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Hi All,
My hubby and I have been driving ourselves nutty the last couple days looking for a new dishwasher. The more we look, the more confusing it gets. We are replacing our 12 year old GE that came with the house. Needless to say, they have many new features that we never even knew existed!
At first we were looking in the $698-$798 price range. The two we were looking at included Bosch and KitchenAid. Then, after going home and running it all through my mind again, I started wondering if I really need to spend that much on a dishwasher. Next day, started the hunt again and looked in the $450-$550 range. It seems like that price range has a nice selection of most of things I would like. After all, the 12 year old we are replacing washed the dishes just fine. Although I have to admit I'm one of those people that kinda washes them before they get placed in the dishwasher. And I know they say you're not supposed to do that now. So that's a habit I may have to try to break.
Anyhow, does anyone have any experience with these models or brands?
I am now considering:
Whirlpool Model GU2700XTS
Frigidaire Model PDL4375RFC
Some features I really like are the adjustable racks, low noise level, and folding tines. There are several other features I like, but my mind is numb from the hunt right now. LOL
I always check Consumer Reports before buying anything. Thats why I bought a Kenmore dishwasher in April of 2006. I was glad the noisy Maytag that was now 18 years old finally bit the dust. The Kenmore 665.16039403 rated high in Consumer Reports, and I was especially looking for a quiet machine. It cost $561 and I installed it myself. In the first year it became louder and louder. I finally called Sears to come out and look at it. I also wanted to have him find out why the dispenser for the liquid rinse aid leaked all the rinse aid out after only a couple of washes.
The repairman replaced the pump under warranty and I had my quiet machine back. But only for about 10 months when it started doing the same thing. It is now so noisy I dread using it. I also dread spending several hundred dolllars to replace the pump again now that it is out of warranty. He never did fix the rinse aid dispenser, he had to get on to other calls.
I also bought a Consumer Reports recommended Kenmore dehumidifier that lasted about 4 years. I took it in for repair, they sent it off, and then called me to come get it as it was unrepairable. So much for Consumer Reports and Kenmore.
I also bought a Bosch almost a year ago and absolutely love it. Replaced a Kitchen-Aid, which did the job ok but only lasted 8 years. I have to have dead quiet and listen real hard when standing next to it to hear it running. A few things that make it quiet are the insulation around it and the motor/pump itself and how well it is insulated. Stainless interiors can be noisy but I wouldn't have anything else. If you go for the mid- to higher-priced dishwashers and check for quietness with some of the test reports and experience of others, you'll do ok with your selection. My friends and DD who have Frigidaires hate them.
I have a Kitchen Aid that was over a thousand dollars and weighed purchasing a comparable Bosch DW when replacing my twenty-something y.o. former Kitchen Aid. I cater private parties and have the opportunity to use all the high end appliances. In my opinion, Bosch does not hold the amount of dishes the KA does, is not as flexible, and is no more quiet. I have asked both friends and clients their opinions of Bosch and aside from one person, all were disappointed in Bosch's small capacity and limited interior arrangement compared to the competition (even the under $500 competition). One friend is upset because the interior panel for the wash selection was unreadable within a year. I have an interior panel on my KA and have no problem there. My dishes are always perfectly clean and the kitchen is open to the great room, TV and all the electronics. I can stand at the sink with the DW running and listen to the TV twenty feet away without being aware of the DW. There is a slight hum. My complaint about Kitchen Aid is that the dishes come out clean, but wet, unless you use all the drying stuff. This, they tell me, is the stainless interior thing. With that in mind, I take issue with the state of all current DW's and this is why...
I had a GE in our weekend house that was close to thirty years old, was relatively quiet (it's an open floor plan cottage) and had an enameled interior. What is wrong with an enameled interior DW that "only" lasts twenty or thirty years? My GF put in a six figure kitchen and was getting ready to toss her three year old Whirlpool DW. I immediately jumped in and replaced my perfectly good, but ancient GE (had it painted at the local automotive shop from avocado green to Ford white) with the Whirlpool. We were able to assume a transferable extended warranty. The Whirlpool is disgustingly quiet considering what we paid for the Kitchen Aid in our Atlanta home and my Bosch experiences with clients and friends. Not as sexy though. Depends on where you want to put your money. Hope this helps.
Laurel
I have a Fisher & Paykel two drawer dishwasher that is perfect for one or two people. It's a great energy and water saver. When I had a regular size one I had to wait a week to fill it up but this one is the perfect size to run about every other day. You can use one of the drawers for delicate and one for pots, or whatever. Check it out!
Update on Kenmore dishwasher referenced above. I contacted the Department of Consumer Services to file a complaint against Sears. They contacted Sears for me and a Sears representative called to say they would send a repairman out to look at it. He looked at it and confirmed that the bearings on the pump were shot. He gave me an estimate of almost $500 to replace the pump but I said I would have to think about it. About a week later they called and said they wanted to send out another guy to look at it. He confirmed the pump was bad, got on the phone and got authorization to replace the pump at no cost to me. They also offered to sell me a service contract for $78/year which I did buy.
