A window with a view! Help me decide?

[joeypete]

So FINALLY the long awaited dishwasher with a window is available for purchase. This would be purely an "I want it!!!" purchase. My Frigidaire Gallery works beautifully, but come one, a dishwasher with a window? Yes please.

I haven't convinced myself completely that I will get one right now (though I probably will). It looks like there are 2 options available. Obviously the KitchenAid model and also Kenmore has a clone Elite model.

Both machines are built on the same platform but it appears that the Kenmore is a step above the KitchenAid in terms of features. Both feature the new "clean" filter system, just called different things.

The Kenmore has the newer wash system which is motorized, it also has the TurboZone Reach option which is the upper rack "turbo" wash zones, the lower TurboZone has moving disks, compared to the KA stationary spray, it has top rack only and bottom rack only options, splittable utensil caddy, and a knife holder.

The KitchenAid has the older wash system with the "X" lower wash arm...which quite honestly I really love. It's about the only thing on these left from the original Hobart designed machines...so that really is pushing me in that direction. The knife holder I can actually buy as an accessory so not a big deal there. The KitchenAid is a clone (basically) of CR's top rated dishwasher so I know it will clean well. In a way I like the more simplistic aspect of the KitchenAid...

Then there's the price. The KitchenAid is priced on sale for $1079 and the Kenmore Elite for $1299. So that's an issue as well.

I'll post the links from Home Depot and Sears.

Any comments welcome!!

Thank you!

http://www.homedepot.com/p/KitchenA...ow-with-Lighted-Interior-KDTM384ESS/205907494

http://www.sears.com/kenmore-elite-24inch-built-in-dishwasher-stainless-steel/p-02214823000P?prdNo=10&blockNo=10&blockType=G10

 

[combo52]

DW With A Window

I would get the KA, I have already done service calls on the motorized wash-arm feature on KM models, the motorized WA feature is complicated and the seal failed after 15 months for my customer and damaged their wood floor.

 

[joeypete]

Thanks John! Yeah, I was thinking that myself. Less to go wrong, lol.

 

[henene4]

That window on the Elite

The Elite window looks hidious with the round corners in my opinion.

And make sure to get some way to light the interior during a cycle! Some LED-strips, maybe.

 

[joeypete]

I do like the outside design of the KA too! I don't like that thick handle of the Kenmore, honestly.

I was thinking the same thing...the lights don't stay on during the cycle lol. I'd need lighting for videos hahaha

 

[mrb627]

Kitchenaid...

I vote for the Kitchenaid. I don't care for the appearance of the Kenmore at all. Of course if the Kenmore could run with the light on inside, that might change my mind. But I bet it doesn't.

Malcolm

 

[joeypete]

Thanks Malcolm! No, neither run with the light on, darn it haha.

 

[logixx]

Just make sure you use the Hi-Temp Wash with the Kitchen Aid, otherwise you're getting 100F washes.

 

[henene4]

Price

Wow, the Kenmore shows up as 1499$ for me! And if you want to get the KA, get it till the 27th

 

[yogitunes]

Kitchen Aid gets my vote......

I have a top control model, with that tiny status dot, it would be nice if it had at least a countdown display of some sort on the front....

other than that, an outstanding unit.....

besides, this light is already inside......I would be figuring a way to add a switch into the kickplate to turn it on as I wanted.....

 

[appnut]

Kitchen Aid, otherwise you're getting 100F washes

That's why I chose the Kenmore Elite over the KA because the KA only specs "normal" wash water temp at that level and mine has a minimum of 120 degrees.  I think the default wash cycle times are shorter than mine too.  Couple that with 100 degree water and I can't see anything getting clean.  Here's where I'm a bit like Andrew--why should I engage high temp wash if I cannot expect the Auto Wash cycle to figure out how to best clean everything.  I only use HTW for the dirtiest of loads.  And that's with Pots/Pans.  The last 3 loads have consisted of cereal bowls with MaltoMeal cooked in them and sat for up to 6 days as well as remnants of whole wheat pasta in pans as well as reheated meatloaf on plates and such.  it has defaulted to average soil--and everything has come out clean.  It does do a "purge" 1st post wash rinse.  The pump pulses on & off and alternating levels for 5 minutes and then does the 2nd rinse.  My old one just purged/pulsed for about 15 seconds and drained and went to the last (2nd ) rinse. For heavier soil it does to complete fill post-wash rinses.  On pots & Pans it's 3.  The new one has only done once whereby it doesn't drain the prewash water and starts the main wash phase and dumps the detergent.  for loads that would just be that light, I find the 1 hours wash cycle is more than adequate and I add 25 to 30 minute heated dry.  My digital display on the top of the door is visible with the countdown at all times. 

 

[verizonbear]

Sears Outlet

I have a feeling you will see that Kenmore model in the outlet by spring, the novelty will wear off,

 

[joeypete]

So how does the wash temp lower if it's like 125-130 degrees out of the tap??

 

[murando531]

They mean that the sensors will only activate the heating element if the water falls below 100F. The temp gradually falls just from ambient heat loss through the tub, and with the main wash itself being 1.5 hours or more, there is definitely enough time for cooling to happen.

I cast my vote for the KitchenAid because of the lack of motorized arm. I'm sure KA's and KM's mechanical arms are the same as far as how they work, but even aside from reliability issues, I don't really like how either arm setup looks. I'm definitely on the more simplistic side, which is what I love about my new Whirlpool; clean lines, simple, sleek looking wash arms, etc. It does an unbelievably wonderful job, without all the extra business going on.

I'm sure the wash temp thing won't be an issue in the grand scheme. If you have caked on/burnt on foods you'd probably be using a heavier cycle than Normal anyway, otherwise, the final rinse is still heated to 140. Odd though, because my Whirlpool still heats main wash water to at least 120 on Normal with no options. The one time I opened it a while after the detergent cup opened, I was greeted with a billow of steam to the face. I wonder, despite these machines all being Whirlpool and all being the same wash system design, why the variations in temps and cycle times?

 

[murando531]

@john - How have the diverter valve systems and their seals been holding up in the last few years with these Whirlpool machines? I think I remember you mentioning it being at least one weak point for this design. It's what I'm somewhat worried about with mine, because otherwise I don't see the motor(s) failing on their own with normal use. So far my plan is just to make sure dishes are actually dirty and that I'm using high quality detergent to make sure the seals aren't being eaten alive.

 

[joeypete]

Makes sense about the temps. Probably to save energy I imagine. The Maytags are the same way from the user manuals.

I'm really like the KA myself. Now just need to nerve to place the sale lol.

 

[joeypete]

@henene The price on the Kenmore did go up lol. Yikes

 

[stricklybojack]

.
When you shop make sure to do so in "private" mode. Otherwise the retailer is tracking where you have been on the web and can adjust the prices you see. Also so do other sites, so now your Facebook will be full of ads for dishwashers as will google search pages etc.
Airlines do this a lot.

 

[murando531]

I second @stricklybojack. Reset your browser completely and then go incognito/private. This happened when buying my dryer. Had all kinds of ads pop up afterward showing it cheaper, only to find out there was "fine print" on the other side. Drove me crazy until I learned about tracking.