GE GSD940 User manual

Dishwasher
Contents
Air Gap 14 POTSCRUBBER Cycle 4,5
Appliance Registration 2Problem Solver 11-13
Care and Cleaning 14 Rinse Agent 6
China, Crystal, Sterling 10 Safety Instructions 3
Consumer Services 15 User Maintenance Instructions 15
Cycle Features 4,5 wa.ITanty Back Cover
Detergent, Detergent Guide 6,7 Water Temperature 6
Dispenser Cups 7Winter Storage 15
Energy Saver Switch 4
Energy-saving Tips 2
Front Panel Color Change 14
Loading 8,9
Model and Serial Numbers 2
Operating Instructions 4,5
Cycle Selection .5GEAnswerCmter@
Drying Options 4,5 8011626.2000
Built-in Models GSD940
GSD970
GEAppliances
..-.-_ —. ——.. .—... —-.—.————...——-. .——.

Help us help you... If you need service
To obtain service, see the
Before using your
dishwasher, read this
book carefully.
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.
2
Save time and money.
Before you request
service...
Check the Problem Solver (pages
11through 13). It lists causes of
minor operating problems that you
can correct yourself.
*
..s
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.
To obtain aSpanish language
version of this book, call
GE Answer Center 0
800.626.2000
consumer information service.
Para obtener la versi6n en
espafiol de este manual,
name a
GE Answer Center?
servicio de informaci6n
para el consurnidor,
tel~fono 800.626.2000.
Major Appliance Consumer
Action Panel
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 I
GE Appliances
Appliance Park
Louisville, Kentucky 40225
FINALLY, if your problem is still
not resolved, write:
Energy-saving tips 20 North Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606
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.
cAlways select the cycle that
uses least amount of water that
will remove the soil from the
load. See pages 4and 5.
●Tum 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). I
\
I

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
4-- Read all instructions before using this appliance
WARNING—When using this
appliance, always exercise basic
safety precautions, including
the following:
cUse this appliance only for its
intended purpose, as you will
find described in this Use and
Care Book.
●This dishwasher must be
properly 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 ~properly 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 use 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.
cLoad 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.
.
cDo 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. Dispose
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.
*To minimize the possibility
of electric shock, disconnect
this appliance from the power
supply before attempting any
maintenance.
Note: Turning the control dial
to the OFF position does not
disconnect the appliance
fmm the power supply. We
recommend having aqualified
technician service your appliance.
W-G–HYDROGEN GAS
is produced by the chemical
action within your water heater.
It can accumulate in the water
heater andlor 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
I
STEP 1. Load your dishwasher
with dishes, silverware, pots,
pans, bowls, etc., according to
instructions on pages 8-10.
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. Occasionally check to
insure that rinse agent container is
at least half fall. .(See page 6.)
STEP 3. Select drying option.
HEA~D DRY. Turns the drying
heater on for fast drying.
ENERGY SAVER (no-heatboost).
Turns the drying heater off to save
energy.Dishes will dry naturally
over alongex’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 SA~R
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.)
4
STEP 4. WASH HEAT BOOST
Option.
WA#HIIl;AT
D
When selected, the 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.
If your dishwasher drains into a
food waste disposer, operate the
disposer until it is empty before
starting the dishwasher. (See Cycle
Selection Hints on next page.)
●For POTSCRUBBER,
NORMAL WASH and LIGHT
WASH cycles:
POT- NORMAL LIGHT
SCRUBBER WASH WASH
❑rl
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. *
●For RINSE &HOLD cycle:
RINSE
&HOLD
❑
a.
b.
c.
d.
to
Push RINSE &HOLD button.
Select ENERGY SAVER
drying option.
Latch the door.
Slowly turn Cycle Indicator Dial
ON position to start the cycle.

c!
\
~ycle selection hints
It is important to follow the loading
instructions on pages 8-10.
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 with medium soils.
Designed to yield high
performance on normal soils.
LIGHT WASH—For most loads of
everyday dishes with light soils or
soils that have not dried on. It
saves hot water over the higher
performance cycles, saving energy.
RINSE &HOLD—For rinsing
partial loads which will be washed
later. Do not use detergent.
ehat happens in each cycie
\
“
“You’ll hear occasional clicking
sounds: ●During the drying period:
—Soft food disposer shredding —The motor stops.
action. -Water vapor comes through the
—Drain valve opening to pump vent by the door latch during
water out.
—Timer control as cycle
progresses.
—Detergent chp opening.
drying and when water is be~ng
pumped out.
Water Use
Gallons
Wash Cycles (approx.)
POTSCRUBBER 12.1
NORMAL WASH 12.1
LIGHT WASH 10.5
RINSE &HOLD 4.9
Wash
CycleTime
Minutes
(approx.) Cycle Sequence
“* Mmmmmmm
‘l* Mmmmmmm
51* mBlzzlBm —~
14 Rinse Rinse
*Unextended times. These cycle times will be imxemed approximately21 minutesif WASH
HEAT BOOST Option is selected.
‘ryingOptions:
HEATED DRYING. Available on all wash cycles exceptRINSE& HOLD.Add 2Sminutes to
wash cycle time.
ENERGY SAVER (No Heat Boost). Drying heater is turned off. Dishes dry naturally. WASH
HEAT BOOST is cancelled. 5

