Dishwasher recommendations

[Rich Stern]

Sometimes the consumer advocates are right. Actually more often than not. In this case, Clark Howard's recommendation to stay away from expensive dishwashers: Right on!



Our first, plain Jane Kitchenaid lasted ten years.



Our latest, a "high end" Bosch dishwasher began acting strangely after only 4 years in service. Got just a bit noisier, and sometimes not draining. A manual cycling and draining via the controls took care of it. This time, however, it won't drain at all. The pump never comes on. I can turn the pump impeller by hand, so it's not locked up or clogged. Either the electronics or the motor are shot. The onboard diagnostics give no meaningful hints.



Called Bosch: $99 base fee for service visit, plus $12 per 6 minutes (I am not kidding...$120 per hour), plus parts. A little online research shows that a typical Bosch service call is often $350 to $400 dollars. I'm kicking this piece of Euro-trash to the curb and buying a new dishwasher for the second time in five years.



So, I need recommendations: What brands do you like? Which models are quiet and durable? The Bosch did a fine job of cleaning, and was very quiet. Hate to give up on those traits.

 

[Tom Schindler]

Sears Kenmore...cheap model.





Tom

 

[A1cntrler]

I have had a Kenmore one for almost 5 years now trouble free. It isn't the basemodel one. Has a digital timer on it, Is super quiet and has a sanitize function (that was a good idea at the time as it was just before our first child) Works great. Even has some kind of "garbage disposal" feature that grinds up chunks of food for you, but I am a rinser. Always rinse off the chunks before I put in in the washer, so not sure how that feature works..



2 for Kenmore...

 

[Thomas Rogers]

We have all GE appliances in our 9 year old home.



The electric stove and microwave have been trouble free.



The dishwasher is fine, except for when our oldest son pushed his younger brother (10 yo at the time, and not a small kid) onto the open door, bending the crap out of the door and breaking the plastic inside the door. I took the door off, plastic welded the inside and hammered out the dings on the door and it works fine and looks "almost" as good as new.



However, the 1/2 HP garbage disposal just started acting funny. It makes a loud clunk sometimes as it spins down after shut-off, and then when started back up runs very fast (RPMS on high). I think the insides are going...there's nothing stuck in it. 9 years ain't bad for that since we use it all the time.



However, I plan to replace the disposal with an Insinkerator Badger instead of the GE, just due to availability without having to order (Home Depot has them). That's this weekends project and my dad's day gift to myself.



So, GE is okay, if you can get a good deal.



TJR

 

[Gary DiPietroSr]

Rich, found this site very helpful, and I was able to fix my fridge. If you want to try and fix it yourself, check it out.



Gary D.



P.S. we have an ASKO dishwasher, it's ok.

 

[Dave S 2]

OK forget the long reply I typed out cause it deleted because I wasn't logged in. HATE when that happens.



o make it short...see attached link. I went for one due to good reviews, excellent price and free ship to my door.



Hope this helps...



Edited to add: I have ordered lots of things from buy.com and have never had a problem.

 

[TRACket Paul]

Our first, plain Jane Kitchenaid lasted ten years.

You almost answered your own question.

And that is my brand recommendation.

 

[Dave S 2]

Also a $10 bonus from pricegrabber.

 

[KentheREALone Z]

Maytag, the poor service guy on TV died of old age and boredom...

Seriously, Kenmore/Whirlpool or Maytag. Had good luck with both. Our KitchenAid appliances were not good, even though I think they were mfgd by Whirlpool.

 

[Scott Doughtie]

I love this one. Right before I got divorced, I put in a Whirlpool Gold dishwasher. The thing was great. BTW, Whirlpool, Kenmore, and Kitchenaid are all the same if I am not mistaken. My girlfriend's house that she just sold as well her condo at the beach have Bosch. they were more noisy than the Whirlpool. Plus, the button locations and functions were more user friendly on the Whirlpool.

 

[Gavin Allan]

MAYTAG-- upper end model. So quiet you can hardly hear the thing running (seriously). The digital display is neat to watch too.

 

[Ron N]

This is like the frigidare model we bought about 7 years ago and we have not had any problems with it.Clean it with liquid bleach every once in a while. It has worked great._Ron

 

[Bill V]

Avoid Maytag, Amana, and Frigidaire like the plague. In the last six months, we've had a Frigidaire dishwasher, Maytag refrigerator, and Amana washing machine all die--all less than two years old. The washing machine was just out of warranty, but the other two weren't--but getting either company to honor their warranty in a timely fashion was next to impossible. I recommend that no one ever buy from any of them unless they want similar headaches.

 

[mookie]

...we've had a Frigidaire dishwasher, Maytag refrigerator....

Maybe you got things reversed. Shouldn't you have a Frigidaire refrigerator, and a Maytag dishwasher? :lol: JK



We have a Maytag dishwasher, 5 years old, no problem...

 

[LaRue Medlin]

We just bought a "high dollar, top of the line" Bosh last week. After reading your comments on Bosh and checking further on the net,,, IT"S GOING BACK TO SEARS! (haven't installed it yet, thank goodness)

 

[Fred]

One more vote for Kenmore.

 

[Johnny O]

I hate to jinx myself....but I bought a mid-priced Kenmore about 10 years ago and the only problems I've had were a tear in the drain hose and recently the soap cup release door would stick from some soap buildup behind it. Fixed both problems easily myself.

Otherwise, check Consumer Reports magazine. In my opinion, as long as you get a dual-level sprayer (important) there isn't a lot of difference between any of them.

 

[Rich Stern]

LaRue, I was just reading Consumer Reports, and they rate Bosch highest. Of course, they don't bother to talk about repair costs. So, it's a great dishwasher, as long as it doesn't break.



:wacko:



Gary, I had read up on the problem on that web site prior to posting this thread. I'm usually ready to tackle appliance repairs, but we are throwing a party for my mother-in-law's 70th birthday this weekend, and need a working dishwasher. Can't deal with any trial-and-error testing and parts chasing this week, otherwise I'd be all over it.

 

[TomT]

I asked an appliance serviceman the other day while repairing my crappy Maytag fridge (again), who makes the best appliances these days. He told me they are ALL crap and just buy the one I could get the cheapest. Gone are the days when you can expect a lifetime of service from an appliance. Your lucky to get 5 years and it doesn't matter how much you paid for it. I'm afraid it's the cold, hard, honest truth. Nothing is built to last anymore.

 

[Jim Fomby]

Kids - borrow the neighbors' little ones if you don't have any! Much cheaper