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What will happen if I connect hot water to a dish water that is not designed to take in hot water?

Will it break? Or will I just not be able to use the cold programs?

Tester101
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Sandra Schlichting
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    That would be a **very** strange dishwasher. Every one I've ever met only has a hot water connection (a commercial one did have a hot and a *very extra super hot* connection.) Brand and model#? – Ecnerwal Dec 12 '13 at 15:27
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    depends on the internals, if it uses components near the intake that can't handle the 60°C of hot water then you'll get damage – ratchet freak Dec 12 '13 at 16:12
  • @Ecnerwal Here are two examples: Bosch SKS62E12EU , Siemens SK26E220EU. Here in Denmark there are perhaps 6 table dishwashers to choose from, and none takes in hot water. I do find this strange. – Sandra Schlichting Dec 12 '13 at 16:36
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    The [model comparison chart](http://www.bosch-home.co.uk/Files/Bosch/Gb/en/Document/Brochures%20-%20freestanding/Freestanding%20Brochure%202013.pdf) shows that the SKS62E12EU can accept inlet water up to 60C (140F). Some other models on the chart (like the SKS51E01EU) are rated to only accept water inlet temperatures up to 25C. – Johnny Dec 12 '13 at 19:33

3 Answers3

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The Siemens SK26E220EU manual says:

Water temperature: cold water preferred; hot water max. temperature 60 °C.

Which appears to imply that it is fine so long as the hot water is no more than 60C at input. It includes a water softener, so it may well have some parts in the water path before it heats the water hotter that would be damaged by hotter water. If your hot water is electrically heated, it makes little difference to your overall operation cost - if you have an alternate, less expensive source of hot water, you'll benefit, so long as it's not too hot.

For other models, check the manual - or just hook it up to cold if you are electrically heating your water anyway.

Tester101
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Ecnerwal
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Follow the manufacturer's instructions. New and higher priced dishwashers are more frequently starting to connect to cold water. The better dishwashers fill with so little water that the hot doesn't arrive anyway unless you let the sink water run like in the shower. Better energy efficient washers heat their own water to the proper temperature for better cleaning and sterilizing. When buying a dishwasher, one that heats its own water will use less energy than that household hot water supply and is a good feature. Using so little water it takes very little energy. Read the directions.

Niall C.
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Barry
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The Bosch SKS62E12EU offers an intensive wash at 70C or about 150F and a 'Maximum temperature for water intake 60°C'. So your answer is hooking to hot water is fine, and will save energy if your central heater is gas fired. Obviously, it can't chill the water, so you'll have only hot wash available.

Bryce
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    A high wash temperature doesn't mean that it's safe to use inlet water of the same temperature - the SKS51E01EU has a 70 degree intensive wash cycle, but is only [rated](http://www.bosch-home.co.uk/Files/Bosch/Gb/en/Document/Brochures%20-%20freestanding/Freestanding%20Brochure%202013.pdf) to accept inlet water up to 25C (77F) – Johnny Dec 12 '13 at 19:36
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    Looks like Bosch has models rated for 60C input and 25C input. This is very odd. Well, I guess that means there is some difference. Odd, as electric should have no trouble boost heating by any amount (unlike gas which has a minimum). – Bryce Dec 12 '13 at 20:02