Frigidaire dishwashers are reasonably priced dishwashers that look good and last long.
However, many buyers consider the power and water consumption of these appliances before buying them.
So, how long do Frigidaire dishwashers run?
The Standard Runtime of Frigidaire Dishwashers
Frigidaire dishwashers have various cycle settings, ranging from Heavy Wash to Rinse Only.
The exact runtime of Frigidaire dishwashers depends on the cycle setting being used. The shortest of these is the “Rinse only” cycle, which uses less than 8 liters of water and takes less than thirty minutes to complete. However, the normal wash cycle and heavy wash cycles run for three hours or more.
In these settings, the dishwasher undergoes several Wash cycles and rinse cycles.
Hence it takes much longer to complete.
Now, it’s possible to reduce the runtime of Frigidaire dishwashers. Let’s find out how.
6 Ways to Reduce the Runtime of Frigidaire Dishwashers
Dishwasher cycles can seem unusually long at times, making you wonder if it consumes more water than if you were washing the dishes by hand.
However, normal operational cycles on most Frigidaire models are optimized for energy and water, and they take longer than older models to complete dishwashing.
If you think your dishwasher is taking too long, you can lend a helping hand.
Let’s look at what can be done to reduce the operation cycle length of Frigidaire dishwashers.
1. Start with A Clean Plate—scrape Off Residual Food Before Loading the Dishwasher
Dishwashers default to longer cycles when the dishes are too dirty.
However, you can shave off a few minutes by scraping food off the plates and dishes before loading the dishwasher.
You don’t have to pre-rinse or clean the dishes.
However, merely removing large food bits stuck to the plate, like fish bones and sticky food, will help a lot.
This will make the automatic sensors detect cleaner dishes and choose a shorter cycle setting.
Another benefit of removing food scraps from the dishes before loading them into the dishwasher is that it helps the filter stay clean for longer.
Any leftover food will usually get trapped in the filter, reducing the efficiency of the dishwasher over time.
You will have to clean the filter more often if it gets clogged up frequently.
So, by cleaning food scraps off the plates and dishes, you can go longer between filter cleaning cycles.
2. Adjust the Water Temperature
In many cases, precious minutes are lost because the water temperature isn’t high enough for the dishwasher to start operation.
So the appliance ends up waiting for the water to heat up before it can start the cycle.
Check your sink temperature to find out if this is causing the issue.
If you are using a “hot water cycle,” your dishwasher may take longer to start because it has to wait till the water heats up to begin operating.
This can extend the runtime of the dishwasher by several extra minutes.
Fortunately, you can overcome this issue by raising the thermostat setting of your heater.
Alternatively, you can give your dishwasher a head start by heating the water first.
Get the hot water running in the sink before you start the dishwasher.
This will ensure that your dishwasher doesn’t have to wait too long for the water to get heated.
You can also choose normal cycle settings instead of hot water cycles to reduce the run time unless your dishes are very dirty.
3. Fix Hard Water Problems
If you live in a place with hard water, it’s likely that your Frigidaire dishwasher takes longer to complete the dishwashing process.
It’s because hard water contains heavy minerals that will build up in the dishwasher compartments.
They interact with the sensors of the device and make them operate erroneously.
So the sensors may default to longer cycles than necessary.
To avoid this issue, address hard water concerns promptly.
One way is to add a water softener at the inlet pipe of the dishwasher.
This will ensure that the water entering the appliance is free from minerals.
It will improve the efficiency and lifespan of the device.
However, including a water softener involves a lot of plumbing work.
If you aren’t keen on undertaking it, you can use limescale tablets to remove mineral residues from the dishwasher.
Use these cleaning tablets every month to keep mineral deposits away and keep the appliance functioning smoothly.
You can also use natural agents like white vinegar as a natural fix for mineral deposits in the system.
4. Choose the “Quick-Wash” Setting
If you are pressed for time, opt for “quick-wash” cycles with smaller loads instead of normal and heavy-duty cycles.
These cycles take less time than regular cycles, and your dishes will end up just as clean.
However, it’s not a recommended setting for the regular use of most dishwashers.
Quick or express wash cycles are usually not optimized for energy and water efficiency.
So regularly running these cycles can result in higher power and water bills.
Another factor to remember is that quick wash settings aren’t suitable for heavy loads.
Read the instruction manual to find out what is the recommended loading capacity for these settings.
Overloading the appliance and running a quick wash cycle can leave you with dishes that aren’t clean.
5. Fix the Filter
We saw earlier that all the food residue from the dishes goes into the dishwasher’s filter.
Over time this waste build-up will clog the filters.
Similarly, any obstruction in the air vent, drain hose, and spray arms can slow down the dishwasher, making it take longer to complete washing the dishes.
If your dishwasher was working fine until recently, it’s a good idea to check for any obstructions in the operating parts.
Locate the filter and get rid of any build-up by washing it thoroughly.
Use soapy water to get rid of any slimy gunk that may have formed in this area.
Similarly, check the drain hose and spray arms for any obstructions.
Also, check if water is smoothly flowing throughout the system.
If there are any damages or obstructions in any of the regions through which water flows, fixing it will usually restore normal operation.
6. Faulty Settings or Appliance Issues
Newer Energy Star guidelines have forced manufacturers to alter their designs to meet electricity and water usage criteria.
This has, in turn, made newer dishwashers slower than their older versions.
So, it’s important to read the manual to understand how long a typical dishwasher cycle is.
It will help you identify if the appliance is indeed running longer than usual or as expected.
Like most dishwashers, Frigidaire dishwashers will usually take longer than expected for the first cycles.
It’s because the machine is calibrating during these cycles.
However, they will switch to the default or expected cycle times once the calibration is complete.
If your dishwasher continues to run for too long, even after several cycles of use, check if the heating element is functioning properly.
Use the troubleshooting guidelines in the instruction manual to determine if there is any problem.
You can also call the professionals if you don’t know the cause of the issue.
