Hotpoint HDA487 Installation instructions

Dishwasher
Conknk
Air Gap
14
Use and Care of
Appliance Registration
2
Care and Cleaning
14
built-in model
China, Crystal, Sterling
10
HDA487
Cycle Features
4,5
Detergent, Detergent Guide 6,7
Dispenser Cups
7
Energy-Saving Tips
2
Front Panel Color Change
14
Loading
8,9
Model and Serial Numbers
2
Operating Instructions
4,5
Cycle Selection
4,5
Drying Options
4,5
Problem Solver
11-13
Repair Service
15
Rinse Agent
6
Safetv Instructions
3
User Maintenance Instructions 14
Warranty Back Cover
Water Temperature
6
Winter Storage
14
GE Answer Center@
800.626.2000

Help us help you...
Before usiw your &hwasher,
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
Hotpoint
Appliance Park
Louisville, KY 40225
Write down the model
and serial numbers.
You’ll find them on a label 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:
Mdel Number
Serial Number
If you received
a
dam~ed 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
11-13). It lists causes of minor
operating problems that you can
correct yourself.
Ene~y-saving tips
The power consumption of your
dishwasher can be minimized if
you follow these suggestions:
c Operate dishwasher only
when full. Let dishes accumulate
in dishwasher. When you put in a
partial load, use RINSE HOLD
cycle to rinse off heavy soils. Be
sure to latch door when waiting for
full load. This helps keep soils
moist, easier to remove.
● Select cycle that uses least
amount of water to remove soil
from load. See
pages 4 and 5.
● If you don’t need your dishes
right away,
use your DRYING
HEAT OFF feature
that turns the
drying heater off automatically and
saves energy. Dishes dry naturally
over a longer period such as
overnight.
Use these numbers in any
correspondence or service calls
concerning your dishwasher.
2

W~G—Men using this
appliance, always exercise basic
safety precautions, including the
following:
● Use this appliance only for
its intended purpose, as you
wfll find described in this Use
and Care Book.
● This dishwasher must be
properly instiled and lmted
in accordance with the
Insolation 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 ground~ meti,
permanent wiring system; or an
equipment-grounding conductor
must be run with the circuit
conductors and connected to the
equipment-grounding termiti
or lead of the appliance.
–Connect to a properly rated,
protected and
SM power-supply
circuit to avoid electrical overload.
Q Use ordy powder or liquid
detergents or wetting agents
recornmendd for use in a
dishwasher.
. Do not wash plastic items udess
marked “dishwasher safe” or the
equitient. For plastic items not so
markd, 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 minimti the possibfity of
i~ury.
● men loading items to be
washed:
A. Locate sharp items so that
they are not likely to damage
the door sd, 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
atir use.
. Do not operate your dishwasher
udess rdl 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 chddren
to play inside, on or with this
appliance or any discardd
appliance. Dispose of discarded
appliances and shipping or
packing material properly.
Before discarding a dishwasher,
remove the door of the washing
compartment.
3
● Keep dl washing detergents
and wetting agents out of the
reach of children, preferably in
a locked cabinet. Observed
warnings on container labels to
avoid persoti injury.
● ~ROGEN GM is
produced by tie 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
M ~ks or longer. ~RffiEN
~S IS EXPLOSWE. To prevent
the possibility of damage or
injury, if you have not used hot
water for two weeks or more, or
move into a residence in which
the hot water system may not
have been usti for sometime,
turn on
dl hot water faucets and
allow them to run for several
minutes before using any
elwtricd appliance which is
connected to the hot water
system. This will rdlow any
hydrogen gas to escape. Also,
since the gas is flammable, do
not smoke or use an open flame
or appliance during this process.
SAW =E
~STRU~IONS

