If you’re considering a dishwasher for your home, and you have well water, you may be wondering if it’s possible to have a dishwasher with well water.
Many dishwashers are not designed to work with well water, and this water can cause problems with dishwashers.
If you’re not sure whether your desired dishwasher is compatible with well water or not, then continue to read for more information.
Can You Have A Dishwasher With Well Water?
The answer depends on the type of dishwasher you’re considering.
If you’re looking at an automatic dishwasher that hooks up to your home’s water supply, then it’s possible to use it with well water.
If you’re looking at a portable dishwasher, then it’s not possible to use it with well water.
Also, it is not advisable to use well water in the dishwasher. Because this water is high in minerals and can cause corrosion, mineral build-up, and other issues.
The water can even damage the dishwasher’s pump and spray arms in some cases.
If you’re not sure whether your dishwasher is compatible with well water or not, then it’s best to consult with the manufacturer.
They will be able to tell you whether your dishwasher can handle well water or not.
What To Do If You Have A Dishwasher With Well Water?
If you have a dishwasher that is compatible with well water, then there are some things that you can do to help it work better. Below we will give some tips. Let’s get started!
Install A Water Softener
The first thing that you should do is install a water softener. This will help to remove some of the minerals from the water, which can help to prevent damage to the dishwasher.
Use The Hottest Setting
Another thing that you can do is to run the dishwasher on the hottest setting.
This will help to remove any spots or residues that have built up on the dishes.
And using the hottest setting will also help to prevent any damage to the pump or spray arm.
Use More Detergent
If you find that your dishes are not getting clean, then you may need to use more detergent.
This is because the high levels of minerals in the water can cause the detergent to be less effective.
In addition, you should use a phosphate-free detergent. Phosphates can cause scaling and build-up in dishwashers, which can lead to damage.
Therefore, using a phosphate-free detergent will help to keep your dishwasher running smoothly.
Add A Rinse Aid
Rinse aid can help to prevent spots and streaks on your dishes. This is because it will help remove any water left behind after the dishwasher has finished its cycle.
Run The Dishwasher With Vinegar
If you find that your dishwasher is not working as well as it should, then you can try running it with vinegar.
This will help to remove any build-up of minerals and detergent.
To do this, add one cup of vinegar to the dishwasher and run it on the hottest setting.
After the cycle has finished, run the dishwasher again with just water to rinse the vinegar away.
You can do these things to prevent damage to your dishwasher if you have well water.
When you have a dishwasher that is not compatible with well water, then you should talk to a plumber or appliance repair person.
They will be able to advise you on what can be done to make it work better.
Bad Effects Of Using A Dishwasher With Well Water
There are a lot of bad effects when you use a dishwasher with well water. Below we are just given some of the bad effects. Let’s take a look!
Dishes Get Cloudy
Hard water has high levels of minerals, including calcium and magnesium.
When water with high mineral content is used in a dishwasher, it can leave spots on dishes and cause them to become cloudy.
When the water hardness is caused by calcium bicarbonate, it is thought of as only temporary since heating the water eliminates and converts bicarbonate to insoluble carbonate. On the hand, any other salt hardness is considered permanent.
Spots, Discoloration & Rusting
Dishwashers that use well water may cause rusting and spots on dishes.
This is due to the high levels of minerals in the water, which can build up on dishes and cause them to become discolored.
In addition, these minerals can also cause rusting.
Mineral deposits can build up on your equipment if you use well water or hard water.
These residues can oxidize the surface, causing rust to form. The glassware becomes fainter and hazier with time.
Dishwasher Pump & Spray Arm Damage
The high levels of minerals in well water can damage the pump and spray arm of a dishwasher.
Over time, the minerals can build up and cause the pump to fail or the spray arm to become blocked.
The pump is one of the most important parts of a dishwasher, and it can be damaged by high levels of minerals in the water.
When the pump is damaged, it can cause the dishwasher to leak water or not function properly.
In order to avoid damage to the pump, it is important to use a water softener with your dishwasher.
This will help to remove some of the minerals from the water and prevent damage to the pump.
As you can see above. There are a lot of bad effects if you use a dishwasher with well water.
It is not recommended to use a dishwasher with well water. So, it is best to avoid using a dishwasher with well water.
Final Thoughts
So, if you have well water, then there are some things that you can do to help your dishwasher work better.
Mineral deposits will build up on dishes and the machine if they are washed in well water, also reducing dishwasher longevity.
For this, you should try to use hot water and install a water softener to get the greatest results.
Also, follow the instructions in your owner’s manual to get the most out of your dishwasher.
