Buying New Dishwasher- need honest opinions

[Chetlaham]

I saw the price and ordered it:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Kitchen...ainless-Steel-Tub-43-dBA-KDTM354DSS/205397273

However, a lot of negative reviews on Amazon and in general. Will it out-clean/out perform my current Maytag?

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Maytag-...t-Stainless-Steel-47-dBA-MDB7979SHZ/306925904

I notice a re-redesigned pump, motor and filter. How does it clean?

 

[iowabear]

Congratulations on the new machine.  Great price.

 

FWIW, Consumer Reports rated your KA as "Excellent" for both washing and drying, while a Maytag in the same line as the one you linked ranked "Very Good" for washing and "Excellent" for drying.

 

The KA is very quiet while the MT has a self-cleaning filter (soft grinder.)  Really comes down to preference on that.

 

That's what tough about buying major appliances, you'll live with them for years but can't try them out in advance in any meaningful way.  But these are both great machines, it's not like you can go wrong with either.

 

Looking forward to your report after you get it.

 

 

[toploader55]

Interesting as I have been shopping around lately.

I would take John L'a advice (combo52) as he has been touting Maytag is the best dishwasher right now. Being he has always been "Whirlpool Forever" and yes, Whirlpool is Maytag now, I like the quick video of the Maytag's wash action.
Seems to use a decent amount of water. The KitchenAid Prowash has that Squirt gun Zone. Hobart always has said "The water has to move or the Dishes have to move" for effective washing.

Click on the video.

Maytag 24 in. Fingerprint Resistant Stainless Steel Front Control Built-In Tall Tub Dishwasher, 50 dBA MDB4949SHZ - The Home Depot

Wash away all vessels quickly by selecting this Maytag Front Control Built-In Tall Tub Dishwasher in Fingerprint Resistant Stainless Steel.

www.homedepot.com

 

[Chetlaham]

Thanks for the replies.

I'm torn between the two. I currently have the Maytag and it cleaned very well until I had to take apart the mechanism to get rack ball bearings out of it. Drying could be a bit better though WAAAY better then the early 2010 Whirlpool machines I had briefly.

Does the Kitchen Aid have a self clean filter or do I have to clean it? They seem to have some type of cylinder in the pump housing.

https://www.searspartsdirect.com/model/1122qlp47b-000593/kitchenaid-kdtm354dss4-dishwasher-parts

https://www.searspartsdirect.com/product/3b0jnmnnfe-0022-665/id-w10713298

Also, what about Bosch or Miele?

I want something that will 1) last and 2) clean without ANY pre-rinsing.

 

[Chetlaham]

Looks like I don't have to clean anything?

https://www.repairclinic.com/PartDetail/Pump-Filter/W10832799/4363162

 

[Chetlaham]

Motors are about the same

The Maytag:

https://www.repairclinic.com/PartDetail/Circulation-Pump/W10815709/4283262

The Kitchen-Aid:

W10805015 - Whirlpool Pump & Motor Assembly

Part W10805015 Whirlpool Pump & Motor Assembly for Kitchen Aid Dishwashers, genuine Whirlpool OEM replacement part.

partsdr.com

 

[toploader55]

I was shopping with a friend a few days ago at a high end appliance store here on the Cape... When you really look at the prices side by side... If you are going to spend $800-1,000 for a machine, look at Miele. Yes, their service is expensive but the machines are great. You barely can hear them when they are on.

Personally, noise is not a factor for me. I just want the machine to last and perform.

Everyone has their choice. I will when ready more than likely go with Maytag.

 

[neptuneguy27]

Vote for Kitchen Aid

I have had the KA KDPM354GPS with the self cleaning filter for just over a year now and I really like it. The only thing I ever find that I have to clean is the Coarse strainer if something too large was left on the dishes; that's it. The dishwasher cleans very well and it's practically silent when running. It's very rare that I ever have to send anything back through. It is also nice to have a dishwasher that actually dries plastics unlike my Bosch that had the condensing dry system. I have attached some before and after pics of a typical load in my dishwasher. I hope you find them useful.

Chris

 

[Chetlaham]

More than useful. Thank you!

Can you take pictures of the sump area, spray arm and just the inside in general? If that filter truly is self cleaning, then I'm keeping my order.

Have you ever done a coffee ground test? Thats how I make sure a DW can really do the job on filtration.

 

[Chetlaham]

Miele

Are they more durable/longer lasting than Kitchen-Aid and Maytag?

 

[Chetlaham]

Filter

Here is the filter- how does it work?

Dishwasher Circulation Pump Filter W10713298 parts | Sears PartsDirect

Dishwasher Circulation Pump Filter W10713298 (replaced by W11084156) parts - manufacturer-approved parts for a proper fit every time! We also have installation guides, diagrams and manuals to help you along the way!

www.searspartsdirect.com

 

[appnut]

Chet, I have a Kenmore Elite that's 4 years old.  It's produced by KitchenAid.  It has what KitchenAid refers to as the Clean Water Wash System that's on the KA model you are looking at.  In fact, that was the very first KA model to offer the new self-cleaning filter system.  I believe this model came out Spring 2015.  I have hard water and had to have the whole pump module replaced just under the 2 year mark.  Since then I run Lemi-Shine dishwasher cleaner through it about once every 30 loads and use Lemi-Shine detergent booster in the wash dispenser along with my Cascade Platinum pod.  Overall I've been pleased with its performance.  The Lemi-Shine products I use was suggested by the repairman who replaced the pump module 2 years ago.  

