| A typical dishwasher uses around 3 to 5 gallons of water per cycle, costing homeowners between $0.10 and $0.30 per load, depending on water and energy rates. Energy-efficient models help lower water usage and costs, making them a smart choice for reducing household expenses. |
How much water does a dishwasher use? Many homeowners don’t know the answer to this common question.
Many assume hand-washing dishes uses less water than a big kitchen appliance does.
But that’s not typically the case.
In this post, we’ll help you discover how much water your dishwasher is really using and give you four tips on how to save water and money in the future.
While it’s true that, in general, dishwashers use less water than when you hand wash a load of dishes in the sink, there are a few variables to consider.
The age and model of your dishwasher are the single most important factors affecting your water consumption.
Older models from the 90s and even early 2000s were significantly less efficient, using between 10-15 gallons of water per load. Newer models tend to use significantly fewer.
Another important factor is whether you have a built-in dishwasher or a freestanding dishwasher.
Built-in dishwashers usually use less water because they’re connected directly to the plumbing, while freestanding models might use more due to limited water pressure control.
According to a recent study on dishwashing and water conservation, most dishwashers now provide a number of cycle choices so consumers can increase the efficiency of both cleaning and resource use.
Selecting the proper dishwasher cycle to match the soil on the dishes is important for both cleaning and resource use.
The smaller the load in your dishwasher, the less efficient your water usage. Consider this: running a half-full dishwasher every day will use more water than running a full one every other day.
But while it’s important to wait until a dishwasher is full to run it, overfilling a dishwasher could interfere with the wash cycle and prove counterproductive.
Striking a balance is key.
Though all dishwashers come with auto cycles and preset settings, you can often adjust these for maximum water efficiency.
Consult your owner’s manual for more information.
It’s definitely less efficient to hand wash your dishes than to use a dishwasher. Washing dishes by hand uses a lot of water—anywhere between 9-27 gallons!
If you do not own a dishwasher or prefer to wash by hand, monitor your usage with a Bluebot Mini water monitoring system to keep yourself informed about your ongoing water use.
Related: How Much Water Does Your Washing Machine Use?
While using modern dishwashers is one of the best steps you can take to reduce water usage, mindfulness and intentionality in other areas can increase your impact.
Settings aside, dishwashers use the same amount of water, whether they’re full or practically empty. The fewer times you run them, the less water you use and the lower your water bills.
Learning about your dishwasher and choosing the eco or energy-saving cycle option will further cut down on the amount of water you use while simultaneously enhancing energy efficiency.
Pre-rinsing dishes in the sink before you load them is unnecessary. Simply scrape the excess food into the trash before loading, trusting the washer to do its job and produce clean dishes without extra help.
Regularly inspect your dishwasher by:
If you own an older dishwasher and are ready for an upgrade, here are a few important factors to consider:
This final point is perhaps the most crucial. The Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) has calculated that “the required ENERGY STAR-qualified residential dishwasher saves money if priced no more than $94 (in 2022 dollars) above the less efficient model. The best available model saves up to $136.”
Another way to save would be to investigate smart plumbing options, including the BlueBot Mini.
Fortunately, monitoring real-time water usage has never been easier.
With our Bluebot Mini WiFi whole home smart water meter and leak alarm, you can track how much water your dishwasher consumes each cycle.
Additionally, you can:
Perhaps best of all, if you’re not immediately ready to invest in an ENERGY STAR-certified dishwasher, a clamp-on ultrasonic water meter is a cost-effective solution.
Instead of buying a new dishwasher, which could cost anywhere from $400 – $1,200, you can start by using live flow data streaming accessed via the Bluebot Mini (Starting at $199) to maximize the water efficiency of your current unit and your home. You can also set up water leak alarms to alert you via text message if the water is running for a long period of time.
The clamp-on installation process required no costly plumber. Quickly set up the smart water monitor without professional help, access your dashboard, set a water use budget, configure your settings and alerts, and enjoy the water-saving benefits and leak detection right away.
To ensure every dishwasher load is efficient and cost-effective, track and optimize water usage with the Bluebot Mini Smart Water Monitor Leak Alarm.
Enjoy remote home monitoring and save on your water bill by detecting inefficiencies and leaks, all without the need for an expensive dishwasher upgrade.
