DiFi Dishwasher Filter

[labboy]

Has anyone had experience with the DiFi Dishwasher Filter? I do not want to install a whole house water softener (space, install expense, they waste water, you need to purchase salt, etc.) and think this might be a good alternative for those of us with hard water.

Thanks,
Bob


http://dishwasherfilter.com/

 

[iheartmaytag]

My initial response is--BUNK

The filter is not going to reduce minerals in the water, or at least it won't reduce it enough to be comparable to a softener.
Once you factor in the initial cost, plus the cost of replacement filters, you may be better off installing a whole house system.

 

[whirlcool]

Looks like a refrigerator ice maker filter that has been repurposed. Most of these type of filters warn against running very hot water through them (120+). What will that do to your cleaning?

 

[labboy]

Installed it, works great

So I purchased the Dishwasher Filter and installed it on the water input line for our KitchenAid. It took about ten minutes to install. I did not see or feel any leaking from the connections but placed it into a small plastic tub just in case. It fits nicely under the sink and does not interfere with storage.

After installing, I purged the air from the filter and input line and used water test strips to test the hardness of the hot tap water and of that entering the machine. The hot water out of the kitchen faucet tap (same line as the dishwasher filter inlet) was about 15 grains (very hard). The water entering the dishwasher at the start of the cycle was about 1 grain (very soft).

I ran a full load of dishes with a reduced amount of Cascade (soft water level on the cups) and 1 tbsp of STPP (divided between the dispenser cups). I also adjusted the rinse aid dispenser down to two (previously at five). Everything came out cleaner than ever. There was absolutely no film on the stainless interior (STPP had previously greatly reduced it but there was still some film present) or any of the glasses. The silverware was also completely film and spot free.

After a full cycle, the filter housing was slightly warm but did not seem to be affected by the hot water.

I am going to recheck the pre-post filter water hardness every month to see how long the filter lasts and will report back. They claim three months but I am skeptical considering how hard our water is.

 

[frigilux]

Since our dishwashers don't have built-in water softener capabilities, as many upper-end Euro models do, having a dedicated filter---especially one that appears to work very well---is a smart option to whole-house water softening.

I wonder if this product will be aimed at people who are finding white film/poor cleaning results with the new phosphate-free dishwasher detergents. I'm surprised Cascade's parent company hasn't purchased the rights to it!

 

[whirlcool]

Is that blood spattered on the back wall of the space where the filter is installed? Was the install hard on the knuckles?

 

[gansky1]

That is one hell of a filter - check out the pics on the website. That filter turns a stainless steel Kenmore into a plastic tub Whirlpool!

 

[labboy]

Filter Install: Easy, No Blood

The install of the filter was easy and resulted in no trauma to me or the cabinets. The dark spots you see on the back of the cabinet are scrapes in the laminate from the flexible metal tubing from the faucet spray attachment when it hits the laminate (when we pull out the sprayer or put it back in place). Hope that makes sense.

 

[foraloysius]

Older European dishwashers sometimes came without a water softener, in areas with hard water separate softeners were sold with the dishwashers. I had an old Miele for a while that had a separate water softener. The softener used a coarse salt to soften the water. Do these cartridges also contain a kind of salt?