How long a dishwasher runs depends on the cycle: about two hours on the Normal cycle and about an hour on a quick one. I took those times from the manuals for five dishwashers listed at the Campbell River and Port Alberni stores of Merit Home Furniture, here on Vancouver Island. The heaviest cycles can run past four hours, and the manuals explain why.
A dishwasher cycle is the whole programme from the first fill to the end of drying: a prewash, a main wash, a rinse, a hot final rinse and a dry. Samsung's manual for its DW90F89T0 lists its Normal cycle in exactly that order. Each step runs at its own water temperature, so the incoming water and the sensor both move the total time.
I write from Duncan, a location not carrying appliances going forward, so the tables below lean on the Island showrooms that list appliances. On November 1, 2026, Merit's appliance pages listed 53 dishwashers at Campbell River and Port Alberni, 33 at Campbell River and 32 at Port Alberni, some at both. Another 78 are special orders.
How long does a dishwasher run on the Normal cycle?
A dishwasher runs from just under two hours to about three hours on its Normal cycle, going by the five manuals below. Normal is the everyday cycle, and it's the one the energy rating is measured on. Maytag's cycle guide says its government energy certifications were based on Normal, and Samsung's manual says the same of its energy label.
| Dishwasher and store | Normal cycle | Quickest cycle |
|---|---|---|
| Maytag MDTS7024SZ, Campbell River | 1:54 | Quick, 1:10 |
| Bosch 100 Series SHE3AEM5N, Campbell River | 2:15 to 2:20 | Speed 60, 1:00 |
| Samsung DW90F89T0, Campbell River | 108 to 119 min | Express 60, 60 min |
| LG LDNTH753S, Port Alberni | 129 to 292 min | 1 Hour, 60 to 145 min |
| Frigidaire Gallery GDSH4735AF, Campbell River | 176 min | Quick, 80 min |
Bosch and Maytag print hours and minutes, while Samsung, LG and Frigidaire print minutes. LG's ranges include its options, and Frigidaire's figures are with its Medium Dry setting. Merit's prices, read November 1, 2026 and before applicable taxes: the Maytag is $1,099.99 and the Bosch $1,349.00. The Samsung is $1,249.99 to $1,299.99 by variant, the LG $1,099.99 to $1,199.99 and the Frigidaire $999.00.
The owner's manual on our KitchenAid KDPS324SPS listing puts a typical cycle at about 2 1/2 hours. It adds that selections, incoming water temperature and food soil can make it take "significantly more time".
Is it normal for a dishwasher to run for 2 hours?
Yes. Two hours sits in the middle of the range for a current dishwasher. Amana's owner's manual for the Amana ADFS2524RS tells owners to expect 2 to 5 hours per load, and says certain options can push a cycle past 3.5 hours. That Amana lists at $499.99 to $529.99 before applicable taxes, at both Campbell River and Port Alberni.
How long does a dishwasher take to run a cycle on Heavy, Auto or Eco?
A dishwasher takes longest on its Heavy or pots and pans cycle, from 1:40 on the Bosch to five hours at the top of LG's range. Sensor cycles, called Auto or AI Wash, land close to Normal because they adjust to the soil they find.
| Dishwasher | Heavy cycle | Auto or sensor cycle |
|---|---|---|
| Maytag MDTS7024SZ | PowerBlast, 2:49 | Auto, 2:14 |
| Bosch SHE3AEM5N | 1:40 to 2:10 | Auto, 2:05 to 2:15 |
| Samsung DW90F89T0 | 137 min | AI Wash, 77 to 125 min |
| LG LDNTH753S | 168 to 300 min | Auto, 117 to 260 min |
| Frigidaire GDSH4735AF | 200 to 270 min | Sensor built into Normal, Eco, Sanitize and Heavy |
The Bosch is the odd one out, with a Heavy cycle shorter than its Normal. Its manual doesn't say why, but it shows Heavy washing at 151 to 160°F, against 122 to 131°F on Normal.
