GE GSD820 User manual

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Dishwasher
Contents
Air Gap 11 POTSCRUBBER ~yCk! 4,5
Appliance Registration 2Problem Solver 12-14
Care and Cleaning 11 Rinse Agent 6
China, Crystal, Sterling 10 Safetv Instructions 3
Consumer Services 15 User Maintenance Instructions 11
Cycle Features 4,5 warranty Back Cover
Detergent, Detergent Guide 6,7 Water Temperature 6
Dispenser Cups 7Winter Storage 11
Energy Saver Switch 4
Energy-saving Tips 2
Front Panel Color Change 11
Loading 8,9
Model and Serial Numbers 2
Operating Instructions 4.5
Cycle Selection 5GEAnswer Center@
Drying Options 4,5 8170.626.2i7(M
Built-in Model GSD820
GEAppliances “.Y9-5yqJi
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Help us help you... If you need service
-“Before using your
dishwasher, read this
book carefuUy.
-It is intended to help you
operate and maintain your new
dishwasher properly.
Keep it handy for answers to
your questions.
If you don’t understand something
or need more help, write (include
your phone number):
Consumer Affairs
GE Appliances
Appliance Park
Louisville, KY 40225
Write down the model and
serial numbers.
You’ll find them on alabel
fastened to the tub wall just inside
the dishwasher door.
These numbers are also on the
Consumer Product Ownership
Registration Card that came with
your dishwasher. Before sending
in this card, please write these
numbers here:
Model Number
Serial Number
Use these numbers in any
correspondence or service calls
concerning your dishwasher.
If you received a
damaged dishwasher...
Immediately contact the dealer
(or builder) that sold you
the dishwasher.
Save time and money.
Before you request
.
service...
Check the Problem Solver (pages
12 through 14). It lists causes of
minor operating problems that you
can correct yourself.
To obtain aSpanish language
version of this book, call
GE Answer Center”
800.626.2000
consumer information service.
Para obtener la versi6n en
espailoi de este manual,
name a
GE Answer Center,E
servicio de information
para el consumidor,
tel~fono 800.626.2000.
Energy-saving tips
The power consumption of your
dishwasher can be minimized if
you follow these suggestions:
.Operate dishwasher only when
it’s full. Let the dishes accumulate
in dishwasher. When you put in
only apartial load, use the RINSE
&HOLD cycle to rinse off heavy
soils. Be sure to latch the door
when waiting for afull load.
This helps keep soils moist, easier
to remove.
●If you don’t need your dishes
right away, use your ENERGY
SAVER no-heat boost drying
feature that turns the drying heater
off automatically. Dishes dry
naturally over alonger period
such as overnight.
●Always select the cycle that
uses least amount of water that
will remove the soil from the
load. See pages 4and 5.
●Turn your water heater down to
120”F and use the WASH HEAT
BOOST Option. Make sure the
entering water temperature is no
less than 120”F (see page 6).
To obtain service, see the f-’ ,
Consumer Services page in the ‘
back of this book.
We’re proud of our service and
want you to be pleased. If for some
reason you are not happy with the
service you receive, here are three
steps to follow for further help.
FIRST, contact the people who
serviced your appliance. Explain
why you are not pleased. In most
cases, this will solve the problem.
NEXT, if you are still not pleased,
write all the details—including
your phone number—to:
Manager, Consumer Relations
GE Appliances
Appliance Park
Louisville, Kentucky 40225
FINALLY, if your problem is still
not resolved, write:
Major Appliance Consumer
Action Panel
20 North Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606 ,‘-
*,.
2

IIMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
Read all instructions before using this appliance
WARNING—When using this
appliance, always exercise basic
safety precautions, including
the following:
.Use this appliance only for its
intended purpose. as you will tlnd
described in this Use and Care
Book.
sThis dishwasher must be
proper!y installed and
located in accordance with
the Installation Instructions
before it is used. If you did
not receive an Installation
Instructions sheet with your
dishwasher, you can obtain one
by contacting the service
location nearest you.
—This appliance must be
connected to agrounded metal,
permanent wiring system; or an
equipment-grounding conductor
.- must be run with the circuit
conductors and connected to the
equipment-grounding terminal
or lead of the appliance.
—Connect to aproperly rated,
protected and sized power-supply
circuit to avoid electrical
overload.
●Do not store or use
combustible materials,
gasoline or other flammable
vapors and liquids in the
vicinity of this or any other
appliance.
●Use only powder or liquid
detergents or wetting agents
recommended for ttse in a
dishwasher.
.Do not wash plastic items unless
marked “dishwasher safe” or the
equivalent. For plastic items not so
marked, check the manufacturer’s
recommendations.
. .
●Load light plastic items so
they will not become dislodged
and drop to the bottom of the
dishwasher— they might come
into contact with the heating
unit and be damaged.
To minimize the possibility
of injury.
●When loading items to be
washed:
A. Locate sharp items so that
they are not likely to damage
the door seal, and
B. Load sharp knives with the
handles up to reduce the risk
of cut-type injuries.
.Do not touch the heating
element during or immediately
after use.
●Do not operate your dishwasher
unless all enclosure panels are
properly in place.
●Do not tamper with controls.
●Do not abuse, sit on, or stand
on the door or dish rack of the
dishwasher.
●Close supervision is necessary
if this appliance is used by or
near children. Do not allow
children to play inside, on or
with this appliance or any
discarded appliance. Ilispose
of discarded appliances and
shipping or packing material
properly. Before discarding a
dishwasher, remove the door
of the washing compartment.
●Keep all washing detergents
and wetting agents out of the
reach of children, preferably in
alocked cabinet. Observe all
warnings on container labels to
avoid personal injury.
sTo minimize the possibility
of electric shock, disconnect
this appliance from the power
supply before attempting any
maintenance.
Note: Turning the control dial
to the (3FF position does not
disconnect the appliance
from the power supply. We
recotimend having aqualified
technician service your appliance.
WARNING-HYDROGEN GAS
is produced by the chemical
action within your water heater.
It can accumulate in the water
heater and/or water pipes if hot
water has not been used for a
period of two weeks or longer.
HYDROGEN GAS IS
EXPLOSIVE. To prevent the
possibility of damage or injury,
if you have not used hot water
for two weeks or more, or
moved into aresidence in which
the hot water system may not
have been used for some time,
turn on all hot water faucets and
allow them to run for several
minutes before using any
electrical appliance which is
connected to the hot water
system. This will allow any
hydrogen gas to escape. Also,
since the gas is flammable, do
not smoke or use an open flame
or appliance during this process.
SAVE THESE
INSTRUCTIONS
3

How to operate your dishwasher
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STEP 1. Load your dishwasher
with dishes, silverware, pots, pans,
bowls, etc., according to
instructions on pages 8and 9.
STEP 2. Add detergent to the
detergent dispenser. Make sure the
Cycle Indicator Dial is at OFF
position before adding detergent.
(See pages 6and 7.)
Use rinse aid agent to help prevent
spotting. Occa~ionally check to
insure that rinse agent container is
at least half full. (See page 6.)
STEP 3. Select drying option.
HE#dEDE:KiJiiif
{NO HEAT BOOST)
m
HEATED DRY. Turns the drying
heater on for fast drying.
ENERGY SAVER (no heat boost).
Turns the drying heater off to save
energy. Dishes will dry naturally
over alonger period such as
overnight.
If you need your dishes sooner,
open the dishwasher door after the
cycle is complete to reduce the
natural drying time.
Note: The ENERGY SAVER option
will also cancel the WASH HEAT
BOOST. To obtain WASH HEAT
BOOST without HEATED DRY,
select only the WASH HEAT BOOST
option. (See Energy-Saving Tips on
page 2.)
STEP 4. WASH HEAT BOOST
Option.
WASWAT
When selected, the wash cycle will
be extended for 21 minutes while
the dishwasher heats the water for
good washing and drying. The
entering water must be at least
120°F.
When this option is not selected the
entering water must be at least
140°F. To test water temperature,
see page 6.
STEP 5. Select the wash cycle and
start the dishwasher. (See Cycle
Selection Hints on next page.)
If your dishwasher drains into a
food waste disposer, operate the
disposer until it is empty before
starting the dishwasher.
●For POTSCRUBBER,
NORMAL WASH and LIGHT
WASH cycles:
POT- NORMAL LIGHT
SCRUBBER WASH WASH
a. Push selected cycle button.
b. Latch the door.
c. Slowly turn Cycle Indicator
Dial to ON position to start the
-cycle. You will hear the motor
start. There is atime delay
between start-up and water fill
so you will not hear any wash
action right away.
To obtain the benefits of a
complete cycle, be careful that
you do not turn the dial any
further than necessary to start
the dishwasher.
cFor RINSE &HOLD cycle:
/- Ygk, ‘. WASHING
/
/
‘g)‘)
DRYING \O
\\\ t)}
~, /’
‘-–=-> RINSE &MOLD IuS1‘a;i” OPIIOhI
a.
b.
c.
d.
Be sure door is unlatched.
Select ENERGY SAVER
drying option.
Slowly turn Cycle Indicator
Dial to RINSE& HOLD
position.
Latch the door to start the cycle,
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4

