The dishwasher is a really handy appliance; it does the job that we dont want to do
, washing those grimy pots. But have you ever considered how this useful little machine actually works and completes the task in hand?
Obviously we do the main task of loading the dirty pots, adding detergent and setting the machine to the correct cycle, then turning it on... but what happens then?
Filling
The beginning of the fill cycle actually starts with the draining of the water from the appliance. A water inlet valve connects to the water supply line of the house. When a wash cycle is selected 120 volts of AC current is sent to the valve which triggers it to open and allow the correct amount of water into the machine. A float prevents the machine from overfilling.
Washing
Water circulation, detergent and water temperature are three factors which contribute to and affect this stage of the process. The control sends voltage to a motor which powers a pump. This pump forces water up through holes in the wash arms which rotate spraying the dishes within the machine. At this time the detergent is released from the drawer in which it is placed and mixes with the water. A heating element heats the water to the desired temperature for the wash.
The excess food and grime from the pots collects at the bottom of the machine and is filtered to prevent the food particles from mixing with the water which is washing the pots.
Draining
After the wash the dirty water is drained from the machine via a drain pump and leaves through a drain hose.
Rinsing
The dishwasher then goes through another few cycles which are very similar to the initial wash, in order to rinse the dishes effectively. After this the water is drained again.
Drying
Some models use a heating element to heat the air inside of the machine, while others simply rely on the heat generated by the final rinse cycle. The hot moist air then exits the dishwasher through a vent. This process leaves the dishes dry and ready to put away again. The cycle is now complete.
Knowing a little bit of information about how your dishwasher works can be helpful. If there are ever any issues with the machine, it may give you a better understanding of what may be the cause of the problem.
So this explains the basic principles of how the common dishwasher works.