Only one of the five has a cycle called Eco. Frigidaire's ECO runs about 96 minutes with Medium Dry and is meant for lightly soiled, pre-rinsed dishes. Bosch calls its Normal cycle the "most economical cycle", and the Maytag and Samsung energy figures come from Normal too. Natural Resources Canada recommends eco mode, and notes that most dishwasher users choose the same type of setting all the time.
Maytag's PowerBlast cycle: what it does and how long it runs
PowerBlast is Maytag's cycle for the hardest soil. On Merit's listing for the Maytag MDTS7024SZ, Maytag describes high-pressure jets, a rotating spray arm and hotter water working together on stuck food. Its examples are egg yolk, peanut butter and dried-on oatmeal. The cycle guide gives PowerBlast an average of 2:49 and 17.6 litres of water, against 12.1 litres for Normal.
Two more Maytag listings at Campbell River have PowerBlast as well: the MDPS7024SZ at $1,099.99 and the front control MDFS3924RZ at $1,249.00, before applicable taxes. Maytag's guide says to use it "for hard to clean items". I'd keep it for the roasting pan and the lasagna dish, and run Normal the rest of the week.
Why dishwasher cycles run longer than they used to
Dishwasher cycles got longer because the machines now have to use less water and power. Under Natural Resources Canada's rules, a standard dishwasher manufactured on or after May 30, 2013 can use no more than 307 kWh a year and 18.93 litres per cycle. NRCan says ENERGY STAR certified models use 12% less energy and 30% less water than a standard model, on average.
The manuals spell out the trade. The KitchenAid owner's manual says energy efficient dishwashers "run longer to save water and energy", and compares it to driving a car slower to save gas. Amana's manual says its dishwashers average 2 to 5 hours but use "nearly 40% less energy than older models".
Sensors are the other reason times vary. Bosch's AquaSensor measures how cloudy the wash water is. When the soiling level is high, the water is drained and replaced. Maytag's guide says its sensor adds time, heat and water when food soils are heavy or the incoming water is below 120°F.
Is a 30 minute dishwasher cycle enough?
None of the five manuals lists a 30 minute wash. The shortest is Frigidaire's Quick cycle at about 50 minutes with Air Dry, and the rest start at an hour. Quick cycles are meant for light soil. Frigidaire's is for "lightly soiled and pre-rinsed dishes", and LG's Express cycle skips drying altogether.
A quick cycle can also use more water. Maytag's Quick cycle uses 22.4 litres against 12.1 litres for Normal, and the listing says it relies on high temperature and more water than Normal. Maytag recommends Normal to wash and dry a full load of normally soiled dishes. I'd save a 20 or 30 minute cycle, on a machine that has one, for a rack of glasses and a few mugs.
Sanitize and hot water: the dishwasher settings that add time
Sanitize settings add a good share of time. On the Maytag MDTS7024SZ, the Sani option adds up to 1:15 and lifts the final rinse to 156°F (69°C). Maytag says it sanitizes "in accordance with NSF International NSF/ANSI Standard 184 for Residential Dishwashers". The same guide, which covers several Maytag models, lists a Rapid Sani cycle at 1:50 for those that have one.
| Maytag MDTS7024SZ option | Time added |
|---|---|
| High Temp | up to 0:45 |
| Sani | up to 1:15 |
| Long Power Dry | up to 1:23 |
Other makers word it their own way. Frigidaire's Sanitize cycle heats the final rinse to 157°F (69°C) and holds it for 7 minutes, for about 208 minutes with Air Dry. The KitchenAid manual adds that only the sanitizing cycles are designed to meet NSF/ANSI 184, and that certified home dishwashers aren't intended for licensed food establishments.
The water heater sets part of the run time too. The KitchenAid manual asks for a 120°F (49°C) hot water supply. Frigidaire says the sanitizing criteria may not be met if incoming water is below that, and its Sanitize cycle runs on until the water reaches temperature.
Is it cheaper to run a dishwasher or wash by hand?
A full dishwasher uses less water and energy than washing the same dishes by hand, according to Natural Resources Canada. In NRCan's words, washing by hand "wastes more energy and water than using an ENERGY STAR certified dishwasher". It puts a running faucet at up to 15 litres every 2 minutes, while a certified dishwasher uses less than 15 litres per cycle.
