Why Do I Need A Dish Washer In My RV?

Innovative ideas to make RV living and lifestyle more convenient and home-like are common place in today’s motor home or trailer choices.  One of these options is to have a residential type dish washer made by Fisher&Paykel.  The Fisher&Paykel DishDrawer can be found in many newer custom homes throughout North America.  There are two different styles or types, the double drawer model, generally used in homes and yachts, and the single drawer unit, found now in homes and recreational vehicles.  Fisher&Paykel also make refrigerators and clothes washers and dryers.

 

Is this option a waste?  Is this just going overboard?   Well, let’s look at the value of having this option in your trailer or motor home.  First, it will certainly reduce, if not eliminate, hand washing of the dishes.  It also serves as a great storage for dirty unwashed dishes and cutlery.  If, like many RV travelers, settings for two people are used, it takes several meals to dirty all your dishes.  This makes the dish washer ideal and saves from needing to wash dishes after each and every meal without the alternative, a sink full of dirty dishes that rattles on every bump in the road.

 But, it can not be all wine and roses.  The dish washer, albeit compact, takes away a good volume of kitchen cupboard storage.  This makes it not necessarily available in all makes, models or floor plans. 

 

Does it save water compared to hand washing?  Well, specifications stating the water use are not available on the manufacturer’s website, but I believe the following.  If you had a six place dinner set with the appropriate flatware, glasses and cups, the hand washing would probably use less water than the automatic dish washer.  However, if you hand washed the individual pieces used after each meal, the water used would certainly exceed that of what the dish washer would require to do the entire set.   The dish water also wins the health issue as it washes using water at around 150 degrees F. and rinses at nearly 165 F.  The hand wash, however, scores a point for needed energy.  Other than the heated water and obvious pump operating, no extra energy is required.  The dish washer needs about 4 amps of 120 volt AC.

Now let’s just summarize what we have found.  We will compare the “Pros and Cons”.

Pro

• Reduces hand washing of dishes
• Great out of sight storage for dirty dishes
• Dishware and cutlery may be more sanitary in hotter water
• May use less water overall and reduce the washing frequency
• May increase resale value

Con

• A fairly expensive option
• Uses up valuable cupboard space
• Requires 120 volt power to operate
• May increase future maintenance costs

Well, you really have to make your own mind up, if in fact the dish washer option is available on the model you are purchasing.  I can say, the Fisher&Paykel dish washer is a top of the line product with the results to prove it.  My wife claims it performs equal to our at-home top of the line Kitchen Aid.  That being said, I doubt you would be disappointed with the service and operation of the unit.  The other points, or trade-offs, that we discussed,  however, may need to be carefully weighed.  Is this a waste or going overboard?  I don’t think there is one answer here.  For some, perhaps, for others not.  This isn’t a one size fits all, as there are many individual lifestyles and needs.

 

A Squeaky Clean Idea,      –       Lug_Nut        –         Peter Mercer