To answer that, we need to list its advantages:

• significant water savings;
• lower energy consumption;
• fast program execution;
• no piles of dishes after meals and no need to accumulate them.

As for the disadvantages, they include the inconvenience of using 3-in-1 tablets. You will either have to use more of these tablets or divide the tablet in half each time. The only solution is to use detergents separately and dose them manually.

Based on this, we can conclude that if you have a small family and are used to washing dishes after every meal, this feature will be useful. However, if you don't wash dishes often, or if you only have a full load of dishes after meals and cooking, the half-load feature will be of little use to you, and you'll only end up paying extra for it.

Arranging the dishes

If the dishwasher is only half-full, dishes need to be placed in the racks in a specific way to ensure a good wash. Depending on the brand and model of the dishwasher, the arrangement of dishes during a half-load may vary. Some dishwashers only place dishes in the upper rack during a half-load, others require loading in the lower rack, and still others distribute unwashed dishes evenly between both racks.

To accurately determine how to load dishes into your particular dishwasher, carefully read the instructions; they should explain everything. Once you've figured out which racks to use for half-load cycles, study the general dish placement recommendations, which apply to all cycles. Here are those recommendations.

• Place ladles and spatulas horizontally in the front of the basket with dishes.
• Place spoons, knives, and forks vertically in special compartments.
• Any fragile dishes should be placed so that they do not touch each other during washing, since the machine vibrates during washing.
• Place small quantities of dishes more freely, and to prevent them from vibrating, secure them with clamps.

Dishwashers with this function

The BOSCH SMS 53N12 dishwasher, assembled in Germany and from a renowned German manufacturer, features standard dimensions, meaning it has a capacity of 13 place settings. This is quite a large capacity, so the manufacturer has included a half-load function in this model. It also features all the necessary programs (5 in total) and meets all safety standards. The average price is $939.

The BOSCH SPS30E32RU – even this narrow 45 cm machine features a water- and time-saving feature thanks to its smaller basket capacity. A full load holds 9 place settings. The machine has a basic configuration with only 3 programs. It should be noted that it is quite noisy. Average price is $386.

The BEKO DFS 05010W is a Turkish-made dishwasher that holds 10 place settings with a full load. It features a moderate noise level, child and leak protection, and 5 wash programs. The average price is $280.

The MIELE G4203 SC CLST Active is a Czech-built dishwasher designed for 14 place settings. It features stainless steel wash arms and turbo dryers, half-loading functions, and full leak protection. A similar setup will cost around $877.

Please note! The INDESIT DSR 15B3 RU dishwasher, as well as the CANDY CDP 4609 and ELECTROLUX ESF 9420 LOW dishwashers, do not have this feature.

So, a half-load dishwasher is a very useful feature, especially for a small family. Dishwashers of all price ranges come with this feature, so anyone can find the perfect one. Good luck!

   

1 reader comment

1. December 12, 2019 at 4:06 PM

   Irina:

   At least I learned something about half-load! The machine has it, but the manual doesn't!

   Answer