How to operate your dishwasher
Steam Vent Door Latch (unlocked)
Cvcle Indicator Dial ~
STEP 1. Load your dishwasher
STEP 4. Select the cvcle and start
● For LIGHT WASH cvcle:
with dishes, silverware, pots,
pans, bowls, etc., according to
the dishwasher. (See Cycle Selection
.
Hints at right.)
a. Be sure door is unlatched.
-.
instructions on pages 8 and
-
9. If your dishwasher drains into a
STEP 2. Add detergent to the food waste disposer, operate the
detergent dispenser. Make sure the disposer until it is empty before
Cvcle Indicator dial is at OFF
s~rting the dishwasher.
p;sition before adding detergent.
(See pages 6 and 7.)
Use rinse aid agent to help prevent
spotting. Occasionally check to
insure rinse agent container is at
least half full. (See page 6.)
STEP 3. Select DRYING HEAT
option. It must be OFF for RINSE
● For NORMAL WASH cycle:
a. Latch the door.
‘GHT;;@m,,,, g
ORYING HkAT ON
‘lGHT;;@:;,, B
ORVING
HEAT ON
b. Slowly turn Cycle Indicator dial
to LIGHT WASH position.
c. Latch door to start the cycle.
● For RINSE HOLD cycle:
a. Be sure door is unlatched.
at your option (see below), for
either of the wash cycles.
HOLD cycle. It can be ON or OFF, ~
b. Select DRYING HEAT-OFF
b.
Slowlv turn Cvcle Indicator dial
drying option.
DRYING
HEAT OFF
~
ORYING
HEAT ON
DRYING HEAT-ON. Turns the
drying heater on for fast drying.
DRYING HEAT-OFF. Turns the
drying heater off to save energy.
Dishes will dry naturally over a
longer period such as overnight.
If you need
yrour dishes sooner,
open the dishwasher door after
the cycle is complete to reduce
the natural drying time.
to ON p;sition t: start the cycle.
You will hear the motor start.
There is a time delay between stirt-
up and water fill so you will not
hear any wash action right away.
To obtain the benefits of a complete
cvcle. be careful that
vou do not
turn the dial any fu;ther than
c. Slowly turn Cycle Indicator
necessary to start the dishwasher.
dial to RINSE HOLD position.
d. Latch door to start the cycle.
Use of this option reduces the
electrical energy used by this
model approximately 7
% for
the NORMAL WASH cycle.
4

Cycle selection hints
It is important to follow the loading
instructions on pages 8
and 9.
NORMAL WASH—For most
loads of everyday dishes, glasses
and cookware with medium soils.
LIGHT WASH—For dishes
that have been pre-rinsed before
loading. Also, for washing very
lightly soiled dishes with soils
that have not dried on.
RINSE HOLD—For rinsing
partial loads which will be washed
later. Select DRYING HEAT–
OFF drying option. Do not use
detergent.
What happem in each cycle
Wash
Cycles
NORMAL
Wash
Water Use Cycle Time
Gallons (approx.
(approx.) minutes) Cycle Sequence
WASH
12.1 S6
mBHWHHH
LIGHT WASH
10.3 51
k4HHHHHl
RINSE HOLD 3.6
10
Hwl
Drying Options:
DRYING HEAT–ON. Available on all wash cycles except RINSE HOLD.
Add 29 minutes to wash cycle time.
DRYING HEAT–OFF. Drying heater is turned off. Dishes dry naturally.
5
● You’ll hear occasional clicking
sounds:
–Soft food disposer shredding
action.
—Drain valve opening to pump
water out.
—Timer control as cycle
progresses.
—Detergent cup opening.
● The motor stops during drying.
. Water vapor comes through
the vent by the door latch during
drying and when water is being
pumped out.

