A New Federal Test Procedure for Dishwashers

Published

November 1, 2003

Author(s)

Natascha S. Milesi-Ferretti

Abstract

Soil-sensing models represent a group of innovative dishwashers that measure operational values (e.g., turbidity, pressure, water temperature) and adapt the wash cycle based on the information collected. Because of the responsiveness of these dishwashers to the presence or absence of a soil load, the Department of Energy (DOE) test method for dishwashers, using clean dishes, was inadequate for the purpose of rating energy consumption. The energy consumption results using clean dishes were believed to be significantly lower than the levels consumers would likely experience. In addition, standby power consumed when the dishwasher was not performing a cleaning cycle, was previously not factored into the energy consumption reported to consumers. This article summarizes the main changes to the test procedure for residential dishwashers and quantifies energy consumption increases, through tests of two soil-sensing dishwashers. The tests presented here were an important step in the validating the DOE test procedure as a means to obtain efficiency factors that consumers can rely on for making purchase decisions.

Citation

Appliance: Design, Production, Management

Pub Type

Journals

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Keywords

dishwashers, energy testing, stand-by power, test procedures

Citation

Milesi-Ferretti, N. (2003), A New Federal Test Procedure for Dishwashers, Appliance: Design, Production, Management, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=860937 (Accessed October 27, 2025)