Ge GSD640 User Manual

Contents

Use and Care Guide

Dishwasher

Air Gap
Appliance

[;are
(;hina,

(lonsumer
(;ycle

Detergent, Detergent

Dis~enser CIUDS
Ener~-Saving

Features
Front Panel

Loading
Model and Serial Numbers

operating (Guide 4,5

{lycle
Drying

Built-in Model

Re~stration

and

[;leaning

(lrystal, Sterling

Services

Features

(iuide

Tips

C;olor [:hange

Selection

options 4,5

GSD630

6, 7

8,9

4,5

GSD640

14

2

14

10
19

5 Water Temperature

7

2

4

15

2

Problem Solver
Rinse

Agent

Safety Instructions
User Maintenance Instructions 14

Wawanty

Winter Storage

GE Answer Center

800.626.2000

11-1:3

6
:3

{;over

Back

(i

14

a

GE Appliances

Help us help you...

If you need service

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 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:

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.

Save time and money.
Before you request
service...

Check the Problem Solver
section. It lists causes of minor
operating problems that you can
correct yourself.

To obtain a Spanish language
version of this book, call
GE Answer

800.626.2000
consumer information service.

Para obtener la
Espafiol

name a
GE Answer Center?

servicio
para el
tel~fono

Center@

versi6n

de

este

manual,

de

informaci6n

consumidor,

800.626.2000.

en

Energy-Saving tips

c

Operate dishwasher only when

it’s full. Let the dishes accumulate

in dishwasher. When you put in
only a partial load, use the RINSE
& HOLD cycle to rinse off heavy
soils. Be sure to latch the door
when waiting for a full 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
option that turns the drying heater

off automatically. Dishes dry
naturally over a longer period such
as overnight.

● Always select the cycle that

uses least amount of water that

will

remove the soil from the

load. (See the Operating section).

To obtain service, see the
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.

FIRST, contact the
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
GE Appliances
Appliance Park
Louisville, KY 40225

FINALLY, if your problem is still
not resolved, write:

Major Appliance Consumer

Action Panel
20 North
Chicago, IL 60606

Wacker

people

Drive

who

2

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

Read all instructions before using this appliance

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.

●

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 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.

c

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.

c

Do not wash plastic items
unless marked “dishwasher
safe” or the equivalent. For
plastic items not so marked,

“heck

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 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.

●

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
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.

●

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 from the power
supply. We recommend having
a qualified technician service
your appliance.

A

WmG–~ROGEN

GAS

is produced by the
chemical action within your
water heater. It can accumulate
in the water heater

an~or

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

I1I

I

Im

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 the Detergent Guide.)

Use rinse aid agent to help prevent
spotting. Occasionally check to
make sure the rinse agent container
is at least half full. (See How to
Use a Rinse Agent section.)

STEP 3. Select drying option.

ml

@

Pokcrubberl

STEP 4. Select the cycle and start
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.

● For POTSCRUBBER and

NORMAL WASH cycles:

POT-

SCRUBBER WASH

NORMAL

m

a. Push selected cycle button,
b. Latch the door.

● For LIGHT WASH cycle:

a. Be sure door is unlatched.
b. Push NORMAL WASH button.

■

m

. LIGHT WASH

4

RINSE&HOLD

WASHING

{“SC

‘~’!?:

0,1,0.1

DRYING

●

%

■

c. Slowly turn Cycle Indicator Dial

to LIGHT WASH position.

d. Latch door to start the cycle.

● For RINSE & HOLD cycle:

a. Be sure door is unlatched.
b. Select ENERGY SAVER drying

option.

t

HEATED DRY. Turns the drying
heater on for fast drying. Available
on all cycles except RINSE &
HOLD.

ENERGY SAVER (no heat boost).
Turns the drying heater off to save
energy. Dishes will dry naturally
over a longer period such as
overnight. Available on all cycles.

If you need your dishes sooner,
open the dishwasher door after the
cycle is complete to reduce the
natural drying time.

Use of this option reduces the
electrical energy used by this
model approximately

790

for the

NORMAL WASH cycle.

■ ● LIGHT WASH

I&

DRYING s

@

WASHING

c. Slowly turn Cycle Indicator Dial

to ON position to start the cycle.
You will hear the motor start.
There is a time 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.

OFF

ON

■ ■

LIGHT WASH

●

DRYING

8

@

I

WASHING

c. Slowly turn Cycle Indicator

to RINSE & HOLD position.

d. Latch door to start the

cycle.

Dial

Cycle selection

hinb

. is important to follow the loading

instructions.
POTSCRUBBER is for items such

as pots, pans and casseroles with
dried-on or baked-on soils.
Everyday dishes may be included.

NORMAL WASH is for loads of
everyday dishes, glasses and
cookware.

LIGHT WASH is for dishes that
are lightly soiled with soils that
have not dried on. Also for
everyday dishes that have extra
preparation before loading.

RINSE & HOLD is for rinsing
partial loads which will be washed
later.

Do not use detergent.

What happens in each cycle

●

You’11 hear occasional clicking

sounds:
—Soft food disposer shredding

action.

–Drain valve opening to pump

water out.

—Timer control as cycle

progresses.

—Detergent cup opening.

● During the drying period:

—The motor stops.
—Water vapor comes through the

vent by the door latch during
drying and when water is being
pumped out.

Wash

Cycle Time

Minutes

74

‘
53

14

RF~EllaBEB

9

E3[!4[4KJLqmm

Cycle Sequence

p~~q~l~qww

HHH

Wash Cycles

POTSCRUBBER

NORMAL WASH

LIGHT WASH

RINSE & HOLD

Water

Use

Gallons

(approx.) (approx.)

12.

I

I

2.1

10.3

4.9

Drying Options:

HEATED DRY. Available on all wash cycles except RINSE & HOLD. Add 24 minutes to wash cycle time.

ENERGY SAVER. Drying heater is turned off. Dishes dry naturally.

5

Good

dishwashing

starts

with HOT 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

How to test water temperature:

Higher water temperature is
needed to dissolve grease and
activate powder detergents.

Check you water temperature with
a candy or meat thermometer. Turn
on the hot water faucet nearest the
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

adiust

your water heater.

.

.

Helpful hints:

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
Turn on the hot
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
cannot adjust your water heater:
Select a longer cycle and fill both
detergent cups at least half-full
with detergent.

If outside

ui~es

will be cold.

w;ter

faucet at the

120°F.

150°F.

120°F.,

and you

How to use a rinse agent...

A rinse agent makes water flow off
dishes quicker than

lessens water spotting and makes

drying faster, too.
For best

use of a rinse agent such as JET­DRY brand is recommended.

Rinse agents come in either
or solid form. Your dishwasher
uses the

How to fill the rinse agent
dispenser. Unscrew the cap. Add

the liquid rinse agent
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 a damp cloth.
Don’t leave the spill in the
dishwasher. It can keep your

detergent

If yo;”can’t find any rinse agent,

write:

BENCKISER CONSUMER

PRODUCTS, INC.
(“JET DRY”)
411 W. Putnam Ave.
Greenwich, CT 06830

dishwashing

liquid

from

usual.

form.

working.

This

performance,

liquid

until

it just

.

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.

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 is
in your water.

How much detergent should you
use?

“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

“etching.” An outside layer of
glass is etched away! But why take
a chance when it’s easy to find out
the hardness of your water.

Phosphate helps prevent

That depends. 1s your water

of glassware, called

6