NRCan also says there's no need to pre-rinse, only to scrape food off, and that even lighter loads can beat handwashing. On the electricity side, Bosch's manual lists 0.730 to 0.780 kWh for a Normal load on the 100 Series, which matters for the next question.
What is the most efficient time to run a dishwasher on Vancouver Island?
For a BC Hydro customer on the optional time-of-day rate, the cheapest time to run a dishwasher is between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. BC Hydro takes 5 cents per kWh off power used overnight and adds 5 cents per kWh from 4 to 9 p.m. Without that rate, the time of day doesn't change what a load costs.
| BC Hydro time-of-day window | Change per kWh |
|---|---|
| 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. | 5 cents off |
| 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., 9 to 11 p.m. | no change |
| 4 to 9 p.m. | 5 cents added |
The saving per load is small. At 0.780 kWh, a Bosch Normal load run overnight saves under 4 cents. Moving it out of the 4 to 9 p.m. window into the night saves just under 8 cents. Delay start does the waiting for you. Frigidaire's Gallery delays from 1 to 12 hours. Whirlpool's listing for the WDT750SAK, $849.99 to $999.99 before applicable taxes at both stores, says up to 24 hours.
BC Hydro cautions that noise rules in apartments and condos may rule out running a dishwasher overnight. A quieter dishwasher helps there, and it's worth knowing first what a dBA rating actually measures. NRCan's tip applies on any rate: run full loads when possible. A full load fits more easily when you load the dishwasher rack by rack.
When a long dishwasher run time points to something else
- The water arrives cool. Maytag's sensor adds time, heat and water when incoming water is below 120°F.
- The door was opened partway through. LG's manual says the drain pump runs when the door opens, which makes the cycle longer.
- It's the first run. Amana's manual says the first cycle runs longer on models with an optical water sensor while the sensor calibrates.
- It runs well past the longest time in the manual, load after load. That's worth a call to the store that sold it or to the maker's service line. Our guide on where a warranty repair call goes explains how a maker's warranty and ours fit together.
Where these dishwasher run times come from
- Natural Resources Canada, Dishwashers (Energy Efficiency Regulations), checked November 2026.
- Natural Resources Canada, ENERGY STAR certified dishwashers, checked November 2026.
- Natural Resources Canada, Use your dishwasher more efficiently for big savings, checked November 2026.
- BC Hydro, Time-of-day pricing, checked November 2026.
- Maytag, Cycle Guide for the MDTS7024SZ, checked November 2026.
- Bosch, SHE3AEM5N Use and Care Manual, checked November 2026.
- Samsung, DW90F89 Dishwasher User Manual, checked November 2026.
- LG, LDNTH753 Owner's Manual, checked November 2026.
- Frigidaire, GDSH4735AF Dishwasher Owner's Guide, checked November 2026.
- KitchenAid, Owner's Manual W11767169A for the KDPS324SPS, checked November 2026.
- Amana, Plastic Tub Dishwasher Owner's Manual W11532445D for the ADFS2524RS, checked November 2026.
- Merit Home Furniture's live dishwasher listings, prices and store availability, read November 1, 2026.
Seeing these dishwashers in Campbell River or Port Alberni
Every dishwasher in these tables is listed at Merit's Campbell River or Port Alberni store, with the maker's manual attached to the listing. It's worth a call before the drive to ask which models are set up, and worth bringing the width of your opening.
The Campbell River showroom sits at 1300 A Homewood Rd, and our Port Alberni store at 2935 Third Ave.
Special-order dishwashers, the listings with no store named, show "Call to order (250) 746-5527" on the product page.
For dishwashers, ring (250) 286-0868 for Campbell River or (250) 724-6644 for Port Alberni.
Models not in these tables are in Merit's dishwasher range, in stock and special order. If the dishwasher is part of a bigger kitchen job, there's a guide to fitting a wine cooler into the same cabinets. For the fridge, range and laundry pair, see Merit's full set of appliance guides.