Hotpoint HDA400 Installation instructions

‘owtogetYour
the best from
Dkhwmher
Contents
Air Gap 11
Soil Level
7
Appliance Registration 2
Problem Solver
13-15
Care and Cleaning
11
Rinse Agent 6
China, Crystal, Sterling
10
Safety Instructions
3
Consumer Services
19
User Maintenance Instructions 11
Cycle Features 4,5
Warranty
Back Cover
Detergent, Detergent Guide 6, 7
Water Temperature 6
Dispenser Cups 7 Winter Storage 11
Energy-Saving Tips 2
Front Panel Color Change 12
Loading
8,9
Model and Serial Numbers
2
Operating Guide 4,5
Cycle Selection
5
Drying Options 4,5 GE Answer
Center@
Plate Warmer 4,5
800.626.2000
Use and Care of
btit-h model
DA400

~LP US mLP YOU...
Before using your If you received Write down the model
dishwasher, read this
a damaged dishwasher...
and serial numbers.
guide carefully.
Immediately contact the dealer
You’ll find them on a label
It is intended to help you
(or builder) that sold you the fastened to the tub wall just
operate and maintain your
dishwasher. inside the dishwasher door.
new dishwasher properly.
These numbers are also on the
Keep it handy for answers to
Save time and money.
your questions.
Before you request
If you don’t understand something
service . . .
or-need more help, write (include-
your phone number):
Check the Problem Solver in the
back of this
guide. It lists causes
Consumer Affairs
Hotpoint
of minor ope;ating problems that
Appliance Park you can correct yourself.
Louisville, KY 40225
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.
~ YOU NEED SERVICE...
To obtain service, see the Consumer
Services page in the back of this guide.
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
Hotpoint
Appliance Park
Louisville, KY 40225
FINALLY, if your problem is still not resolved, write:
Major Appliance Consumer Action Panel
20 North
Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
ENERGY-SAV~G TWS
● Operate dishwasher only when it’s full. Let the ● If you don’t need your dishes right away, use
dishes accumulate in dishwasher. When you put in your DRYING HEAT OFF option (energy
only a partial load, use the RINSE & HOLD cycle to saver drying feature) that turns the drying
rinse off heavy soils. Be sure to latch the door when heater off automatically. Dishes dry naturally
waiting for a full load. This helps keep soils moist, over a longer period such as overnight.
easier to remove. ● Always select the cycle that uses the least amount
of water that will remove the soil from the load.
(See the Operating section).
2

