How Long Does GE Dishwasher Run? (6 Ways to Reduce Its Runtime)

How Long Does GE Dishwasher Run? (6 Ways to Reduce Its Runtime)

Dishwasher with short cycle

GE dishwashers do a good job of cleaning soiled dishes. However, their runtime is often more than an hour long.

So, how long do GE dishwashers run?

The Runtime of GE Dishwashers Explained

The runtime of a GE dishwasher depends on the cycle setting chosen. The auto-sense mode on most models usually runs for one hour and fifty minutes or two hours and ten minutes, based on the load. Meanwhile, there are shorter cycles for light loads. You can also choose the normal setting for medium or daily loads.

The reason GE dishwashers run for so long is to thoroughly clean dishes.

Additionally, the appliance is designed in such a way that the water and power usage is optimized for maximum efficiency.

However, these design aspects also mean that the cycle time is often very long.

If your GE dishwasher runs for an unusually long time, you can try the following steps to reduce its duration.

6 Practical Ways to Reduce the Cycle Length of GE Dishwashers

GE dishwashers have internal sensors that evaluate the load and choose a suitable cycle to clean dishes properly.

While the sensors are accurate, they add extra minutes if they think the dishes are extremely soiled or that the load is heavy.

Fortunately, you can encourage the appliance to shave off these few minutes by doing the following.

1. Load Dishes After Scraping Off Any Residual Food

If there is any remaining food on your plates or dishes, your GE dishwasher takes extra time to clean it.

In the auto-sense mode, the sensors will assess the load to be heavy and extend the cycle length to clean the dishes thoroughly.

So, you end up with a very long dishwasher cycle.

To avoid this problem, simply scrape off any residual food from your plates and dishes before placing them in the dishwasher.

While you don’t have to pre-rinse the dishes, scrape off the big chunks of food from their surface.

This will help the dishwasher clean the dishes faster.

It will also reduce the burden on the filter, which traps all the waste and keeps it working efficiently.

2. Start the Hot Water Early

On certain GE dishwashers, the cycle time may be extended by roughly twenty minutes when the dishwasher must heat the water first.

This will drastically increase the runtime.

To overcome this issue, you can run hot water in the sink for a few minutes before starting the cycle.

This will help the dishwasher get the water to the right temperature easily, thereby reducing the cycle time.

Since an internal sensor evaluates the temperature of the water, you may like to check if the water is reaching the appropriate temperature quickly.

If it takes too long to get heated, you can have a professional adjust your hot water thermostat setting to speed up the process.

3. Use a Normal Dishwashing Cycle to Clean Your Dishes

Dishwasher with normal dishwashing cycle

Some GE dishwasher models have an “Auto Hot Start” cycle.

In this case, the appliance waits till the water is hot to start the cycle.

This can add several minutes to your dishwasher runtime.

Similarly, “heavy” and “intensive” wash cycles take too long to complete.

You don’t have to use these program settings unless it’s necessary.

A normal dishwashing cycle is usually good for most loads, and it ensures that the dishes are clean by the time the cycle ends.

The main benefit of choosing the normal cycle setting is that the dishwasher will heat the water to the desired temperature as the cycle progresses.

Hence, the dishes will be cleaned well, but you will also not lose time waiting for the water to be heated.

4. Clean the Filter Regularly

We mentioned earlier that all the residual food from the dishes makes its way into the filter of the dishwasher.

In addition to this, debris and dirt that build up inside the dishwasher are also washed into the filter compartment.

Left uncleaned, the filter gets clogged over time and becomes inefficient.

This can lead to slower dishwasher cycles as the appliance has to wait longer for the waste to get eliminated.

Regularly cleaning the filter eliminates this problem.

Remove the filter from its place and get rid of any trapped food or dirt.

To remove slimy or hard food bits, use soapy water.

Once the filter is clean, affix it back in its place. You should see a significant change in the operation after you do this.

Depending on how frequently you use the dishwasher and how soiled your dishes normally are, clean your filter every few weeks or at least twice a year.

5. Address Hard Water Issues Promptly

Hard water can create several unexpected problems for dishwashers.

It can lead to the build-up of limescale that interferes with the operation of the sensors.

It can also make the dishwasher default to longer cycles to clean each load.

Additionally, mineral deposits make the insides of the dishwasher scaly.

This will not only lead to increased runtimes for your GE dishwasher but also affect the overall life expectancy of the appliance.

The good news is that you can tackle hard water problems in various ways.

The best way would be to prevent hard water from entering the device in the first place by using a water softener to remove minerals from the inlet water.

However, this may involve additional plumbing or prove costly.

If it’s not an option, you can simply use a limescale remover to clean the insides of your dishwasher every month.

By using descaler tablets in the detergent compartment of your dishwasher, you can easily clear off any limescale deposits in the device.

Another alternative solution is to run vinegar through the dishwasher because it can remove limescale deposits.

To make it work, pour two full cups of vinegar into the dishwasher and run it through a regular cycle with no other load.

The vinegar will react with the limescale deposits and remove them, leaving your dishwasher insides looking brand new.

Related Reading: 7 Primary Locations Where GE Appliances Are Made

6. Avoid Stopping the Dishwasher Mid-Cycle

Some people have the habit of stopping the dishwasher mid-cycle to add extra plates or dishes that they missed loading up in the first place.

If you halt the dishwasher operation during a cycle, it can make the appliance run longer than usual.

When you open the dishwasher in the middle of the cycle, the sensors temporarily halt.

Depending on the phase in which the dishwasher was when you opened the door, the sensor may add a few extra minutes when it restarts the cycle.

This can interfere with the normal operation of the appliance, and you will end up having to wait longer for your dishes to get clean.

Occasionally opening the device mid-cycle will not do much harm other than extending the runtime.

Nevertheless, it’s not recommended for various reasons.

When you open the dishwasher mid-cycle, a lot of steam will be eliminated.

The dishwasher can also splash water outside.

If it was in the middle of a drying cycle when you paused the operation, you might have to press the start button again to get the dishwasher to complete its work.

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