1
1
Cycle selection hints
[t is important to follow the loading
instructions on pages 8and 9.
POTSCRUBBER—For items such
as pots, pans and casseroles with
dried-on or baked-on soils.
Everyday dishes may be included.
NORMAL WASH—For loads of
everyday dishes, glasses and
cookware.
LIGHT WASH—For dishes that
are lightly soiled with soils that
have not dried on. Also for
everyday dishes that have extra
preparation before loading.
RINSE &HOLD—For rinsing
partial loads which will be washed
later. Do not use detergent.
What happens in each cycle
●You’11hear occasional clicking ●During the drying period:
sounds: —The motor stops.
—Soft food disposer shredding —Water vapor comes through the
action. vent by the door latch during
—Drain valve opening to pump drying and when water is being
water out. pumped out.
—Timer control as cycle
progresses.
—Detergent cup opening.
Wash
Water Use Cycle Time
Gallons Minutes
Wash Cycles (approx.) (approx.) Cycle Sequence
1
POTSCRUBBER ]~.]‘ M* ‘EI-IFIEIFIFIFI
NORMAL WASH ]~.] SIX nFIFlmHFll=q
LIGHTWASH 10.5 5]* FIFIEIFIFIFI
RINSE& HOLD 4.9 14 EIBIEI
*unextended times. These cYc]e times Wi]l be increased approximately 21 minutes if
wash heat boost Option is selected.
Drying Options:
HEATED DRY.Available on all wash cycles except RINSE &HOLD. Add 25 minutes to wash
cycle time.
ENERGY SAVER (No Heat Boost). Drying heater is turned off. Dishes dry naturally.
+.
‘. J
5

Good dishwashing starts
-0with HOT water
TOget dishes clean and dry you need
hot water. To help you get water of
.the proper temperature, your
dishwasher has aWASH HEAT
BOOST feature. When selected (see
page 4), this water heating feature
allows you to turn down your
household water heater and save
energy if you’re willing to let the
dishwasher run alittle longer while it
heats water. For good washing and
drying, the entering water must be
between 120°F and 140°F. To prevent
dish damage, inlet water should not
exceed 150°F.
How to test water temperature:
Check the water temperature inside
your dishwasher with acandy or
meat thermometer.
Let the dishwasher run through one
fill and pump out cycle, then let the
dishwasher fill with water the
second time, approximately 5
minutes after starting the machine.
When you hear the water stop
filling, unlatch the door and sIowly
open it.
Measure the temperature of the
water in the bottom of the tub this
way:
Remove the silverware basket and
place acandy or meat thermometer
in the water towards the middle of
the tub. If the temperature is less
than 120”F, you will not get good
washing results. Raise your water
heater temperature, wait 30 minutes
and test again. Higher water
temperature is needed to dissolve
grease and activate powder
detergents. If the water temperature
is less than 140°F, use the WASH
HEAT BOOST Option (see page 4).
Helpful hints: If outside
temperatures are unusually low, or
if your water travels along distance
from water heater to dishwasher.
you may need to set your water :
heater’s thermostat up. If”you have
not used hot water for some time,
the water in the pipes will be cold.
Turn on the hot water faucet at the
sink and allow it to run until the
water is hot. Then start the
dishwasher. If you’ ve recently done
laundry or run hot water for
showers. give your water heater
time to recover before operating the
dishwasher.
How to use aRinse Agent
Arinse agent makes water flow off
dishes quicker than usual. This
lessens water spotting and makes
drying Faster, too.
For best dishwashing performance,
use of arinse agent such as JET-
DRY brand is recommended.
Rinse agents come in either liquid
or solid form. Your dishwasher’s
dispenser uses the liquid form.
How to fill the rinse agent
dispenser. Unscrew the cap. Add
the liquid rinse agent until it just
reaches the bottom of the lip inside
the dispenser opening. Replace the
cap. The dispenser automatically
releases the rinse agent into the
final rinse water.
If you accidentally spill: Wipe up
the rinse agent with adamp cloth.
Don’t leave the spill in the
dishwasher. It can keep your
detergent from working.
If you can’t find any rinse agent,
write:
BENCKISER CONSUMER
PRODUCTS, INC.
(“JET DRY”)
411 W. Putnam Ave.
Greenwich, CT 06830
Your dishwasher’s rinse agent
container holds 4X ounces. This
should last about 3months. Fill as
needed. Do not ovetilll.
How to choose and use
detergent e,.
<’.t
First, use only powder or liquid
detergents specifically made for
use in dishwashers. Other types
will cause oversudsing.
Second, check the phosphate
content. Phosphate helps prevent
hard-water materials from forming
spots or film on your dishes. If
your water is hard (7 grains or
more), your detergent has to work
harder. Detergents with ahigher
phosphate level will probably work
better. If the phosphate content is
low (8.7% or less), you’ll have to
use extra detergent with hard water.
Your water department can tell
you how hard your water is. So
can your county extension agent
or your area’s water softener
company. Just call and ask them
how many “grains of hardness”
there are in your water.
How much detergent should you
r
use? That depends. Is your water ‘~,
“hard” or “soft”’? With hard water, “
you need extra detergent to get
dishes clean. With soft water. you
need less detergent.
Too much detergent with soft water
not only wastes money, it can be
harmful. It can cause apermanent
cloudiness of glassware, called
“etching.” An outside layer of glass
is etched away! Of course, this takes
some time. But why take achance
when it’s easy to find out the
hardness of your water.
Keep your detergent fresh and
dry. Under the sink isn’t agood
place to store detergent. Too much
moisture. Don’t put powder
detergent into the dispenser until
you’re ready to wash dishes, either.
(It won’t be fresh OR dry.)
If your powder detergent gets old
or lumpy, throw it away. Itwon’t
wash well. Old detergent often
won’t dissolve. ?-”
L
If you use aliquid dishwasher ‘. ~
detergent, these precautions are not
necessary because liquid detergents
don’t “lump” as they age or come
in contact with water.
6

