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Did your Miele DW installer calibrate the water softener?

14 years ago

The authorized Miele installer didn't calibrate the water softener. He says he doesn't know anything about that. Did your installer do the calibration or did you do it yourself? And how do you find out about local water hardness?

Thanks.

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Comments (9)

User
14 years ago
You eiother got an idiot that didn't pay attention during training - or-

he's not certified personally. Call the dealer and ask for a refund/ credit!

Water values are available from your water provider - call them, or you'll need a test kit if you have a well. There are small instant test strips that get close but they are not really accurate and have a short shelf life.
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fauguy
14 years ago
My certified installer http://www.newyorkminute.biz/ did not set the water softener value because he said it depends on the area and the dishwasher doesn't come with any test strips (why can't Miele include 1 or 2).

By default, my dishwasher was set to 1-4 grains, but I called by city water and they said they average about 6, so I changed the dishwasher to 5-7 grains.

I could by the test strips from the store (about 5 for $7) but haven't needed to.
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User
14 years ago
why can't Miele include 1 or 2).

because the test strips would sit in the units full of residule water from testing before they leave the factory in Germany and then sit in the warehouse in the USA before being sent to the dealer/customer.

In short -they probably wouldn't be very good by the time you got them and the installer would just throw them away with the instructions anyway!

Some Miele models are also self diagnostic for setting the water softener.

"My certified installer http://www.newyorkminute.biz/ did not set the water softener value because he said it depends on the area "

They're all different? No kidding! That's still NO EXCUSE for not setting the value. BTW - I know the owner of NYM and sat next to him in a certification class with two of his "team members" when the Miele boffins went over the procedure , so I know that that co. is aware of the drill.
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asolo
14 years ago
Interesting to me that folks with the financial wherewithal to even consider purchasing such high-end appliances for their homes agonize over their features endlessly while never paying attention to the most basic of solutions to so many of their kitchen and laundry concerns. That would, of course, be a water softener.

I'm wondering if these are same folks that buy $10,000.00 ranges and $400.00 kettles which they use to boil their safeway pasta in tap-water.

But who am I to question my superiors' motives?
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buffalotina
14 years ago
I got the water hardness from my local water supply and then followed the directions in the manual. That determined that I did not need salt in the machine. I then called Miele who walked me through turning off the salt alert light on the front of the machine.
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fauguy
14 years ago
"They're all different? No kidding! That's still NO EXCUSE for not setting the value. BTW - I know the owner of NYM and sat next to him in a certification class with two of his "team members" when the Miele boffins went over the procedure , so I know that that co. is aware of the drill."

Well then maybe the higher-ups know about it, but as the info filters down the layers to the installer, the info is not passed along, or the installers don't care??
I watched the two guys install the unit, and they seemed to know what they were doing, as they said they install a lot of Miele dishwashers. So what SHOULD they have done? Had their own test strips with them and tested my water here and then set the water softener value on the dishwasher?
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awm03
Original Author
14 years ago
"But who am I to question my superiors' motives?"

Who are you? An overcritical stereotyper. Please don't read anything into my question other that what I asked, thank you.
You know nothing about me, and I don't fit your stereotype.
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User
14 years ago
"Had their own test strips with them and tested my water here and then set the water softener value on the dishwasher?"

EXACTLY ! That's part of what the "certification" is all about. Miele wants the values set right so performance is up to spec. Otherwise, their phones and the blogosphere get flooded with people saying I got this piece o trash miele that cost 2 grand and it doesn't even get my dishes clean let alone my pots. They should also be giving you a rundown on the rinse aid and it's pretty much mandatory use as well as reduced detergent needs of those units.

In lieu of carrying the strips , an installer could just memorize the value if he's in a large city, as it won't vary much. One could also call the authority providing the water. This is what certifications and standards are all about.
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asolo
14 years ago
awm03....

You are correct in calling me out. Even though my blather did not intend you specifically as a target, my post was out of place. Should have kept silent and not interfered with the thread.
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