Usually you rarely have to put salt in the dishwasher. Many housewives fill a special container once a year, and all this time they quietly use the machine. The consumption of granules depends on the intensity of operation of the PMM and the level of water hardness in the region.
What should you do if you quickly run out of salt in your dishwasher? It is necessary to check and adjust the PMM settings. We'll tell you why the consumption may be too high.
What causes salt to disappear too quickly?
The salt consumption rate is determined by the PMM settings. In dishwashers, the ion exchanger is adjusted manually, based on the data in a special table. During operation, it is necessary to periodically monitor water hardness and adjust the indicators.
Before starting the dishwasher for the first time, the user needs to adjust the salt consumption. It depends on how hard the water is in the region. By default, the manufacturer sets the softener level to 5, which corresponds to a hardness level of 3.0-3.7 mmol/l.
How to set the optimal softener level is described in detail in the instructions for the dishwasher. Depending on the model, the sequence of actions will be different. Therefore, please read the user manual carefully.
The higher the hardness of tap water, the faster the salt in the ion exchanger is consumed.
The next factor influencing salt consumption is the frequency of operation of the PMM and the amount of dirty dishes. If you turn on the dishwasher 2-3 times a day, the sodium in the ion exchanger will run out faster than if you start the “home assistant” more rarely.
So think about how often you use the dishwasher. Typically, 600-800 grams of salt in the ion exchanger are consumed in 6 months if the PMM is started once a day. With more intensive use, sodium will run out within a quarter. And if you turn on the device less often, then this volume will be enough for a whole year.
If you notice that your dishwasher is quickly running out of salt, check that the reservoir is properly closed. Another reason for the increased consumption is a malfunction of the ion exchanger. Also, a failed inlet solenoid valve leads to increased consumption of water and, of course, salt granules.
Let's adjust the salt consumption
Often the cause of excessive salt consumption by the machine is an incorrect setting. When the softener is set to a high level of hardness, the crystals are consumed accordingly. Therefore, it is important to properly configure the dishwasher.
You can determine the hardness of tap water using special test strips. The indicators are impregnated with a special composition and change their color depending on the amount of impurities contained in the liquid. They are inexpensive, so they are available to most consumers.
If the water is not very hard, you should change the settings of the ion exchanger. Then salt will be consumed more slowly. How to make the adjustment is described in the instructions for the PMM. As an example, we will tell you how to adjust the softener level on Bosch machines.
Turn on the dishwasher.
Press and hold the "Start" and "Auto" buttons for a few seconds. Wait until the display shows the current hardness level, for example “H:06”.
Use the Plus or Minus buttons to adjust the softener level.
Press the "Start" key.
You can set up your dishwasher softener in a couple of minutes.Therefore, you should not be lazy and operate the PMM at the factory level. Be sure to adjust the ion exchanger to suit your needs.
A hint on what level of softener to set is in the instructions for the PMM. Find a table with values. As an example, here is information for Bosch dishwashers:
when water hardness is 0-0.6 mmol/liter, the level should be 0;
if 0.7-1.1 mmol/liter, the softener is moved to position 1;
from 1.2 to 1.6 mmol/l, level 2;
when the hardness of tap water is 1.7-2.1 mmol/l, the softener is placed in position 3;
if 2.2-2.9 mmol/liter, then level 4 should be set;
when 3.0-3.7 mmol/liter, the softener should be set to level 5;
from 3.8 to 5.4 mmol/l – level 6;
above 5.5 – position 7.
For PMM it is necessary to use a special salt with a NaCl content of more than 99%.
Salt softens too hard water, thereby extending the life of the “home assistant”. Thanks to sodium, scale and limescale deposits do not form on the internal elements of the PMM.
Which salt is better?
Each dishwasher has a special compartment for salt. The tank volume ranges from 700 grams to 1.3 kilograms. You can load the container completely or halfway at once.
As already mentioned, you cannot use simple table salt for dishwashers. You need to purchase a special product. Its granules will be larger.
The main component of salt for PMM is sodium chloride. To it, in small doses, are added:
citrates;
hydrocarbonates;
flavorings;
disilicates, etc.
In addition to softening water, salt for PMM has an antibacterial effect. Salt crystals help improve the quality of cleaning dishes, prevent the formation of stains, add shine and a pleasant aroma. Among well-known brands, you can give preference to the brands Finish, Synergetic, BioMio.
How do you know if you've run out of salt?
Modern dishwashers are equipped with salt indicators. As soon as the substance runs out, a light comes on on the PMM dashboard. Having noticed the LED, you need to fill the tank to the mark.
When there is no indicator, the user will have to monitor the fullness of the container himself. You can tell when the salt has run out by how well the dishes are cleaned. If a white coating and streaks appear on the cutlery, then it’s time to refill the reservoir.
You can also measure once how long a full container will last you. For example, for six months. Next, after adding salt, stick a sticker with the date on the side of the machine. After 6 months, refill the container with salt crystals.
There are 3 in 1 dishwasher capsules on sale. They already contain salt. However, in practice, the active substance in tablets is usually not enough to soften hard water. Therefore, the PMM reservoir must always be filled with sodium chloride.
Usually you rarely have to put salt in the dishwasher. Many housewives fill a special container once a year, and all this time they quietly use the machine. The consumption of granules depends on the intensity of operation of the PMM and the level of water hardness in the region.
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