Viking VDB450SS Use and Care Manual - Page 15

Operation Water Hardness Hardness of Water Water has a different "hardness," or mineral content, in different locations. The hardness is measured in grains per gallon (gpg). Find out your water's hardness by asking your local water department, county extension agent, or water softening company. Ask how many "grains" of hardness are in your water. The harder the water is, the more detergent you need. For the detergent amounts recommended for use in your location with your water, follow the guidelines in the chart. With hard water, you need more detergent to get dishes clean. With soft water, you need less. Too much detergent with soft water can cause "etching," a permanent cloudiness of glassware. If you have hard water, the dishes as well as the dishwasher itself may accumulate a gray deposit after some time. This deposit can be remedied by using a mild citric acid solution instead of detergent in the heavy wash program. How Much Detergent to Use? The amount of detergent you use depends on the hardness of the water and on the cycle you select. Generally, only one tablespoon (per cup) of detergent is needed for a normal load. Water hardness (grains per gallon) Soft water 0-3 gpg Medium hard water 4-8 gpg Hard water 9-above gpg Amount of detergent (powder or liquid) 1 tablespoon (15ml) 2 tablespoons (30ml) 3 tablespoons (45ml) NOTE: Line level on detergent dispenser represents 2 tablespoons. NOTE: In areas with hard water above 12 grains, a water softener is recommended. 28 Maintenance Your new dishwasher is designed to give you years of dependable service. In order to maintain a high level of performance, you need to make sure your dishwasher is properly cared for and cleaned. Here are a few things you can do to make sure your dishwasher performs at its highest level. Coarse strainer Fine filter Primary Filter (Do not remove primary filter) Filters The filters are important, because they continuously filter wash water. Under normal operation, the filters are self cleaning and require no maintenance. If there is a heavy amount of food soil, sediment or hard water conditions, it may be necessary to clean the filters after each use. To clean, remove the filters as shown in the above illustration and soak overnight in a 50/50 solution of water and vinegar. Citric cleaner and water are also acceptable. Filters should appear bright when clean. The Coarse Strainer Large food particles that can't pass through the drainage pump are collected in the coarse strainer. Lift out and empty the coarse strainer when necessary. Don't forget to put it back again. It is normal for a small amount of water to remain in the coarse strainer area. WARNING Never operate the dishwasher without the filters in place. 29 Product Care