A
WARNING—When using this
appliance, always exercise basic
safety precautions, including the
following:
● Use this appliance only for its intended
purpose, as you will find described in this
Use and Care Guide.
● Do not touch the Calrod@ heating element during
or immediately after use.
● Do not operate your dishwasher unless all
enclosure panels are properly in place.
● Do not abuse, sit on, or stand on the door
or dish rack of the dishwasher.
0
● This dishwasher must be properly
‘Q “; ~
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 a
grounded 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 a properly rated, protected and sized
power-supply circuit to avoid electrical overload.
● Do not store or use combustible
*
1
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.
“ 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
Calrod@ heating element 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 tamper with controls,
●
Vlubc >upGl v l>lU1l lb Ilcucs>al y 11 1111s dpplldllvc
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 a locked
cabinet. Observe all warnings on container labels
to avoid personal injury.
y%
● To minimize the possibility of
/“
electric shock, disconnect this
/“
appliance from the power supply
before attempting any maintenance. NOTE:
Turning the ~ont~ol dial to the OFF position
does
n~t disconnect the appliance f~om the
power supply. We recommend having a qualified
technician service your appliance.
A
WARNING—HYDROGEN GAS
is produced by the chemical action
within your water heater. It can
accumulate in the water heater andor
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 a residence
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
STEP 1. Load your dishwasher with dishes, silverware,
pots, pans, bowls, etc., according to the Loading section.
STEP 2. Add detergent to the detergent dispenser.
Make sure the Cycle Indicator Dial is at OFF position
before adding detergent. (See Detergent Guide).
Use rinse aid agent to help prevent spotting. Occasionally
check to insure that rinse agent container is at least half
full. (See How to Use a Rinse Agent section).
STEP 3. Select drying option.
DRYING HEAT ON. Turns the
drying heater on for fast drying.
DRYING HEAT OFF. Turns the
drying heater off to save energy.
The dishes will dry naturally over
a longer period such as overnight.
If you need your dishes sooner, open
the dishwasher door after the
cvcle is
DRYING H~:
ON
m
.“ergy sav.roptlons
,
complete to reduce the natural drying time.
Use of this option reduces the electrical energy
used by this
model approximately 10Yo for the
NORMAL WASH cycle.
STEP 4. Select the wash cycle and start the dishwasher.
(See Cycle Selection Hints).
If your dishwasher drains into a food waste disposer,
operate the disposer until it is empty before starting
the dishwasher.
To obtain the benefits of a complete cycle,
be careful that you
do not turn the dial any
farther than necessary
to start the dishwasher.
● For POTS & PANS and NORMAL WASH cycles:
a. Push selected cycle button.
b. Latch the door.
c. Slowly turn the Cycle
Indicator Dial to ON
position to start the
cycle. You will hear
the motor start. There
is a time delay between
the start-up and the water
fill so you will not hear any
wash action right away.
● For WATER SAVER cycle:
a. Be sure door is unlatched.
b. Slowly turn the Cycle
Indicator
Dial to the
WATER SAVER position.
c.
Latch door to start the cycle.
● For RINSE & HOLD cycle:
a.
b,
c.
d.
Be sure door is unlatched.
Select DRYING HEAT
OFF drying option.
Slowly turn the Cycle
Indicator Dial to the
RINSE & HOLD position.
m
WAIER
SAVER ●
ON .
DFF ● ●
~qing
@
washing
● ;!::O
,.””, -,m,
. PUIEWARMER <~”T-”.10.,
WATE
SAVE
washi”g
ON .
OFF ●
.;~::o
,Wws. w
dvlng
. PUIEWAaMERtO”..
Latch the door to start the cycle.
E
~j~: ● washing
9
9
●
. RINSE
&HOU
!Mmwrm,
n9
. PLAIEW&RMER (o”,$.”., m,
“ For PLATE WARMER cycle:
a. Load clean ~lates and dishes ~
to be warm;d.
::: ●
b. Select DRYING HEAT ON :
drying option.
Q
washl”g
.J~g:~
,W,-.,, o”,
9
c. Leave the door unlatched. ‘
g
. PLkTEWARMER,n”,W WAI.8
I
d. Slowly turn the Cycle
Indicator Dial clockwise
to the PLATE WARMER position.
e. Latch the door to start the cycle.
4
—

Cycle Selection Hints
It is important to follow the Loading instructions.
● POTS & PANS—For items such as pots, pans ● WATER SAVER—For dishes with light
soils that
cookware, dishes and glasses with heavy soil. have not dried on, or that have extra preparation
Everyday dishes may be included. before loading. It saves water and energy.
● NORMAL WASH—For loads of everyday dishes, ● RINSE & HOLD—For rinsing partial loads which
glasses and cookware with medium soils. Designed will be washed
later. Do not u.~’e detergetzt.
to yield high performance on normal soils. ● PLATE WARMER—For warming clean dishes
and serving plates for the serving of hot food.
What Happens in Each Cycle
● You’11 hear occasional clicking sounds:
● During the drying period:
—Soft food disposer shredding action. —The motor stops.
—Drain valve opening to pump water out.
— Water vapor comes through the vent by the
—Timer control as cycle progresses. door latch during drying and when water is
—Detergent cup opening.
being pumped out.
POTS & PANS
1 I .4
NORMAL WASH
I 1.4
WATER SAVER
8.2
RINSE & HOLD
3.1
——
Wash Cycle
Time
Minutes
(approx.) Cycle Sequence
1
97
mmmmmmm
82
72
mmmmmmm
mmmmm
13
mm
Drying Options:
DRYING HEAT ON. Available on all wash cycles except RINSE & HOLD. Add 25 minutes to wash cycle time.
DRYING HEAT OFF. Drying heater is turned off. Dishes dry naturally,
Good Dishwashing Starts with HOT Water
To get your dishes clean and dry, you need hot water. To help you get water of the proper
temperature, your dishwasher automatically heats the water in the wash cycle. For good washing
and drying, the entering water must be at
120°F. To prevent dish damage, the inlet water should not exceed 150°F,
5
——

