# Dishwasher next to the fridge: huge waste of energy or not a big deal? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 3, 2012, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishwasher-next-to-the-fridge-huge-waste-of-energy-or-not-a-big-deal/623969 "2012-06-03T21:43:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2012, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishwasher-next-to-the-fridge-huge-waste-of-energy-or-not-a-big-deal/623969/1 "2012-06-03T21:43:24Z")
We’re buying a new old house in serious need of renovation, which will include a new kitchen. The space allotted to the kitchen isn’t huge, and my preferred layout puts the dishwasher next to the refrigerator. Some people think the heat from the DW will cause the fridge to work harder and [use more energy](http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2012/01/26/dont-install-your-refrigerator-next-to-your-dishwasher-25365/). Some think the severity of this problem is being overstated. Is this something worth worrying about? ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2012, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishwasher-next-to-the-fridge-huge-waste-of-energy-or-not-a-big-deal/623969/2 "2012-06-03T21:56:21Z")
How often do you run your dishwasher? Twice a week for an hour each time? I don’t see how it could make much of a difference, so I think it’s a non issue. People ususally put their dishwasher next to the kitchen sink so that you aren’t carrying wet dishes around to load the dishwasher… assuming, of course, that you rinse your dishes before you stick them in the dishwasher. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2012, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishwasher-next-to-the-fridge-huge-waste-of-energy-or-not-a-big-deal/623969/3 "2012-06-03T21:57:19Z")
> [@Renee](#): > > We’re buying a new old house in serious need of renovation, which will include a new kitchen. The space allotted to the kitchen isn’t huge, and my preferred layout puts the dishwasher next to the refrigerator. Some people think the heat from the DW will cause the fridge to work harder and [use more energy](http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2012/01/26/dont-install-your-refrigerator-next-to-your-dishwasher-25365/). Some think the severity of this problem is being overstated. > > Is this something worth worrying about? I’d say the effect is minor and may be mitigated with a sheet of foam insulation and a fairly airtight barrier between the 2. Seal up the DW and leave plenty of room for the fridge for airflow. > [@dolphinboy](#): > > People ususally put their dishwasher next to the kitchen sink so that you aren’t carrying wet dishes around to load the dishwasher… assuming, of course, that you rinse your dishes before you stick them in the dishwasher. 🙂 Also because the water hookup for the DW is usually near the sink 😉 ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2012, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishwasher-next-to-the-fridge-huge-waste-of-energy-or-not-a-big-deal/623969/4 "2012-06-03T22:03:59Z")
> [@Renee](#): > > We’re buying a new old house in serious need of renovation, which will include a new kitchen. The space allotted to the kitchen isn’t huge, and my preferred layout puts the dishwasher next to the refrigerator. Some people think the heat from the DW will cause the fridge to work harder and [use more energy](http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2012/01/26/dont-install-your-refrigerator-next-to-your-dishwasher-25365/). Some think the severity of this problem is being overstated. > > Is this something worth worrying about? Can you post a layout of your kitchen? And, are you talking about a built-in fridge or a stand alone unit? ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2012, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishwasher-next-to-the-fridge-huge-waste-of-energy-or-not-a-big-deal/623969/5 "2012-06-03T22:09:24Z")
> [@dolphinboy](#): > > People ususally put their dishwasher next to the kitchen sink so that you aren’t carrying wet dishes around to load the dishwasher… assuming, of course, that you rinse your dishes before you stick them in the dishwasher. 🙂 Rinsing your dishes before using the dishwasher is completely unnecessary, and probably wastes more energy than a placing the dishwasher next to the refrigerator. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2012, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishwasher-next-to-the-fridge-huge-waste-of-energy-or-not-a-big-deal/623969/6 "2012-06-03T22:15:07Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > Rinsing your dishes before using the dishwasher is completely unnecessary, and probably wastes more energy than a placing the dishwasher next to the refrigerator. You must have an AMAZING dish washer! ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2012, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishwasher-next-to-the-fridge-huge-waste-of-energy-or-not-a-big-deal/623969/7 "2012-06-03T22:40:52Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > You must have an AMAZING dish washer! I have a pretty basic one and don’t have to prewash, actually the dishes usually never touch the sink at all, they go from table direct to DW and then most of the time to the cabinet, but on occasion, and it is rare, I need to post wash something or sometimes reposition it in the DW for next time. When I found this little secret out it was so much better then the stacking dirty dishes in the sink method - who wants to touch those. ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2012, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishwasher-next-to-the-fridge-huge-waste-of-energy-or-not-a-big-deal/623969/8 "2012-06-03T22:47:21Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > You must have an AMAZING dish washer! You must have a sucky one. The cheap, utilitarian Whirlpool dishwasher that came with my apartment never requires any pre-rinsing. I’ve put plates in there with all kinds of stuff stuck to them, and they always come out spotless. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2012, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishwasher-next-to-the-fridge-huge-waste-of-energy-or-not-a-big-deal/623969/9 "2012-06-03T22:47:42Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > You must have an AMAZING dish washer! No, i have a pretty standard one. A rather basic, moderate-priced one that is several years old. but _Consumer Reports_ tests dishwashers regularly. and consistently says that pre-rinsing is not needed. (Except maybe on the poorest performing dishwashers, and why would you buy those?) ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishwasher-next-to-the-fridge-huge-waste-of-energy-or-not-a-big-deal/623969/10 "2012-06-04T00:22:29Z")
[Here is the layout (the numbers are the sizes of the cabinets).](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-h46u27xPDE0/T8KEbCQFCeI/AAAAAAAAK6s/6Cs2X74jaJc/s512/Home%2520Designer%2520Suite%25208.0%2520-%2520%255Bchick%2520road%2520Floor%2520Plan%255D%25205272012%252033628%2520PM.jpg) I cook a whole lot (from scratch meals at least twice a day), and we run the dishwasher almost every day. I could put the 15" cabinet that is on the left of the sink in between the DW and the fridge, but I’d rather have the extra prep space in between the stove and the sink. Fridge will not be built in, but will have a cabinet surround. (Also, we have a cheap dishwasher now and don’t rinse our dishes, and they come out all sparkly.) ---
**Author:** ![jmwatts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jmwatts/32/17348_2.png) [@jmwatts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jmwatts)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishwasher-next-to-the-fridge-huge-waste-of-energy-or-not-a-big-deal/623969/11 "2012-06-04T00:43:32Z")
Not to hijack (ok, I’m hijacking) but regarding this pre-rinsing thing: For those of you that don’t pre-rinse, how long do the dirty dishes sit in the dishwasher before you run it? If you run your dishwasher everyday, I can see this being no problem. Once a week… I’d be (pleasantly) shocked that no pre-rinsing still works. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishwasher-next-to-the-fridge-huge-waste-of-energy-or-not-a-big-deal/623969/12 "2012-06-04T00:55:17Z")
> [@Renee](#): > > [Here is the layout (the numbers are the sizes of the cabinets).](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-h46u27xPDE0/T8KEbCQFCeI/AAAAAAAAK6s/6Cs2X74jaJc/s512/Home%2520Designer%2520Suite%25208.0%2520-%2520%255Bchick%2520road%2520Floor%2520Plan%255D%25205272012%252033628%2520PM.jpg) > > I cook a whole lot (from scratch meals at least twice a day), and we run the dishwasher almost every day. I could put the 15" cabinet that is on the left of the sink in between the DW and the fridge, but I’d rather have the extra prep space in between the stove and the sink. > > Fridge will not be built in, but will have a cabinet surround. It’s usually preferable to have the D/W to the right of the sink, but it looks like there is room to put it on the left. You could swap it out. Do you have a lazy susan in the corner? You could access the dead space with pull-out baskets from the other side (end of the run on the oven side). ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishwasher-next-to-the-fridge-huge-waste-of-energy-or-not-a-big-deal/623969/13 "2012-06-04T00:57:16Z")
> [@jmwatts](#): > > Not to hijack (ok, I’m hijacking) but regarding this pre-rinsing thing: For those of you that don’t pre-rinse, how long do the dirty dishes sit in the dishwasher before you run it? If you run your dishwasher everyday, I can see this being no problem. Once a week.. I’d be (pleasantly) shocked that no pre-rinsing still works. Once every 2-3 days I guess, I really just use the when I run out of plates method, and considering that I sometimes eat out it could go longer. ---