tid dishwashing sta~
with H~ water.
To get 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 least
120°F. To prevent dish damage,
inlet water should not exceed fiO°F.
How to test water temperature:
Check the water temperature
inside your dishwasher with a
candy or meat thermometer.
Let the dishwasher run through
one fill and pump out cycle, then
let the dishwasher fill with water
the second time.
When you hear the water stop
filling, unlatch the door and slowly
open it.
Measure
the temperature of the water
in the bottom of the tub this way:
Remove the silverware basket and
Dlace a candv or meat thermometer
;n the water ;owards the middle of
the tub. If the temperature is less
than 120°F, you will not get good
washing results. Higher water
temperature is needed to dissolve
grease and activate powder
detergents.
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 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.
To improve washability if the 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.
A rinse agent makes water flow
off dishes quicker than usual. This
lessens water spotting and makes
drying faster, too.
For best dishwashing performance,
use of a rinse 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 spili: Wipe
up the rinse agent with a damp
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
PRODU~S, INC.
(“JET DRY”)
411 W. Putnam Ave.
Greenwich, ~ 06830
Your dishwasher’s rinse agent
container holds 4~z ounces. This
should last about 3 months. Fill
as needed. Do not overfill.
6
How to choose and use
detergent.
First, use only powder or liquid
detergenk 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 (8.7%
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
use?
That depends. Is your water
“hard” or “sofi”? 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
etchd 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. 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. It won’t
wash well. Old detergent often
won’t dissolve.
If 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 water.

You’ll find two detergent
dispensers on the inside door of
your dishwasher.
There are two,
because some cycles use two washes.
See “Detergent Usage Guide’’ below.
(Be sure the Cycle Indicator Dial
is at
OFFposition before adding
detergent.
-
Otherwise, the detergent
cup lid will not close and latch
properly. )
GRASP HANDLE, ,-~z”–
ROTATE
AND CLOSE
TIGHTLY -
c&
,-,
J )
I
[
‘.
,.
How to prepare the
dishes for washi~
If this is your first dishwasher, or
if you’re replacing a much older
model, you may wonder how much
pre-preparation your dishes need.
Actually very little. Pre-rinsing of
normal food soils is not necessary.
With common sense and a little
practice, you’ll soon how what
foods to remove. Here are some
guidelines:
1. Scrape off bones, seeds, stins,
toothpick and other hard solids. It
is also best to remove hard shelled
vegetables, meat trimmings, lea~
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
awav.
It can handle small amounts of
soft foods, but large amounts
wil’
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 NORMAL
WASH cycle. Remember to use
your NNSE HOLD cycle for small
“holding” loads.
Note: The foods mentioned here
are for examples only. Other foods
not mentioned may also need to be
removed from your dishes. You
may
dso 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.
Always close the min cup tightly.
men it is$rmly latched, you will
heara clicking sound. Do not
overtighten.
NOTE: Detergent cup maybe opened
manually with no harm. Turn handle
counterclockwise until it releases.
A snapping sound is normal when
it opens.
Dete~ent Us~e Guide (powder or liquid)
SOFT WATER MEDIUM WATER HARD WATER
(O-3 grains hardness) (3-7grains)
(7-12 grains*)
~CLES Main Cup~ I Open Cup~ Main Cup$ I Open Cup*
Main Cup$ ] Open Cup*
NORMAL WASH cycle
1 Tablespoon +1 Tablespoon Half Full + Hdf Full ~:l~pletely
minimum minimum
~Completely
Full
LIGHT WASH cycle
1 Tablespoon
None Half Full
None Completely None
minimum Full
RINSE HOLD cycle
Use no detergent Use no detergent
Use no detergent
*I2 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 water valve. Water valve may stick while open and cause flooding. Filled Open Cup holds 2 tablespoons.
7

How to load your dishwasher
How to load the ~PRACK
~is 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.
WAXH 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.
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 unit. Arrange stemware so that it cannot
move easily. Don’t let the glasses touch each other.
This rack is ideal for dishwasher-safe plastics. When
loading, place plastic items
along the back and be sure
that each plastic tumbler is secured over two fingers.
This
will prevent dislodging; tumbler will not fall
through rack onto heating unit.
8

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.
How to load the B~~M WCK
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
““’’ .,. -,.+.,. ,,,,
Heavily soiled pots, pans and casseroles MUST be
loaded in the bottom rack, facing down. Prop broiler
Fit plates and saucers between the pins. Place items so pans and racks along the edge.
that water and detergent from wash arm can reach soiled
surfaces.
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
o
dishwashing. If placed in the dishwasher, they should go
in the bottom of silverware basket with silverware on top.
fiecaution!
Take out anything that may fall or extend through the
bottom of the basket.
—
9

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