How to Test Water Temperature
Higher water temperature is needed to dissolve grease
and activate powder detergents. Check water temperature
with a candy or meat thermometer. Turn on the hot water
faucet nearest dishwasher. Put the thermometer in a glass
and let the water run continuously into the glass
until the
temperature stops rising. If the water temperature is
below
1200F., adjust your water heater.
Helpful hints: If outside temperatures are unusually low,
or if your water travels a long 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 sink and
allow it to run until water is hot.
Then start dishwasher. If you’ve recently done laundry or
run hot water for showers, give your water heater time to
recover before operating the dishwasher.
To improve washability if water is less than
120°F.
and you cannot adjust your water heater: Select a
longer
cycle and fill both detergent cups at least
half-full with detergent.
How to Use a Rinse Agent
The rinse agent makes water flow off dishes quicker If you accidentally spill: Wipe up the rinse
than usual. This lessens water spotting and makes agent with
a damp cloth. Don’t leave the spill in the
drying faster, too.
dishwasher. [t can keep your detergent from working.
For best
dishwashing performance, use of a rinse If you can’t find any rinse agent, write:
agent such as JET-DRY brand is recommended. BENCKISER CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.
Rinse agents come in either liquid or
solid form. (“JET-DRY”)
Your dishwasher uses the liquid form. Corporate Centre 1
How to fill rinse agent dispenser.
II* I ,Im!llllml
Unscrew the cap. Add liquid rinse agent
Y
55 Federal Road
““F’
until it just reaches the bottom of the lip
inside the dispenser opening. Replace the
i
J i
P. O. Box 1991
Danbury, CT 06813-1991
I
cap. The dispenser automatically releases
\
the rinse agent into the final rinse water.
FULL
How to Choose and Use the Right Detergent
First, use only powder or liquid detergent
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 a higher phosphate
level
will probably work better. If the phosphate content is
low
(8.77. 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
tire in your water.
How much detergent should you 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 a permanent
cloudiness of glassware,
called “etching.” An outside
layer of glass is etched away! Of course, this takes
some time. But why take a chance when it’s easy
to find out the hardness of your water.
Keep your detergent fresh and dry. Under the sink
isn’t a good place to store detergent because there is too
much moisture. Don’t put powder detergent into the
dispenser until you’re ready to wash dishes. (It won’t be
fresh OR dry).
If your powder detergent gets old or lumpy, throw it
away.
Old detergent often won’t dissolve. Jf you use a
liquid dishwasher detergent, these precautions are not
necessary because liquid detergents don’t “lump” as
they age or come in contact with moisture.
6

You’ll find two detergent dispensers on the inside
door of your dishwasher. Two, because some cycles
use two washes.
Close the main cup,
befo;e rotat;ng-the ‘Cycle
Indicator Dial. This will help
GRASP HANDLE,
ROTATE AND
reduce the amount of detergent
CLOSE TIGHTLY
and rinse aid agent spillage into the tub.
Detergent Usage Guide (powder or liquid)
SO~ WATER MEDIUM WATER HARD WATER
(O-3 grains hardness) (3-7 grains) (7-12 grains*)
CYCLES
I Main Cup I Open Cup I Main Cup I Open Cup ] Main Cup$ I Open Cup~
POTS & PANS Half Full
~ Half Full Completely
~ Half Full Completely
~ Completely
NORMAL WASH
Full Full
Full
WATER SAVER Half Full None Half Full None Completely None
Full
RINSE & HOLD Use no detergent Use no detergent Use no detergent
*12 grains and up is extremely hard water. A water softener is recommended. Without it, $Filled
Main Cup holds 3 tablespoons;
lime can build up in the water valve. The water valve may stick while open and cause flooding. Filled Open Cup holds 2 tablespoons.
How to Prepare the Dishes for Washing
If this is your first dishwasher, or if you’re replacing
a much older model, you may wonder how much
preparation your dishes need. Actually very little.
Prerinsing of normal food soils is not necessary.
With common sense and a little 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. Your
dishwasher has a built-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 difficult to handle.
3. Try to remove food scraps and place dishes in
dishwasher before soil has a chance to dry and
become hard. Dishes with dried-on soil are more
difficult to wash and may not come clean in the
POTS & PANS cycle. Remember to use your
RINSE & HOLD cycle for small “holding” loads.
NOTE: The foods mentioned are 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 a long period of time.
When using the POTS & PANS cycle, less preparation
is required before loading. The POTS & PANS cycle can
wash heavily soiled dishes and remove dried-on and
baked-on soils from pots, pans and casseroles, Items with
burned-on soils may not come clean, and the dishwasher
cannot remove bum marks or restore fading caused by
overheating during cooking.
7