 

I'd been using Affresh that was useless in my hard water.  

 

Because I'm dealing with hard water, I'm actually considering one of the Bosch Benchmark models with the integral water softener and CrystalDry feature.  

 

 

[mrsalvo]

I bought the MOL model Maytag last June and really like it. (I was also looking at a GE model that I really liked.) It cleans well, dishes are clean, no kibbles on top of cups and glasses. No filter to contend with and it has a heating element in the bottom. It seems the cycle times are bit longer though. (I don't start an appliance and then go to bed or go anywhere, learned my lesson doing such.) Bought the dishwasher mainly on the advice of a member here, JohnL (Combo52). New dishwasher replaced a 5 year old KA that kept going through motherboards.

My vote is for Maytag.

Barry

 

[Chetlaham]

What was wrong with the pump? I did not know it was out for that long, but its comforting to know that it is.

I'm going to be honest: I'm seeing a lot of negative reviews about pumps and racks failing prematurely.

 

[Chetlaham]

I'm curious what John (Combo52) thinks of these Kitchen-Aids. If I lived nearby I would pay his show room a visit and ask him for guidance.

I like the Maytag but three things happened:

1) The lower rack wheels fell off about 3 years after I got it.

2) About one year 4 months the ball bearing started coming out of the satin glide rack rails.

3) Made the mistake of taking the sump filter apart (bent it) thinking I could get the bearings out which are making a buzzing noise in the motor.

I really, really like my current Maytag but very unhappy about how both racks failed the way they did.

 

[Chetlaham]

Bent/damaged sump filter

The way it is now it no longer cleans. I find food particles on the dishes and poor wash ability. The cover does not seat well at all.

Top rack is no longer usable as I just zip tied the rails because the rail (and the rack) is on the verge of falling. It rains ball bearings when moved.

I will give Maytag credit that the bearing have not damaged the wash pump or drain pump, there are some one and a half dozen down there lol.

 

[sudsmaster]

My personal preference is for a DW that doesn't have an exposed heating element. These can melt plastic items on the lower rack. With a Euro design like Bosch or Miele, the heating element is hidden in the sump area, out of sight. It heats the water instead of melting the items in the lower rack. Yes, without a fan you may find a little water on items. That's what clean dish towels are for. No biggie for me. I'd rather sop up a little water with a clean towel than have hard water mineral deposits.

 

Just my personal preference.

 

 

[neptuneguy27]

Sump area & General pics

Here are some pics of the sump area as well as couple of general pics. I have never done the coffee ground test but I can tell you that I've never found food particles in the bottom of coffee mugs or anything else that holds water. As far as the exposed heating element melting plastics: I have loaded plastics in the bottom rack and nothing has melted. In full disclosure, I tend to load them out towards the sides of the rack and not directly over the element.

You'll notice in the pics below that I show two different wash arms. The original X shaped arm as well as Whirlpools S shaped arm. Both clean exceptionally well but personally I think the S shaped arm ever so slightly edges out X shaped arm in wash performance. But I was in no way disappointed in the performance of the X shaped arm and as I mentioned above I rarely have had to send anything back through. But I wanted to try this arrangement after seeing Andrew's (Murando) videos on Youtube where he showed the both arms in action.

In pic #2 I zoomed in on the coarse strainer. This piece just lifts right off should you ever need to clean it. And the only time I ever need to is if something too large gets left on the dishes. Other than that, there are no filters to clean.

In pic #3, I was trying to show you the vent for the ProDry system. The fan pulls the air in from the top of the tub, condenses the moisture, drains the condensate back into the tub the fill flume, and vents the "dried" air through the bottom front of the dishwasher just behind the door.

 

[moon1234]

Miele

Are they more durable/longer lasting than Kitchen-Aid and Maytag?
------------------------------------------
Generally yes. Miele is usually the least repaired of any dishwasher. They are not without any problems, but generally have the least amount of repair call outs of any dishwasher brand. Whether the price premium is worth it to you is the better question. Google Yale Appliance. They are a very large appliance dealer out east with over 30 repair techs on staff. They are OEM repair for almost every brand they sell. Miele is the least repaired dishwasher of any brand (and 2nd or third most sold). They post yearly numbers of sales of each brand vs call outs for repair during the same year.

If you do two to three loads per day; statistically you have a much higher chance of needing a repair. If you do one to two loads a week then the opposite is true. This really helps to determine if better reliability will translate to more uptime.

My house has 14 people living in it. We do three loads of dishes a day. We bought Miele simply to reduce downtime. We went through one LG (lasted three years) and two Bosh dishwashers (Three years and two years). In all cases the pumps burned out. Bosch had them replaced under warranty. The first Bosh we didn't buy an extended warranty. Pump was replaced at 11 months and then trashed when it burned out again. Second one we bough an extended warranty. The second Bosh had three pumps replaced before the extended warranty gave us our money back.

We are trying the Miele Crystal (with five year warranty). If that dies under five years or requires lots of repairs I guess we need to go to a commercial unit. If the dishwasher is like the Miele Laundry it should last the 10,000 hours it is designed for. Downtime really sucks on Laundry and Dishwashers in our home.