need advice updated questions.

[rancher hicks]

So we have a sceptic system and I want to put in a new dishwasher and would like some advice on what to buy.

1. What brand of dishwasher do you recommend and why?




2. If you have a or have had dishwashers what if anything would you do differently?




3. If you have a dishwasher and a sceptic system is there anything we should know about using one? (I know you might think it's not hard but you'd be surprised at some of the stupid things I've done. Then again maybe not.)



Thanks friends


Rancher

 

[chickened]

The cheapest one you can find. They are actually dish sterilizers you still have to rinse them off before putting them in. If you have a septic system the soap you use is more important. There are additives you can buy that help "digest" the fat which is what clogs septics. I have a sand filter system and a dishwasher and it works fine.

 

[dawg53]

I got rid of my dishwasher. I'm the dishwasher now lol. Higher electric bill from hot water usage, having the septic tank pumped out more often, then problems with the dishwasher itself made me get rid of it. It all depends on how much it's used too. At the time I had it, all 4 kids were living under our roof. They're gone now.

 

[theoldchick]

My Kenmore (purchased from Sears) lasted 15 years of daily use. My GE (purchased from Sams) lasted 1 year of very light use. Maytag (Lowes) lasted 30 days and was returned to place of purchase for a full refund. The one we now use is a Whirlpool (Lowes)and is very water/power efficient. We have a 2 year old septic system designed for a 3 bathroom home and have no problems. I hope this helps.

 

[The Tinman]

Don`t forget to pour a cake of yeast,ridx, any other kind of enzymes to eat and break down what ever goes into your septic tank. Also in your laundry,go light on the bleach if you have to use it. I have a Bosh dishwasher. It is really quiet. I really don`t like dishwashers. What is the point,you have to wash the dish befor you put it in anyway. I know they say you don`t but you do.

 

[rancher hicks]

Well I talked with friends today and they said not to get GE and get a Kenmore.

We are getting sceptic work done this spring as we've had to have it pumped every year except one in the four years we've owned the house.

We have front loaders or Wash and Dry but I'm concerned about the amount of water going down the drain when dishes are washed and thought a dishwasher would use less water.

am I wrong?

 

[WingingIt]

Do you have a grease trap that your kitchen feeds into? Does that overflow then feed into your big septic tank and line or a separate one?

What we did about a year after we bought our house was add new field line to the septic (it was probably 35+ years old and not working well for our family) and at the same time we used the backhoe to add about 100' of new line out of the grease trap because the dishwasher drain feeds into the sink drain, which goes to the grease trap and it's line and not the septic tank itself. Does that make sense? Hard to explain typing it out.

If you're having trouble with it filling up too soon your best bet is probably going to be to add on as much extra drainage line as you can, which is probably what you're doing soon.

We were quoted $2500 by two different companies to add 100' feet of line to the septic at our house. Rented a backhoe, bought everything, got some help from two relatives and added 200' to the septic and 100' to the grease trap for roughly $1000, including backfilling the new lines. We went above and beyond what the plumbers recommended on the hopes we'll never have to mess with it again!

We have just a basic model dishwasher from Sears (Kenmore, I believe, not there to look at it right now). Going on three years now with no problems. Ours goes to the grease trap, but if yours does go to your septic watch what soap you use.

 

[rancher hicks]

Quote:
The problem we are having is the sceptic doesn't drain and the yard has a "pool".
What the plan is, is to add 4 new 50' lines to the existing set up. We've had two quotes 3300 and 4400, but this includes extra work. Drainage lines down the side of the yard to allow for run off to flow to the creek when it rains. Our property borders Butternut Creek. We may also have a small pond put in.
We've been told that the existing system is not big enough for the house, which I believe.
In putting in a dishwasher I hope to reduce the amount of water going down the drain. We've also talked about a "dual" flush toilet system. Do you think this will reduce much water?

Neither contractor mentioned a "grease trap", though we don't have dishwasher yet. I will mention it when we're getting ready to have the sceptic work done.

 

[maple]

When I did apt. living the janitor on the premises told me to ALWAYS use powder soap...never the gel stuff because it gunks up the peices in the dish washer and causes problems and the life of the dish washer will go down. So I've always used powder since.

The thing about appliances these days is they don't make them the way they used to... I think my mom and dad had a maytag that lasted 15 years or more. When I moved in a peice broke but there were no replacement parts to buy anymore. Now I have a fridgedaire and have had it for 7 or so years now. The other important thing to look for is to look at the insides. My mom bought a whirlpool--nice brand--but it is really awkward holding her dishes...she hates it. She hated it...but has had it 10 years and it's still running...but decided to go to American and bring some of her dishes to test them insides of the racks out. The cups were held funny...the bowls didn't fit right...

She offered me her dishwasher since she was getting a new one and I said, NO WAY! I never like loading dishes at her house. It frustrates me.

Another thing I heard recently is they are reducing the phosphates? in the dish soap...so they said, if you feel like your dish washer is not getting your dishes as clean...that's because the states approved this move for the general concern of the earth and ground waters... Although I heard another person say, it's not enough to be a problem... ? I don't know, I think we put too much crud in our environment as it is...from household cleaners to fertilizers....

And I have a well and 2 septics and get them pumped every 3 years.

 

[TriciaHowe]

Quote:
There are NO phosphates in dishwasher detergent anymore. I add TSP (trisodium phosphate) to my dishwasher with every load. If I don't all of my stuff comes out white and chalky. My dishes are actually clean again since my repair man turned me on to it 3 months ago. I have a septic as well and haven't had any issues with it regarding the dishwasher. We've had it pumped once in 7 years. I don't know how long it had been since it was pumped before we bought it (had it pumped 5 yrs after we bought house). Our washing machine goes to a separate drain field and not the septic.