HOW TO LOAD YOUR DISHWAS~R
This is a random mixed load, the most common type
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 tower that rises
in the center sends water out over the dishes to wash
the items in the upper rack. A spray arm in the top
washes down also. Make sure to place tall items to
the outside so the upper wash arm is not blocked.
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 a portion of an item such as a pot or
dish handle extend through the bottom rack. This could
block the
wash arm and cause poor washing results.
HOW TO LOAD T
‘m TOP RACK
Sauce pans, mixing bowls and other smalll items may
be placed face down in the top rack. The top rack is
handy for all kinds of odd shapes. Be sure the force
of water and detergent can reach soiled surfaces.
8
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
Calrod@ heating element. Arrange
stemware so that they cannot move easily. Don’t
let the glasses touch each other.

—
Pots, pans, casseroles, salad bowls, mixing bowls and
lids must be loaded in the bottom rack,
facing down.
Fit
plates and saucers between the pins. Place items
so that water
and detergent from wash arm can reach
soiled surfaces.
Don’t let any
.
item extend
through bottom.
01 A
Load platters, pots, pans and bowls along the sides, in
corners or in
the ba~k. All large items, such as pitchers,
salad
howls and mixing bowls, should be washed in the
lower rack.
(
\,
: “
Heavily soiled pots, pans ;ind casseroles MUST be loaded
in
the bottom rack, facing down. Prop broiler puns and
racks along the edge.
Put flatware in the removable busket with handles up
to protect your
hands. Mix knives, forks and spoons
so they
c~ln’t nest together, Distribute evenly. Small
plastic items, such
us measuring spoons and lids from
small containers are not recommended for automatic
dishwashing. [f placed in the dishwasher, they should go
in the bottom 01. silverware basket with silverware on top.
Precaution!
Take out anything tha[ may t’alt or extend through the
bottom
of the basket.
9
1

WHAT YOU CAN USUALLY WASH SAFELY
IN YOUR DIS~ASHER.
Subhead that goes all the way across
Usually
Safe
Material
Exceptions (not safe) Special Instructions
Aluminum
YES
Some colored anodized
aluminum can
fade.
Some darkening or spotting possible. Remove by
scouring with soap-filled steel wool pads.
Chinti
Stoneware
YES Antique, metal-trimmed,
hand-painted or over-the-glaze
p~tterns fade. Gold leaf
will discolor.
If in doubt, check with the manufacturer. Or test wash
one piece daily for at least a month. Compare with the
rest of the set.
Crystal
YES Antique, metal-trimmed or
hand-painted patterns fade.
Gold leaf will discolor.
Load securely to prevent movement. Check your
manufacturer’s instructions for your crystal.
No[l-dishwasher
items-such
as electronic
air cleaner
filters, furnace
filters, paint
brushes, etc.
Glass
NO
Do not wash in dishwasher. Damage to dishwasher
and discoloration or staining of dishwasher may result.
YES Milk glass may yellow.
Iron
NO Iron will rust.
Pewter NO Pewter tarnishes.
Plastics
YES If it doesn’t say DISHWASHER SAFE, test one piece in
the top rack before dishwashing an entire set.
Stainless steel
Sterling Silver
and Silver plate
YES
YES
Rinse if not washing immediately. Salty or acid foods
can stain if left on.
Don’t put in same silverware
basket with stainless steel.
Contact between metals can
damage silver.
Don’t wash copper utensils in
the same
load, Silver may get a
brown film.
Adhesive used to attach some
hollow-handle 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.
Non-stick
co~tings
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.
Forget a dish? Here’s when you can add it.
Add dishes any time during the RINSE & HOLD
cycle. With other wash cycles, you can
add dishes
at any time BEFORE the main detergent wash portion
of the cycle.
However, opening the door during any cycle lessens
cleaning power. So try to load everything at the
beginning.
Here’s how to add a forgotten dish:
1. Push the door latch to the left. Washing will stop.
2. Wait a few seconds until the water calms. Then
open the door. WARNING: Hot vapor may rise
from opened door.
3. Add dishes you’ve forgotten.
4. Close the door and push the latch to the far right.
When the door is locked, washing
will continue.
10