Issue
- Salt consumption being too high
- Dishwasher consumes too much salt
Applies to
- integrated dishwasher
- freestanding dishwasher
Resolution
1. Ensure that the cover has a seal and is fitted correctly on the salt dispenser
- Unscrew the cap for the salt container, this will be located at the bottom of the machine cavity on the left-hand side.
- Using the funnel that comes with your dishwasher, pour the salt into the container until full.
- Screw the cap back on and wipe up any excess salt that may have been spilt.
- Run a short cycle with the dishwasher empty to rinse away any leftover salt and avoid corrosion.
- We recommend dishwasher salt, rinse aid and cleaning detergents available on our Webshop
What is dishwasher salt and how do you use it?
2. Check that the softening unit is set correctly according to the hardness of your water
The water softener removes minerals from the water supply, which would have a negative effect on the washing results and on the appliance.
The higher the content of these minerals, the harder your water is. Water hardness is measured in equivalent scales (see below table).
The water softener should be adjusted according to the hardness of the water in your area. Your local water authority can advise you on the hardness of the water in your area. It is important to set the right level of the water softener to assure good washing results.
Refer to the user manual for more information on how to set the hardness of the water correctly.
How to clean hard water build-up in dishwasher & adjust hardness level
Water hardness table
German degrees (°dH) | French degrees (°fH) | mmol / l | Clarke degrees | Water softener level |
47 - 50 | 84 - 90 | 8.4 - 9.0 | 58 - 63 | 10 |
43 - 46 | 76 - 83 | 7.6 - 8.3 | 53 - 57 | 9 |
37 - 42 | 65 - 75 | 6.5 - 7.5 | 46 - 52 | 8 |
29 - 36 | 51 - 64 | 5.1 - 6.4 | 36 - 45 | 7 |
23 - 28 | 40 - 50 | 4.0 - 5.0 | 28 - 35 | 6 |
19 - 22 | 33 - 39 | 3.3 - 3.9 | 23 - 27 | 5 factory setting |
15 - 18 | 26 - 32 | 2.6 - 3.2 | 18 - 22 | 4 |
11 - 14 | 19 - 25 | 1.9 - 2.5 | 13 - 17 | 3 |
4 - 10 | 7 - 18 | 0.7 - 1.8 | 5 - 12 | 2 |
<4 | <7 | <0.7 | < 5 | 1 do not use salt at this level |
Tips for saving energy at home when using your dishwasher
With energy prices soaring, it’s never been a better time to rethink how you use the appliances in your home to save energy and money. Besides helping your household budget, it will also benefit the planet, reducing CO2 emissions. Here are some helpful tips on how to reduce energy when using your dishwasher
- Use the ECO program when dishwashing. It takes a bit longer, but the dishwasher doesn’t have to work as hard, which means it uses less energy. Compare it to if you run or walk 1km. Running is faster but you need to use a lot more energy. If you walk instead it takes longer, but you use much less energy. The same logic goes for the ECO program
- If you have an hourly electricity rate, do the dishes when the price is at its lowest
- If you have an old dishwasher, it will have a low energy class – you can save energy just by replacing it with a new one
See other helpful tips to save energy and money
Efficient energy-saving tips for your home to lower your energy costs
