Zeolith Dishwasher – what’s behind it?
More and more often you hear in connection with dishwashers something about the so-called zeolite drying, through which the consumer can save a lot of water. But what is behind it, who offers this type of drying for the dishwasher and what advantage does this technology offer the consumer? We explain what it’s all about and show what makes dishwashers with zeolite drying so special.
Top 5 Zeolith Dishwashers
What is zeolite?
Zeolite is a mineral that is very good at retaining moisture and gives off heat in the process. The crystals can store up to 40% of the dry weight of water, which makes them very interesting, especially for dishwasher manufacturers.
Zeolite occurs in volcanic natural rock and is produced synthetically for technical applications. It has great importance for the so-called sorption drying, which consists of two phases (adsorption and desorption, i.e. removal and reproduction of moisture).
How does zeolite drying work in a dishwasher?
In a dishwasher with zeolite, the mineral is in a stainless steel sieve in the bottom of the device. It is about 1 kg of zeolite, which performs the task of drying the dishes.
During the drying phase, the mineral absorbs and stores moisture from the interior air. In the process, the crystals can absorb up to 500 ml of water, and they heat up to about 235 °C. Electric heating elements in the dishwasher are no longer needed for this reason. A small fan blows the moist air through the stainless steel sieve containing the zeolite beads. The air is thereby dried, heated and flows back into the interior. This accelerates the drying of the dishes and shortens the waiting time. Then, when the dishwasher program is complete, the water remains in the zeolites until the machine runs the next time. There, the mineral is then heated up again and releases the stored moisture for the pre-rinse cycle.
There is no wear and tear effect on the zeolite granules; it retains its effect for the life of the dishwasher. If you ever need to dispose of your dishwasher, the non-toxic material can be easily separated and recycled.
The advantages of zeolite drying
The dishwashers you often find in stores consume quite a bit of electricity and water. A dishwasher with zeolite drying is far more environmentally friendly, because drying with zeolite means savings in energy and water consumption. For example, it takes up to 20% less energy to heat the zeolite granules than it does to heat the dishes in the machine.
In addition to the energy and cost savings, this technology offers another advantage. While with conventional dishwashers it is better not to open the door immediately after the end of the program because the dishes are still wet and hot, with zeolite drying the dishes, which are approx. 35 °C warm, can be removed immediately after the drying process. The unpleasant steam after opening the door is also a thing of the past.
Zeolith Dishwashers in UK
FAQ
Which brands offer dishwashers with zeolite drying?
So far, you can find zeolite drying only in higher-priced BSH dishwashers (Bosch / Siemens) or in the Neff portfolio. The models are usually still relatively expensive, so that the savings in energy costs if then amortized late.
By the way, there are now also dishwashers with zeolite drying in the narrow version, i.e. with a width of 45 cm.
Dishwashers with zeolite drying in the test
Dishwashers with zeolite drying from Siemens and Bosch have always done relatively well in the tests of Stiftung Warentest in recent years, among other things, they also provided the dishwasher test winner 2017 in the dishwasher test.
Consumers on the Internet have also been able to make mainly positive experiences with dishwashers and zeolite drying. Most are pleased with a good drying result, even with plastic dishes. And also the prices have developed positively, that is, favorably.
Where else is zeolite used in dishwashing?
By the way, zeolites can also be found for descaling in dishwasher tabs.
David Shaw
Dishwashers expert with over 10 years of experience. He writes articles and shares his knowledge on many sites. Helps you choose the best (portable, countertop, built-in) dishwashers on this site.