Looking for a model that has lots of room, doesn’t waste fuel and runs quietly? No, we’re not talking cars; we’re talking dishwashers.
When you’re ready to shop for a new one, you’ll find machines with two to five cycles, mechanical or touchpad controls, and a variety of features that include sensors to indicate how dirty the water is as well as sophisticated disposal units inside the dishwasher to remove leftover food.
Prices for dishwashers range from about $239 to more than $850 for an appliance with every bell and whistle. Experts say there are a few features that really matter, starting with the disposal unit and the filter.
“Poor filters allow food particles to be redeposited on plates and glassware,” said Phil Roxworthy, custom appliance manager for Abt Television and Appliance Co. in Morton Grove. “Your less expensive models won’t have the type of disposal units and filters you really need.”
When it comes time to load your machine, the configuration of shelves and storage racks may be important. If you regularly use oversized dishes, you may want to bring along a few to make sure they fit. Covered baskets should prevent small lids and other items from being launched, eventually, to the bottom of the dishwasher. Fold-down and adjustable racks for pans and serving platters are handy and found on most machines.
But the most important feature people ask about, Roxworthy says, is how quiet the machine is.
“The higher you go up in price, the more insulation machines will have, and the quieter they’ll run,” he says. “People tell us they don’t want to hear a freight train running through their house anymore.”
Roxworthy contends that European-made machines, such as those from Miele and Bosch, are among the quietest machines with the greatest capacity and have the ability to heat water to higher temperatures.
Roger Sakalis, general manager for Wehrli Home Appliance Inc. in Naperville, says the German-made Bosch machines, which start at $699, and Sweden’s Asko models, which start at about $799, were the first two companies to offer so-called “quiet machines.”
Roxworthy says that in recent years new American-made machines have tried to emulate the European models. Clearly, some companies like General Electric have taken the hint, offering three products with various levels of “quiet” operation: the GE Potscrubber 3400 Series with the Quiet I package ($325); the GE Profile 4000 Series with Quiet II package ($400); and the GE Profile 4300 Series with Quiet III package (more than $500).
Roxworthy says people are willing to buy the higher-end machines because of their quieter operation.
John Pajak, manager of Broadway Appliance and Furniture Co. in Aurora, says those looking for the best value should consider machines priced near the middle of the company’s product line.
“Most of the machines just below the high end are very good,” Pajak said. “One of the problems with the high-end machines is they often come with five cycles, and most people never use more than one or two.”
Looking at your choice from a service angle, Don Ahmann, manager of the Villa Park branch of the Sundberg Co., which is a supplier of dishwasher parts, says the simpler the machine, the better it is for the consumer.
“Down the road, the more basic machines are easier to diagnose when it comes to problems,” he said. “If you have mechanical controls, you can manually advance the dial to see where in the cycle there are problems. The electronic touchpad controls don’t allow you to do that.”
“Years ago, the way things were made, you could buy one of the cheaper machines, and they’d be noisy but they’d last,” said Sakalis. “There are some older machines out there today that are 25 to 30 years old. But today . . . regardless of which machine you buy, I’d say you’re looking at 10 to 15 years of service.”
If any noise from the dishwasher’s operation seems bothersome, or you don’t want to compete with the machine over hot water use, higher-end models often have delay controls that allow you to start the washing cycle when you’re not home or when the shower isn’t running.
“Most people don’t feel the delayed start is that important, but for energy efficiency you can use it so the machine’s not running during peak energy times,” Roxworthy said.
Retailers say integrating your dishwasher with the rest of the kitchen’s decor has become more popular, and many dishwashers offer interchangeable fronts to match colors or even the wood grain in your kitchen.
“You can buy accessory trim kits to integrate your machine with your cabinet fronts. They sell for about $40 to $50,” Roxworthy said.
Based on a 1997 study, Consumer Reports ranked these dishwashers highest in overall ratings: Maytag IntelliSense DWU9962AA ($790); KitchenAid’s KUDS24SE and KUDR24SE ($680 and $615) and Sears Kenmore 1582 ($490) and 1676 ($430) models.
The report noted that the GE Profile GSD4030Y ($400) was the most economical machine to own of those tested. It estimated that the cost per home with all electric service to run the machine and heat the water was $58 a year, and just $32 with a gas water heater. If you buy the least efficient model, the estimated yearly increase is only $10 more.
If you’re thinking of replacing or repairing your machine, here are a few things to keep in mind:
– Ahmann says the rule of thumb about replacement versus repair is if the racks and tub are in good shape, it may be worth fixing your current machine.
– Many homes have undergone kitchen floor remodeling that could inhibit removing your old dishwasher.
“It’s possible to repair many of the units on site,” Ahmann says. “Once people put in new subflooring and covering material, the dishwasher might not slide out from under the counter.”
– The cost of removing and reinstalling a dishwasher will easily reach $100; expect the installation costs, usually not included in the price of new units, to be at least $60. Delivery charges may or may not also be included in the sale price.
– Water inlet valves are the part most prone to breaking down due to normal wear, Ahmann said. The cost for a valve is about $35.
