Using your dishwasher as a waterproof safe

[parunner58]

Hi Guys, in the wake of hurricane Irma, I have seen many post on local facebook pages telling people to use thier dishwashers to store any vauluables as it is waterproof. My thoughts are its a stupid idea. My reason is some of the older ones with forced air drying like the older Hobart made Kitchenaid had the fan on the side water would enter, the bottom of the door is not really a tight seal like the sides may be. any vents could leak in water. One time the wash arm on the bottom of one of our dishwashers got blocked and water leaked out the bottom of the door. What are your thoughts?

 

[turquoisedude]

I've seen these posts too and I hate to say it but... fake news....  LOL   Seriously, I don't see how a dishwasher will be water tight once water gets up to or above the lower door hinge.   Now a '56 GE pull-out might be an option here... LOL 

 

[magic_clean]

Mike

I've heard this too. Probably is o.k. if you are not in a flood zone and want to use the machine as a (hopefully) safe spot for some valuables to be protected from breakage, damage or getting lost.

In post storm pictures of damaged homes, sometimes you see base & wall kitchen cabinets and the like still anchored and seemingly unscathed. Again, I would not rely on it to be water proof.

Be safe from the storm!

L.P.

 

[rolls_rapide]

They're not hermetically sealed. There are vents for steam expansion, and 'air-breaks' in the water distribution array to comply with water bylaws regarding soiled water getting into mains water supply.

Door seals are not complete seals either. They tend to be two part affairs (three sides of tub, and bottom edge of door). They're more of a splash-proof design.

I'm sure that when England had winter storms a couple of Christmases ago, the dishwashers had horrible sludgy water in them. They were ruined.

 

[parunner58]

thanks guys, I agree, these are posts that are in facebook groups for some of the developments in the Orlando area.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Even a roll out has an opening to allow air to enter the tub during dry.  Our Mobile Maid had the fill solenoid over that opening, too. It was fun to look down into that opening with a strong flashlight and watch the water moving around beneath that baffle that stuck out into the front left corner of the tub.

 

[cehalstead]

water tight?

During the flood last year that destroyed everything in my lower level, the dishwasher filled with muddy flood water. The door was latched. I wouldn't depend on any dishwasher being water tight.......

 

[mrb627]

Agreed!

I saw this post on FB and immediately thought it was total BS.
I just didn't want to start a war with the person that posted it.

Malcolm

 

[nmassman44]

I saw this too on FB and had to point out that since the dishwasher that they used was a GE built machine, that water would still get into it if the place flooded. I was gobsmacked by how ignorant some people can be. Yet not surprised though...

 

[DADoES]

 
I saw mention of that in my FB feed.  I thought about responding but didn't and now am not finding the post.

 

[vacerator]

water tight

plastic tote bins. Unless they float out of a broken window or wall, will stay dry.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Maybe use your freezer or fridge--that is AIR tight, too!

Sounds like there are a lot of people while giving that advice w/ good intentions, need to find out about the truth here...

-- Dave

 

[askolover]

I was thinking about that too Dave, deep freezers and even top loading washers unless the water gets too deep and they float around and tumble.

 

[DADoES]

 
Refrigerators interiors aren't necessarily secure from taking some water.  SxS and bottom-freezer with evaporators mounted lower can take water through the defrost drains into the freezer sections, which could get into the refrigerator section depending how air baffles between the sections are arranged.  Topfreezer units are more secure but some of them have an air pressure relief tube under the crisper drawers at bottom of the fresh food section.  Those may have a one-way (out) mechanism involved but it may not be fully secure against inflow.