You’ 11find two detergent
‘m dispensers on the inside door of
4: your dishwasher. Two, because
some cycles use two washes.
See “Detergent Usage Guide”
below. (Be sure the Cycle Indicator
Dial is at OFF position befbre
adding detergent. Otherwise, the
detergent cup will not close and
latch properly. )
GRASP HANDLE, , ‘
J%
ROTATE AND
CLOSE TIGHTLY ~---
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1.
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Close the main cup.
NOTE: Detergent cLlpmaybe
opened manually with no harm.
Turn handle counterclockwise
untd it releases. Asnapping sound
is normal when it opens.
How to prepare the dishes
for washing
1~
this is your first dishwasher, or
it’you’re replacing amuch older
model, you may wonder how much
prepamtion your dishes need.
Actually very little. Pre-rinsing of
normal food soils is not necessary.
With common sense and alittle
practice you’ 11soon know what
foods to remove. Here are some
guidelines:
1. Scrape off bones, seeds. skins,
toothpicks and other hard solids. It
is also best to remove hard shelled
vegetables, meat trimmings, leafy
vegetables and cmstso Remove
excessive quantities of oil or grease.
2. Remove large quantities of any
food. Your dishwasher has abuilt-in
soft food disposer that pulverizes
soft food bits and flushes them
away. It can handle small amounts
of soft foods, but large amounts will
be diftlcult to handle.
Detergent Usage Guide (powder or liquid)
3. Try to remove food scraps and
place dishes in dishwasher before
soil has achance to dry and become
hard. Dishes with dried-on soil are
more difficult to wash and may not
come clean in the NORMAL
WASH cycle. Remember to use
your RINSE &HOLD cycle for
small “holding” loads.
Note: The foods mentioned above
are for examples only. Other foods
not mentioned may also need to be
removed from your dishes. You may
also want to consider removing
foods such as mustard. mayonnaise,
vinegar, lemon juice and other foods
that can cause discoloration of
stainless steel if allowed to remain
on dishes for along period of time.
When using the POTSCRIJBBER
cycle, less preparation is required
before loading. The POTSCRUBBER
cycle can wash heavily-soiled dishes.
Items with burned-on and baked-on
soils may not come clean. And the
dishwasher cannot remove bum
marks or restore fading caused by
overheating during cooking.
CYCLES
“POTSCRUBBER
and
NORMAL WASH
cycles
LIGHT WASH cycle
SOFT WATER MEDIUM WATER HARD WATER
(O-3 grains hardness) (3-7 grains) (7- 12 grdins*)
Main Cup Open Cup Main Cup Open Cup Main Cup+ Open Cup-$
1Tablespoon 1Tablespoon Half Full Half Full Completely Completely
minimum minimum Full Full
+ + +
1Tablespoon None Half Full None Completely None
minimum Full
RINSE &HOLD cycle Use no detergent Use no detergent Use no detergent
i~ *12 grains and up is extremely hard water. Awater softener is recommended. Without it, lime
can build up in the water valve. The water valve may stick while open and cause flooding.
$Filled Main Cup holds 3 tablespoons; Filled Open Cup holds 2 tablespoons.
7