**Author:** ![Lightlystarched](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Lightlystarched](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightlystarched)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishwasher-next-to-the-fridge-huge-waste-of-energy-or-not-a-big-deal/623969/14 "2012-06-04T01:11:35Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > It’s usually preferable to have the D/W to the right of the sink, No. Right-handed people do well to have the d/w on the left, as they can use their left hand to hold the dish, the right hand to scrape food into the sink, and then their left hand to put the dishes in the d/w. OP - If you want the BEST kitchen layout critique on the web, go take a look at the Kitchens forum on gardenweb. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishwasher-next-to-the-fridge-huge-waste-of-energy-or-not-a-big-deal/623969/15 "2012-06-04T02:06:05Z")
Yes, this layout has gardenweb approval (love that place), I was just wondering what the scientific types here thought about the DW next to the fridge. My main prep space, by design, is in between the sink and the stove. I strongly prefer this layout because it allows me to be chopping vegetables or whatever while tending to already-cooking stuff. But if I put the DW to the left of the sink, it will be in my prep area, and if my husband wants to put something in or get something out, he’s in my way. So unless this is going to raise my electric bill more than, say, $100 a year, I’d rather the DW be out of my prep area. \*\* John Mace, \*\*there will be a lazy susan, but accessing that from the other side isn’t an option; there will be a toilet on the other side. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishwasher-next-to-the-fridge-huge-waste-of-energy-or-not-a-big-deal/623969/16 "2012-06-04T02:11:07Z")
> [@Lightlystarched](#): > > No. Right-handed people do well to have the d/w on the left, as they can use their left hand to hold the dish, the right hand to scrape food into the sink, and then their left hand to put the dishes in the d/w. No. Right handed people do better loading the D/W with their right hand. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishwasher-next-to-the-fridge-huge-waste-of-energy-or-not-a-big-deal/623969/17 "2012-06-04T02:12:49Z")
Also, we aren’t working within the existing layout or cabinetry here, this house is a foreclosure and completely trashed; everything, including the drywall and windows will be new. You can see some of the lovely before [pics here](https://picasaweb.google.com/109667390045908457426/HouseOnChickRoad?authkey=Gv1sRgCJKV7qePuYPi5wE#). If you dare. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishwasher-next-to-the-fridge-huge-waste-of-energy-or-not-a-big-deal/623969/18 "2012-06-04T02:14:18Z")
> [@Renee](#): > > \*\* > John Mace, \*\*there will be a lazy susan, but accessing that from the other side isn’t an option; there will be a toilet on the other side. 🙂 That’s not what I meant by the other side. I meant the other run of cabinets coming from the left where the stove is located. [See here.](http://www.rev-a-shelf.com/p-25-pullout-wire-pull-slide-pull-blind-corner-accessories.aspx) ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishwasher-next-to-the-fridge-huge-waste-of-energy-or-not-a-big-deal/623969/19 "2012-06-04T02:14:53Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > That’s not what I meant by the other side. I meant the other run of cabinets coming from the left where the stove is located. [See here.](http://www.rev-a-shelf.com/p-25-pullout-wire-pull-slide-pull-blind-corner-accessories.aspx) Ah, yes. Those are neat, but crazy-expensive. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![thelabdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@thelabdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelabdude)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishwasher-next-to-the-fridge-huge-waste-of-energy-or-not-a-big-deal/623969/20 "2012-06-04T03:18:29Z")
> [@dolphinboy](#): > > How often do you run your dishwasher? Twice a week for an hour each time? I don’t see how it could make much of a difference, so I think it’s a non issue. > > People ususally put their dishwasher next to the kitchen sink so that you aren’t carrying wet dishes around to load the dishwasher… assuming, of course, that you rinse your dishes before you stick them in the dishwasher. 🙂 Good point. Adding to that is the quality of modern insulations and that quality dishwashers have insulation to deaden the sound. I would vote for as much ventilation as possible between. We may rinse dishes for several days and then after a big meal, throw the stuff in directly and run immediately. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishwasher-next-to-the-fridge-huge-waste-of-energy-or-not-a-big-deal/623969.md?page=2)