KDS-57A Sani Cycle Temp

[michaelh]

Just a quick question...

I have run my Sani Cycle a few times and I can hear the water heating and when the pump starts again there is a fair amount of steam the exhausts from the vent. But when I measure the water being drained it only shows 154, at most, on an instant read thermometer.

It's my understanding that these machines had a 180 degree sani cycle and it wasn't until later on when the sani cycle temps were dropped to 160.

Do I have a bad thermostat on the machine, perhaps over sensitive, or is the water temp really dropping that much in the few minutes by the time it drains? I understand the timer and pump will not advance and restart until the target temp is reached, so what is happening here?

Thank a bunch, as always!

 

[qsd-dan]

Water cools significantly while it's draining and exhausting out cold unheated surfaces. You need to use a an IR gun pointed at the sump after VERY quickly flipping the door open and pulling the lower rack forward.

 

[michaelh]

I figured this is the case. I know the thermostat isn't directly measuring the water, more the side of the sump.

I thought maybe in someway my machine had a thermostat changed out and it happened to be a 160 degree.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Consumer reports reported on this back in the 70s. The sani cycle stops circulation while the one gallon fill is heating to 180F, but then that water is sprayed onto the dishes that are at best 140F, it cools to around 150F and that was the temperature of dishes in the lower rack. The reading you are getting is BC which a country school teacher explained when asked by a student what it meant said, "'bout correct."

This problem with static water heating in the newer KitchenAids from the 19s on is why it is energy largely wasted.

 

[combo52]

Water temp KitchenAid 17 Sanitemp cycle

As Tom explained in reply number three it just heats the water in the sump to 180 and then the pump is turned on the water temperature quickly drops too much less than 180, the only home dishwasher I ever saw that hit 180 where the lady Kenmore 240 V models where the pump was running while a 240 V heater heated the water to 180° For both the main wash and the final rinse.

The Preway gas dishwashers also heated the final rinse to 180° but again it was done in the sump without the pump running so I’m sure the temperature fell quite a bit as soon as the pump ran.

John L

 

[michaelh]

Makes sense

I figured it was one of two reasons!

So, is this cycle a waste of time and energy?

 

[combo52]

KitchenAid KD15 through 17 Sani rinse

I have a KDS 16 as the second dishwasher in the second house, I run the sani cycle every once in a while it’s just kind of fun, but I don’t think it does much and it is a waste of electricity. Makes the dishes dry a little quick quicker I guess by getting him a little hotter.

John L

 

[qsd-dan]

So, is this cycle a waste of time and energy?

No, the hot water still kills off a bunch of stuff that would otherwise survive in cooler temperatures. 160F water temps does a good job at sanitizing.