Gooddishwashing StWtS
with HOT water
To get dishes clean and dry you need
hot water.Tohelp you get waterof
the proper temperature,your
dishwasher has aWA~R HEAT
BOOST featurethat automatically
sensesthe temperatureof the waterin
the wash cycle and heats it, if
necessary,to the proper temperature.
This water heating featuremay allow
YOU toturndown YOUI’ household
water heater and saveenergyif you’re
willing to let the dishwasherrun a
little longer while it heats waterto the
proper tempemture.For good
washing and drying, the entering
watermust beat least 120°F.To
prevent dish darnage,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 slowly
open it.
Measure the temperatm 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 temperahm 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
6
detergents. If the water temperature
is less than 140”F,use the WASH
HEATBOOST Option (see page 4).
Helpful hints: Ifoutside
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. Tbrn 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
AMse 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. Yourdishwasher’s
dispenser uses the liquid form.
How to fill the rinse agent
dispenser. Unscrew the cap. Add the
liquid rinse agent until itjust 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 agen~
write:
BENCKISER CONSUMER
PRODUCTS, INC.
(“JET DRY”)
411 W.Putnam Ave.
Greenwich, CT 06830
Yourdishwasher’s Mse agent
container holds 4%ounces. This
should last about 3months. Fill as
needed. Do not overfill.
How to choose and use
detergent o
FN~use only powder or liquid
detergents specifically made for
use in dishwashers. Other types
will cause ovemudshg.
Second,check the phosphate
conten~ Phosphate helps prevent
hard-watermaterialsfrom forming
spots or film on your dishes. If your
water is hard (7 grains or more), your
detergenthas to work harder.
Detergentswith ahigher phosphate ‘
level willprobably work better.If the
phosphatecontent is low (8.7% or
less), you’ll have to use extra
detergentwith hard water.
Yourwater department can tell
you how hard your water is. So
canyourcounty extension agent
or your area’swater softener
company. Just call and ask them how
many “grains of hardness” there are
in your water.
How much detergent should yo~
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 detergentwith 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’seasy 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 muth
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 detergentgets old
or lumpy,throwit away.It won’t
wash well. Old detergentoften won’t
dissolve.
If you use aliquid dishwasher @
detergent,these precautions are not
necessarybecause liquid detergents
don’t “lump” as they age or come in
contact with water.
.
ii

c?
i
‘You’llfind two detergent
dispensers on the inside door of
your dishwasher. Two, because
some cycles use two w~hes.
/f’
See “Detergent Usage Guide”
below. (Be sure the Cycle Indicator
Dial is at OFF position before
adding detergent. Otherwise, the
detergent cup will not close and
latch properly.)
GRASP HANDLE, /’
ROTATE AND
/’
CLOSE TIGHTLY /~=-
Close the main cup.
NOTE: Detergent cup may be
opened manually with no harm.
Turn handle countexlockwise
How to prepare the dishes
for washing
Ifthis is your fwstdishwasher, or
if you’re replacing amuch older
model, you may wonder how much
preparation your dishes need.
Actually very little. Pre-rinsing of
normal food soils is not necessary.
With common sense and alittle
practice you’ll soon 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 crusts. Remove
excessive quantities of oil or grease.
2. Remove large quantities of any
food. Yourdishwasher has abuilt-in
soil food disposer that pulverizes
soft food bits and flushes them
away. It can handle small amounts
of soft foods, but large amounts will
be difllcult to handle.
.
until it releases. Asnapping sound
is normal when it opens.
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. Youmay
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 POTSCRUBBER
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.
ISO~ WA~R MEDIUM WATER HARD WA~R
(O-3grains hardness) (3-7 grains) (7-12 grains*)
CYCLES Main Cup Open Cup Main Cup Open Cup Main Cup$ Open Cup*
POTSCRUBBER 1Tablespoon 1Tablespoon Half Full Half Full Completely Completely
and minimum +minimum Full +Full
NORMAL WASH +
cycles
LIGHT WASH cycle 1Tablespoon None Half Full None Completely None
minimum Full
L
.RINSE &HOLD cycle Useno detergent Use no detergent Use no detergent
*12grains and up is extremely hard water. Awater softener is recommended.Without it, lime
can build Upin the water valve. The water valve may stick while open and cause flooding.
$Filled Main CUpholds 3tablespoons; Filled Open Cup holds 2tablespoons. 7

How to load your dishwasher How to load the TOP RACK
This is arandom nli.~ed load, the most common t>pe
l-a[ \\-ill ha~’e.
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 tower 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 the upper wash arm is not blocked.
The top rack is best for glasses, cups and saucers. Cups
and glasses fit 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 fall onto the
CalrodF heating unit. Arrange stemware so that it cannot
move easily. Don’t let the glasses touch each other. 3
‘“+“’
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.
8
lauce pans, mixing bowls and other small items may
)e placed—face down—in the top rack. The top rack
shandy for all kinds of odd shapes.
.. ... . ———---- -—

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.
I
I
Fit plates and saucers between the pins. Place items so
tha~ water and detergen
surfaces from wash arm can reach soiled
Heavily soiled pots, pans and casseroles MUST be
loaded-in the bottom rack, facing down. Prop broiler
pans and racks along the edge.
IDon’t let any
item extend
Ithrough bottom.
Put flatware in the removable basket with handles up to
protect your hands. Mix knives. forks and spoons so they
don’t nest together. Distribute evenly. 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.
Precaution!
Take out anything that may fall or extend through the
bottom of the basket.
‘G.
9

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