How to load your dishwasher How to load the TOP RACK
This is arandom mixed ioad, the most common @pe
you will have.
Make sure dishes are properly loaded to insure that
water can reach the soiled surfaces. The wash arm in
the bottom sprays water up. The !ower that rises in the
center sends water out over the dishes to wash the
items in the upper rack. Aspray arm in the top washes
down also. Make sure to place tall items to the outside
so ~he upper wash arm is not blocked.
The top rack is best for glasses, cups and saucers. Cups
and glasses flt best along the sides. This is the place for
dishwasher-safe plastics, too. Make sure small plastic
items are lodged in tightly so they can’t fill onto the
Calrod” heating unit. Anange stemware so that it cannot
move easily. Don’t let the :~asses touch each other.
WATCH OUT FOR THIS.
The wash tower rises through the center of the bottom
rack during the wash and rinse portions of the cycle.
Don’t block it or load tall things next to it. Also, be
careful not to let aportion of an item such as apot or
dish handle extend through the bottom rack. This could
block the wash arm and cause poor washing results.
Sauce pans, mixing bowls and other small items may
be placed—face down —in the top rack. The top rack
is handy for all kinds of odd shapes.
8

P-
IT’
.-
How to load the BOTTOM RACK
Load platters, pots, pans and bowls along the sides, in
corners or in the back. All large items. such as pitchers,
salad bowls and mixing bowls, should be washed in the
lower rack.
Put tlatware in the removable basket with handles UD to
protect your hands. Mix knives, forks and spoonss: they
don’t nest together. Distribute eveniy. Small plastic items,
such as measuring spoons and lids from small containers
are not recommended for automatic dishwashing. If
placed in the dishwasher, they should go in the bottom of
silverware basket with silverware on top.
Heavily soiled pots, puns and casseroles MUST be
loaded in the bottom rack. F~cin: down. Prop broiler
pans and racks along the edge.
Don’t let any
item extend ~-
through bottom.
Precaution!
Take out anything that r-nayfall or extend through the
bottom of the basket.

What you can usually wash safely in your dishwasher.
..And what you can’t.
Exceptions (not safe)
Usually
Safe
Material Special Instructions
Aluminum YES Some colored anodized aluminum can
fade. Some darkening or spotting possible. Remove by
scouring with soap-filled steel wool pads.
If in doubt, check with the manufacturer, or test wash
one piece daily for at least amonth. Compare with the
rest of the set.
China/Stoneware Antique, metal-trimmed, hand-painted
or over-the-glaze patterns f~de. Gold
leaf will discolor.
YES
Crystal YES Antique, metal-trimmed or hand-
painted patterns fade. Gold leaf will
discolor.
Load securely to prevent movement. Check
manufacturer’s instructions for your crystal.
Non-dishwasher
items-such as
electronic air cieaner
filters, furnace filters,
paint brushes, etc.
NO Do not wash in dishwasher. Damage to dishwasher and
discoloration or staining of dishwasher may result.
Glass YES Milk glass may yellow.
Iron
Pewter
Iron will rust.
NO
NO Pewter tarnishes.
Plastics YES If it doesn’t say DISHWASHER SAFE, test one piece in
the top rack before dishwashing an entire set. Wash in
top rack only.
Rinse if not washing immediately. Salty or acid foods
can stain if left on.
Stainless steel YES
Sterling Silver
and Silver plate Don’t put in same silverware basket
with stainless steel. Contact between
metals can damage silver. Don’ twash
copper utensils in the same load. Silver
may get abrown film. Adhesive used
to attach some hollow-handte knives
can loosen.
Rinse if not washing immediately. Salty or acid foods
can stain if left on. Dry detergent can cause difficult-to-
remove black spots. Place in back section of silverware
basket to avoid exposure to detergent from the detergent
cup.
YES
Non-stick
coatings YES After washing, wipe the non-stick coating area with
vegetable oil to keep it from losing its non-stick quality.
Tin NO Tin can rust.
wood NO Wood can warp, crack or lose its
finish with any type of washing.
However, opening the door during
any cycle lessens cleaning power
because the temperature inside the
dishwasher is lowered. So try to
2. Wait afew seconds until the
water calms. Then open the door.
Forget adish? Here’s
when you can add it.
Add dishes any time during the
RINSE &HOLD cycle. With
other wash cycles, you can add
3. Add dishes you’ ve forgotten.
load everything at the beginning.
Here’s how to add aforgotten dish:
4. Close the door and push the
latch to the far right. When the
door is locked, washing willdishes at anY time BEFORE the main
detergentwish portion ofthe cycle. 1. Push the door latch to the left. “ continue.
Washing will stop.
.10