Water pressure for dishwasher operation

Water pressure for dishwasher operation Living in an apartment in a big city is free of many problems and worries. For example, water pressure can often be forgotten. Residents of apartment buildings don't even think about it and happily buy dishwashers and washing machines. Residents of rural areas and small towns, on the other hand, must constantly remember that the water supply system may be in disrepair, and the pressure in the pipes may be almost nonexistent, so household appliances may not even work under such conditions. To prevent errors, the water pressure for the dishwasher must be above a certain level, which we'll discuss now.

Minimum and maximum water pressure for dishwashers

There's no single, general value below which a dishwasher won't work, as there are as many plumbing requirements as there are dishwasher manufacturers. Moreover, this often depends solely on the appliance's control module, which contains the specific program. This is because software manufacturers strive to develop software that allows modern dishwashers to do more in less time. To achieve this, they often speed up the water fill, believing this is the easiest way to reduce cycle time.

It's logical that the faster the dishwasher fills with water, the shorter the entire cleaning process will take. But what's important for large cities may not be relevant for small towns and villages, something foreign appliance manufacturers have completely overlooked. Therefore, it often happens that due to old water pipes that cannot provide even the minimum pressure programmed by the manufacturer, the dishwasher simply refuses to work, displaying an error.

Weak water pressure in the water supply can lead not only to dishwasher failure, but also to excessively slow water intake and poor rinsing of detergents after use, which will seriously impair the quality of dishwashing.

Because of all of the above, many rural residents simply refuse to buy a dishwasher. After all, they buy a "home helper" to make their lives easier, but instead they only encounter new complications. But this problem is easily solved, so everyone can simplify their lives. First, let's determine the minimum pressure ratings for different brands of household appliances.

Appliances from LG, Samsung, Zanussi, Electrolux, and Daewoo begin to operate normally with water pressure as low as 0.4 bar. In rare cases, some dishwasher models from these brands are equipped with inlet valves that accept pressure as low as 0.5 bar, but this still depends entirely on the software.
For appliances from Beko, AEG, Ariston, Candy, Indesit, and Whirlpool, the recommended pressure is 0.5 bar. However, it's worth noting that some Indesit appliances operate normally at lower pressures.
Bosch appliances stand out among home appliance manufacturers because their equipment requires a minimum pressure of 0.7 bar. The same applies to Miele dishwashers, which also typically require 0.7 bar.
Finally, the most demanding household appliances on our list are the Kuppersbusch brand, requiring a full 0.8-0.9 bar. However, it's worth noting that the company also offers models that require 0.5 bar.

Now that we've sorted out the minimum requirements, it's time to examine the water supply pressure. The same rule applies here as for equipment manufacturers: there are as many pressure variations as there are localities. Unfortunately, it is known that in some rural water supply systems the pressure may not even reach 0.1 bar, which is why no dishwasher will work under such conditions.

How to create the required pressure?

However, low pressure isn't a reason to despair, move, or give up on a dishwasher. A special pump has been developed for such cases, allowing you to raise the water pressure to the required level. While purchase and installation are certainly an investment, the investment is well worth it. Let's look at several options to suit any budget.

WILO PB-088 EA. The least expensive pump in our selection, it has the necessary parameters to power a dishwasher, shower stall, Jacuzzi, and much more. It has a head of 9.5 m, a temperature range of 0 to 60 degrees Celsius, and a power output of approximately 0.09 kW. It retails for approximately $60.
GRUNDFOS UPA 15-90. Not as powerful, but completely silent and ideal for connecting dishwashers. Its pressure reaches 8 meters and its power output is 118 watts. It costs around $90.
Dzhileks Jumbo 60/35 P-24. A powerful device for a large family, capable of powering several appliances at once, such as a jacuzzi, washing machine, and dishwasher. The pressure can reach 35 meters, and the power is a whopping 600 watts. Price: approximately $107.
Marina Cam 80/22. Finally, a real pumping station with large dimensions, capable of supplying several families at once. It offers a pressure of up to 32 meters, a water intake depth of up to 8 meters, and a power output of 800 watts. The average price is around $170.