How can I connect my dishwasher to hot water?

connecting the dishwasher to hot waterMiddle-aged and older people can't get used to their utility bills. Some are so obsessed with this issue that they're constantly looking for ways to save $0.02–$0.03. According to social media users, connecting your dishwasher to both hot and cold water, or just hot, will yield significant savings. Is this really true? Is it possible to connect your dishwasher to the hot water supply yourself, and is it worth it? Let's find out.

Connection Features

Connecting a dishwasher to hot water is not the same as connecting it to cold water. It's crucial to remember a number of important considerations when making this connection.

  • You should use an inlet hose designed for hot water.
  • Please read your dishwasher's instructions first. It is necessary to understand whether the manufacturer allows or does not allow connection of its product to a hot water supply.
  • Install an additional flow-through filter between the inlet hose and the hot water pipe outlet, which will trap impurities contained in the hot water.

Remember! Although your service provider claims the hot water supplied to your pipes is absolutely clean, our experience tells us otherwise. So, it's best to be on the safe side and install a filter, then check it at least once a year.

terminals for connecting a mixer tap, dishwasher, washing machineBefore connecting the dishwasher to the hot water supply, you need to assemble all the components. First, get a high-quality inlet hose that can handle hot water. Incidentally, such a hose may be included with the dishwasher, especially if it's designed for hot water connection. Second, a tee valve, which can be used to connect the dishwasher and then shut off the water when needed. Third, grab any flow-through filter that will fit the inlet hose, and you're ready to go.

This type of work doesn't require any special tools; the hose is easily screwed on by hand. To securely install the tee onto the water pipe outlet, you'll need some PTFE tape and a small adjustable wrench. So, let's get started.

  1. We turn off the hot water so that we don’t get doused with boiling water.
  2. We remove the plug from the water pipe outlet.
  3. We screw the fumka directly onto the thread at the end of the pipe outlet.

We screw the fumka in a small amount against the thread.

  1. We screw ourstap for connecting a dishwasherand make sure the connection is tight.
  2. We screw a plug onto one end of the tee and a fumka onto the other.
  3. We screw the end of the inlet hose onto the free outlet of the tee, making sure that the other end normally reaches the body of the dishwasher.
  4. We screw a flow-through filter to the other end of the hose, and then screw this entire structure to the inlet valve of the machine.

connecting a dishwasher via a tee tap

Finally, we need to turn on the water and check the tightness of the connections. If everything is OK, we can test run the dishwasher with the hot water supply connected. Strictly speaking, a dishwasher needs cold water rather than hot water, so the appliance will last longer. But if you really want to connect your "home assistant" to a hot water supply, you can do so. Just keep in mind that this connection has both pros and cons.

Advantages and disadvantages of such a connection

If you connect your dishwasher the traditional way and use only cold water, the machine operates normally. However, if you connect it to hot water, some unexpected situations may arise. Let's start with the advantages of connecting your dishwasher to hot water.

  • The washing process is faster since there is no need to heat the water in the tank.
  • The heating element wears out more slowly because it needs to be turned on less often. This is a controversial theory, but we'll take it into account.
  • Energy savings. In this case, we save on electricity, but we also waste expensive hot water, so the cost will be higher, not lower.

As you can see, the advantages are quite dubious. There's no need to try to turn the information provided into disadvantages, although the final decision is, of course, yours. Now, about the obvious disadvantages of connecting the machine to a hot water supply.

  1. Hot water damages the mesh of flow-through filters, so they have to be changed frequently. At the same time, you can’t do without filters either, otherwise all sorts of debris and dirt will end up in the dishwasher.
  2. Very hot water damages the pipes and drain hose of the dishwasher, which reduces the service life of the dishwasher.
  3. Under normal conditions, a dishwasher's pre-wash rinses dishes with cold water, which only begins to warm up during the main wash. But imagine if the pre-wash were done in hot water. This would result in residue from buckwheat, dough, and other foods that don't tolerate hot water becoming stuck to the dishes, reducing the cleaning performance.

You won't be able to wash anything in cold water, because the dishwasher can heat water, but it can't cool it.

After reading the above information, many people begin to doubt whether it's really necessary to connect their beloved "home assistant" to hot water. If you're adamant about sticking to your guns and won't be easily persuaded, read the next point, which you might find interesting.

About hybrid connection

connection to both hot and cold waterSome expensive dishwashers feature what's called a hybrid water connection. They can be connected to cold water only, hot water only, or both cold and hot water. Our experts prefer the last option, and here's why.

A dishwasher connected to both hot and cold water can truly save money by choosing the most convenient wash mode. The machine automatically mixes hot and cold water in optimal proportions, instantly delivering a mixture of water and detergent to the dishes. The only downside is the numerous hoses that need to be neatly hidden behind the dishwasher. But if you can manage this, you can enjoy years of using a dishwasher with a hybrid connection and never have to worry about dirty dishes!

In conclusion, it's worth noting that dishwashers should only be connected to a hot water supply if the manufacturer allows it. Connecting a machine that isn't designed for hot water will damage the appliance. Good luck!

   

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