How to set water hardness in an Electrolux dishwasher

To ensure your dishwasher uses the correct amount of salt, corresponding to the quality of your tap water, you need to set it up correctly. How do you set the parameters on Electrolux models? We'll provide detailed instructions.

Setting up a water softener

When you purchase a new Electrolux dishwasher, be sure to read the instructions. The user manual explains how to properly connect the appliance to the power supply, level the appliance, and adjust the water hardness. Only by following all the manufacturer's recommendations will you ensure long-lasting and efficient operation.

After connecting the dishwasher to the water supply and sewerage system, you need to set the optimal salt consumption. The softener must be adjusted according to the water hardness level in the region. The instructions for any Electrolux dishwasher include a table with this information.

By default, the softener in Electrolux machines is set to position 5, which corresponds to a water hardness of 3.3-3.9 mmol/l.

If the tap water hardness in your region is 3.3-3.9 mmol/L, you don't need to adjust the softener; you can leave it in its factory setting. Otherwise, you'll need to set the optimal salt flow rate.

You can find out the water hardness level by calling your city water utility. Then, compare the reading with the table values. Let's say it's 5.1-6.4 mmol/L, then the softener should be set to setting 7. The procedure is as follows:

• Turn on the Electrolux dishwasher;
• press and hold the program selection button until two adjacent indicators light up;
• After the two LEDs go out, the far right indicator will light up (which light will indicate the set water softener level should be looked up in the instructions for the Electrolux dishwasher; on many models, this is an arrow icon resting against a vertical line);
• Count how many times this indicator flashes before a long pause – the number of flashes will indicate the current softener level;
• Press the program selection button as many times as you need to change the factory softener level (for example, if you need to set it to the seventh level, you will have to press it twice);
• Turn off the dishwasher and turn it on again, after which it will remember the settings.

If you need to lower the softener level, the steps are the same. There are only 10 of them, and they are cyclical. So, to move from position 5 to position 3, for example, you'll need to press the program selector button eight times.

Electrolux dishwasher manufacturer does not recommend using salt if the tap water hardness in your region is less than 0.7 mmol/L. Otherwise, it must be added to a special reservoir.

Dishwasher instructions state that salt tablets and capsules are not effective enough in softening hard water. Therefore, it's essential to store salt separately in a special reservoir—this will prolong the life of your Electrolux dishwasher.

How do you know how hard your water is?

Anyone can cope with this task. Residents of large cities can find out about the hardness level of their tap water from official sources. The information is usually displayed on the water utility's website. Residents of smaller towns face a more complex situation, as they will have to measure the water level themselves.

There are several ways to measure the hardness of tap water. Some rely solely on experience, while others are more precise. Here are the most popular options.

• Compare the weight of water from different sources. For example, pour drinking water into one glass and tap water into another. Then weigh the containers. The lighter one will be softer. The accuracy of the measurements cannot be guaranteed, so this method is not suitable for dishwashers.
• Determine the lather intensity. Take a bar of soap, wet it, and lather your hands. A rich lather indicates soft tap water. In hard water, the bar will lather with difficulty. This method is also subjective.
• Assess how quickly scale forms on the heating element of your electric kettle, dishwasher, or washing machine. If scale builds up quickly, it indicates high water hardness.
• Determine the turbidity of tap water. For this experiment, fill a transparent bottle with water and place it in a dark place for 48 hours. After two days, remove the container and assess the situation. If sediment has formed at the bottom and a film has formed on the walls, the water hardness is high.
• Use special test strips. They will accurately determine the water hardness level. Some dishwashers (particularly Bosch and Miele) come with these indicators.

The test strips are impregnated with a special compound and change color depending on the hardness of the water in which they are dipped.

Test strips are produced by different manufacturers, which affects how they work. Most test strips simply require you to dip them in water for a few seconds and then compare the color on the strip to the chart on the packaging.

Biosensor-Aqua test strips work slightly differently. They also need to be dipped in water for a few seconds, but you'll have to wait another minute before the result is read. The indicator's color is then compared to the color scale on the product packaging.

There are also strips that are used in conjunction with reagents. In this case, you simply dip the tester into a glass of water and gradually add a special substance. The indicator color is then compared with the chart on the packaging.

The indicators are inexpensive, so they are quite accessible for use at home. Test strips are the most accurate way to determine the hardness of tap water. How exactly to use the testers and evaluate the results will be indicated in the instructions for them.

A TDS meter can also be used to determine water hardness. You can order one from China; it's inexpensive. Once you've measured the reading, it's easy to set the optimal salt consumption in your Electrolux dishwasher.

It's crucial to correctly determine and adjust water hardness. This will determine the dishwasher's efficiency. Therefore, before installing a new dishwasher, be sure to set the optimal salt consumption.

   

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