Buying a new dishwasher

[tomdawg]

Alright. I’m struggling to buy which one.

I’m down to Bosch, kitchen aid, and possibly the fisher paykel...

Bosch
https://www.nfm.com/bosch-800-serie...e-dishwasher-with-3rd-rack-in-stainless-steel

Kitchen aid
https://www.nfm.com/kitchenaid-24-b...interior-light-in-printshield-stainless-steel

Fisher paykel
https://www.nfm.com/fisher-and-payk...her-with-full-flex-racking-in-stainless-steel

I’m leaning toward Bosch. I had one in my condo and loved it... I like the zeolite drying system and no exposed heating element. Plus Bosch has a consistency of their designs

kitchen aid, I really like the features like the third rack and amazing loading capacity but struggle with the reliability...

fisher paykel, I like the idea of independent washing. But I run a full load every day anyways.

 

[rp2813]

I'm spoiled by my Miele's third rack.  Unlike dishwashers with baskets for cutlery, the third rack design works best when items are nested.  Upon unloading, just grab all of the knives, forks or spoons at once and put them away in one bunch.  It's so much faster and more convenient than picking through a basket for items one by one.

 

I'm surprised KitchenAid's reliability is an issue.  I though Whirlpool-sourced dishwashers were fairly problem-free.  I've only had one experience with a Bosch and that was at a vacation home, as it happens, a few Thanksgivings ago.  I was not impressed and it struck me as flimsy.  However, my sister has a Bosch and likes it well enough.

 

I wouldn't trust anything made by Fisher Paykel.

 

[whirlykenmore78]

The KA for sure:

Easily hold the most dishes, no messy filter to clean and being a WP product parts and service will be easy to find when needed.
WK78

 

[pierreandreply4]

i also advise the kitchenaid

 

[coldspot66]

The new Kitchenaid dishwasher has a new wash system ( maybe Microclean?) and also leak detection. The 3rd rack lets you put 6" glasses and coffee mugs there, and has 2 rotating spin tubes to wash the 3rd rack. I like the pocket handle style with the cycle selections on the front. It alternates washing the racks, but has eliminated the troublesome actuator. I think the actuator was the reason why Kitchenaid's reliability suffered. Also no fine filter to clean, just a small coarse filter.

 

[iiijohnnymaciii]

KitchenAid with the clean water was system is a revolutionary leap for dishwasher systems and would easily be my pick.

 

[pierreandreply4]

kitchenaid dishwasher

my mom and i have this model but it needs to be exchange because 3 days after instalation it leak model is kdfe204kps 39 db 3 rack but it has the manuel filter

 

[gelaundry4ever]

My church friend who I visit for small group

usually on Fridays just got a whirlpool dishwasher. When I go to his house, I'll check it out. I was told that it had a 3rd rack.

 

[lorainfurniture]

I have the kdtm804kps

I am so thrilled with it I started stocking it at my shop. It washes and dries beautifully. It’s quiet. The third rack is a game changer.

 

[appnut]

Tom, I have the first generation KA Clean Water Wash System with the Kenmore Elite label. I think it's terrific. The model you are looking at is exactly the model I want, or the 804K model version. I like the pocket handle and front display too. All for the same reasons others have stated about their KAs.

 

[littlegreeny]

Doesn't KA/WP use Chinese wash pumps? That's my main concern with buying a WP/KA product. Bosch makes their own pumps and are known to be very reliable.

 

[henene4]

While Bosch's pumps themselfes are verry reliable (just like basicly any well made VFD-based system), some - not a lot, just some - people have had issues with the wash heaters failing regulary.
The heater is integrated in the wash pump and can not be changed seperatley.

Not sure how the 120 vs 240 thing plays a role in that - just mentioning it.

One thing is that changing the pump on both designs is fairly easy - on the Bosch it is a little more tightly spaced than on the Whirlpool designs while on the Bosch you just remove a side panel and work from there while on the Whirlpool design I think you have to tilt the machine on its side - not sure on that though.

Pricing is another thing - I really don't know parts prices on the Whirlpool machines.
But on the simpler Bosch's the main PCB is in the 200$ range and the pump is a 90-100$ part IIRC for any model - it's the same for any Bosch DW by now.
And that is like the only 2 parts ever really going wrong.

Though the cheaper Bosch models have a tendency to develop leaks where the stainless upper container meats the lower plastic tub piece after a couple of years - usually 8-10 years on average.
The fully stainless ones with the seal on the sump itself tend to leak less often around there.
While there is a sealing kit for either both are pretty annoying repairs and often not really sucessfull.

Also not much to do about that - that is just the nature of different thermal expensions of the 2 materials and seals wearing over time.

On Whirlpool machines in the past both control boards asweel as the pumps (though less common) have had know premature failures.

A muss more "american" design though.

Parts pricing and availibility can be hit in miss though due to the lower grade of serialisation on the machines - a PCB or pump is much more likely to be more model specifc and thus less likely to be in stock for longer.

 

[chachp]

BOSCH wash pump

 

<span style="font-family: helvetica;">Mine failed at about 1 1/2 years old.  Actually, it was the heater that failed not the pump itself but because they are integrated the whole pump assembly had to be replaced.  From what I read, using a detergent that produces a fair amount of sudsing has been known to contribute to this failure.  I'm not technical enough to know exactly why but that is what the article said.  I was using Cascade pods at the time and since we have soft water we not only over dosed but also cascade pods are known to produce a fair amount of sudsing.  I started using Miele tabs and they not only clean really, really well but they don't seem to produce any suds at all.  I'm hoping that solves the issue for me.  If it fails again after this the dishwasher is history.</span>

 

<span style="font-family: helvetica;">I think the machine cleans really well, is very quiet and even though there is often chatter that the Bosch doesn't hold as much, I'm satisfied with what I can get in a load.  We have the 800 series so ours does not have the plastic bottom mentioned above.</span>

 

[lakewebsterkid]

KA or Bosch

Honestly you will be fine with either machine.
I have heard of issues with both brands, but I was largely scared away from KitchenAid because of the electrical issues I have heard, and the quality of the racks and other components. However, with a few years behind our Bosch DWs belt, I can safely recommend Bosch. I never have an issue with loading capacity, albeit I removed our cutlery basket and use the 3rd rack exclusively for silverware.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

I saw the new Whirlpool dishwasher

at the Gutierrez house where I have church small group on Fridays, but it was only a sneak peak.