The Overlooked Dishwasher Setting That Can Save You Hundreds

You probably use your dishwasher several times a week without a second thought. You load it, add detergent, and press “Start.” But what if one simple, often-ignored setting could slash your utility bills? Many modern dishwashers have a powerful, money-saving feature that most people never use, and it could be saving you hundreds over time.

The Real Energy Hog: Your Dishwasher's Heated Dry Setting

The “strange” setting mentioned in the ad isn’t a secret button with a mysterious symbol. In most cases, it’s the option to turn off the ‘Heated Dry’ cycle. It sounds simple, but this single action is the most effective way to cut your dishwasher’s energy consumption.

Most automatic dishwasher cycles default to using a high-wattage heating element at the end of the wash. This element works like a small oven, baking your dishes dry with intense heat. While effective, it’s incredibly energy-intensive. This heated dry function can be responsible for a huge portion of the appliance’s total energy use per cycle.

By simply de-selecting this option, you allow your dishes to air dry instead. The residual heat from the final hot water rinse is often enough to evaporate most of the moisture, especially if you open the door slightly after the cycle finishes.

How to find and disable it:

  • Look for a dedicated button: Many models from brands like Whirlpool, GE, and KitchenAid have a button that says “Heated Dry,” “Max Dry,” or “Power Dry.” Make sure the light on this button is turned off before you start a cycle.
  • Check for an ‘Air Dry’ option: Some dishwashers have an “Air Dry” or “Energy Saver Dry” button. Select this instead of the heated option.
  • Explore the cycle options: On some digital models, you may need to press an “Options” button to find and disable the heated dry feature within the menu for your chosen wash cycle.

The Math: How This Can Save You Hundreds

The claim of saving “hundreds” isn’t an exaggeration when you calculate the savings over the lifespan of your appliance. Let’s break down the numbers with conservative estimates.

According to ENERGY STAR, using the heated dry setting can significantly increase energy consumption. The heating element in a typical dishwasher can draw between 1,000 and 1,500 watts of power.

  • Cost Per Load: Let’s assume the heated dry function runs for one hour and the average cost of electricity in the U.S. is about \(0.17 per kilowatt-hour (kWh). Using a 1,000-watt element for an hour consumes 1 kWh, costing you \)0.17 each time.
  • Annual Savings: If your household runs the dishwasher four times per week, that’s 208 loads per year.
    • 208 loads x \(0.17 per load = \)35.36 per year.

That might not sound like “hundreds” yet, but this is just the beginning. Many newer, high-efficiency dishwashers are even more impacted. For example, Bosch dishwashers with “PureDry” technology are designed to be efficient without a heating element, so adding a heated dry option on other brands represents a significant energy spike.

Amplify Your Savings with Two More Underused Features

To reach hundreds in savings, you need to combine turning off heated dry with two other smart settings that people often overlook.

1. Use the ‘Delay Start’ Feature

Many utility companies offer “Time-of-Use” plans, where electricity costs less during off-peak hours (typically late at night). The ‘Delay Start’ function lets you load your dishwasher after dinner but set it to run in the middle of the night when electricity is cheapest.

Savings can vary widely by region, but it’s common to see a 30-50% reduction in cost per kWh during off-peak hours. Shifting your 208 annual loads to off-peak times could easily save you an additional \(20 to \)40 per year.

2. Choose the ‘Eco’ or ‘Light’ Wash Cycle

Do you always default to the ‘Normal’ cycle? For loads that aren’t heavily soiled with baked-on food, the ‘Eco,’ ‘Light,’ or ‘Energy Saver’ cycle is perfectly effective. These cycles save money in two ways:

  • Less Water: They use significantly less water than heavy-duty cycles.
  • Lower Temperatures: They heat the water to a lower temperature, which saves a lot of energy.

Switching from ‘Normal’ to ‘Eco’ for the majority of your washes can reduce energy use by another 15-20%. This could add another \(15 to \)30 in savings per year.

Putting It All Together: The Path to Hundreds

Now, let’s combine these strategies to see how the savings truly add up.

  • Savings from No Heated Dry: $35/year
  • Savings from Delay Start (Off-Peak): $30/year
  • Savings from Eco Cycle: $20/year

Total Annual Savings: $85 per year

Over the average 10-year lifespan of a dishwasher, your total savings would be $850. By making a few simple adjustments to your routine, you can easily and realistically save hundreds of dollars without sacrificing cleaning performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

But won’t my dishes still be wet? Yes, they may have some moisture on them, especially plastics. You can get better results by using a rinse aid, which helps water sheet off surfaces more effectively. Also, simply opening the dishwasher door an inch or two after the cycle finishes allows steam to escape and speeds up air drying significantly.

Is it safe to run my dishwasher overnight? Absolutely. Modern dishwashers are built with multiple safety features, including leak detectors and automatic shut-offs. Running them overnight is standard practice and is perfectly safe.

What if my dishwasher is old and doesn’t have these settings? Even without these specific settings, you can still save money. The most important principles are to always run full loads to maximize water and energy efficiency, and to scrape, not rinse, your plates before loading. Pre-rinsing can waste dozens of gallons of hot water.