Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Dishwashers and Sanitizers

[Lynn Nadeau / Maraiah (welcome]

> I wrote that RoseWind has had good service from our sanitizer type  
> counter top slide-in machine.
>
> > Ten years of using our common house and we love our commercial
> > dishwasher set up
Sharon asked
> What brand and what about noise?

Says it's a Jackson Conserver XL, counter indicates almost 8000 loads,  
which figures right @ 2-3 meals a week for 9 years.
Noise- well, it has a bit of a whooshy roar, but not bad, Our kitchen  
is open to the dining room, though the dishwasher is off to the side,  
with a wall behind the dishwashing area. It can be started while some  
folks are still finishing up eating, and nobody has said it bothered  
them, I'll pause between loads if announcements are being made.

We eat at 6. Cleanup is usually between 630-7pm, with a few people  
still chatting at tables, but many people pitching in to help with  
dishes, counters, tables, sweeping, packing up leftovers. So most of  
the dishwasher cycles are during clean-up mode. If we have a  
discussion or such after supper, it starts at 7 and dishes are all  
done by then.

As I recall the whole setup cost $5000 or so, but that may have  
included all the steel counters and stuff: I forget. We have had no  
major breakdowns or need for service. A few times it gagged on a stray  
spoon or two, but we've figured out how to find those. The three  
buckets of chemicals are about $300+ for a set, but that lasts 2-3  
years. We've had a service person just check things a couple times.

No lifting of loaded trays, as the trays are emptied onto the dish  
trolley right where they come out. The last two trays can be left to  
air dry, if desired. Usually that's the drinking glasses. There's a  
space under the dishwashing counter where the empty racks are stored  
on edge.

Maraiah Lynn Nadeau
RoseWind Cohousing, Port Townsend WA
where the garden still has carrots, parsnips, beets, turnips, potatoes  
and all sorts of sturdy greens.