Dishwashers

[superba1]

Hello, I'm trying to help my sister out with a dishwasher, she has 3 kids and has been through 2 NEW expensive dishwashers in the past 4 years both of which had board failures.

Which of these older machines would be best for daily use? Thank you!!

 

[whatsername]

Behind door #2... Kenmore ultra wash!

 

[combo52]

For Performace and Relibility

DW #1, then #2 and then #3

 

John L.

 

[pierreandreply4]

i would suggest if she can find one a whirlpool like this on

i would suggest a vintage whirlpool like this or a vintage kitchenaid or dm made kenmore that where poweer horse in term of cleaning and if the model she finds is portable and she wents it built in she can always convert it to built in or a vintage rotorack lady kenmore dishwasher

 

[murando531]

The #2 is going to be the easiest to use, look the most modern and fit in today's kitchens, as well as not look ancient interior-wise when polished and restored, and you may even be able to find a similar stainless model to harvest its front panels if it would help update it to fit with other appliances, like mine below. It's also going to be the easiest to work on and restore because parts are still easily and readily available for that modern PowerClean system. The others are quite dated and parts are hard to find for the older PC design. Of course, it depends on how much work you want to put into finding the parts, because they're out there, but for quick finding, the Kenmore UltraWash, #2, is the safest bet.

The next factor would be condition of the machine, because any used dishwasher is 99% likely to be layered with scale and residue inside from the countless people in our society who refuse to learn what rinse aid is, and who buy cheap detergent and rinse all their dishes off before loading. Not to mention the gunk and toothpicks, bread clips, candy wrappers, etc. you're going to find buried behind the sump grate on any of these three machines. I've rebuilt three PowerCleans from the bolts up, and each one needed TLC and some CLR scrubbing and some finesse to get them looking like they just rolled off the assembly line. I even found an intact Quaker Oats granola bar wrapper in one. Maybe that's not as important in your case, but just keep it in mind when seeing the machines in person.

 

[cam2s]

My vote goes to the ultra wash (#2) as well, it’s the newest, would be reliable and is a powerhouse performer. Very simple and easy to work on. The only issue might be the racks, I would check to see that they aren’t rotted/rusted too badly.

On a side note, I hope someone gets that Potscrubber 1200. While older and would need probably need some TLC to bring back to daily driver condition my Potscrubber III has been a fantastic machine. I just love the look of the panel with the rapid advance mechanism and I think it has some cycles that mine doesn’t have as well.

 

[qsd-dan]

#2

#1 and #3 are good dishwashers but should only be left to collectors who know their way around electricity, tools, NLA parts, and have an appreciation for them.

 

[appnut]

#2 first. #1 is the very first generation of Kenmore's UltraWash (Whirlpool PowerClean) from 1984-1985. And 3# is the same as my beloved 1987 GE GSD1200 Potscrubber.

What were the brands of the 2 dishwashers your sister had failures with in the past 4 years?

 

[rp2813]

Absolutely #2, the Kenmore UltraWash.  This is the famed dishwasher that made an entire chocolate cake disappear per marketing campaign claims.  It has a soil sensor that figures out what type of treatment each load of dishes requires.  I got a barely used one for the kids after they bought a house with a beater GE diswasher.  It cost $30 and was still doing a fine job when they remodeled their kitchen last year and replaced it.

 

As has been stated above, the other two look dated in comparison, parts could also be an issue, and I don't know if either of them has a soil sensor feature.

 

[petek]

What were the two expensive dishwashers she went through?

 

[combo52]

#2 Is A Great DW, BUT

It is not even worth going to the trouble to install it, The Membrane control panel and board are NLA and the control panels fail all the time.

 

The decade older KM Ultra wash is the best choice and the GE not bad the only problems you are likely to have with either of these in the inlet valve or main pump and motor which are still available.

 

John L.

 

[appnut]

And dishwasher #1 has a mechanical timer and not control board or membrane panel that's NLA.

 

[superba1]

Update

Thank you everyone for your responses, I truly appreciate your help! I decided to get #1 and #2...Unfortunately, the black UltraWash racks were rusting in many spots and also had a puncture in the door that was covered with a piece of duck tape.

The older KM UltraWash is in near pristine condition and will be getting installed tomorrow. I am really impressed with how well built the machine is and excited to get something reliable for my sis.

The previous dishwashers that had failed were an LG and Samsung.

 

[appnut]

The previous dishwashers that failed were an LG & Samsung

Well, that explains it.

 

[rp2813]

Sounds like you picked the best of the three based on condition, and that is a crucial criterion.   Check the door and lower access panel to see if there are other inserts besides the almond colored ones.  Black would give it a sleek, more updated look.

 

I suspect you've learned a lesson here about Korean appliances in general.

 

[murando531]

Membrane controls and their condition relies solely on user habits. The panel on the machine I have is 16 years old and none of the buttons have so much as a crack or wear mark on them. It all depends on how rough it’s been handled.

 

[rp2813]

Andrew, I agree, and will add that even with rough handling, the second hand UltraWash I got for the kids (mentioned above) never had an issue with the control panel.  This in spite of the machine being in a household where a family day care was operated, and kids were pushing buttons on it a lot. 

 

My step daughter is hard on things too, yet even she couldn't manage to destroy the panel on that UltraWash.

 

[combo52]

Membrane Control Panels

I am not just talking to panels that have cracked outer layers, the internal switching fail all the time on these crappy type of panels, 90% of the many we replace every month look perfect.

 

MB controls are so unreliable that they could never be used on things like automobile dash boards because they would cause massive failure rates and recalls.

 

John L.

 

[dustin92]

I have to echo on the Kenmore Ultra wash control panels failing- I had a slightly newer version for a few months, and gradually buttons would just stop responding, until only 3 cycles (pots and pans, smart wash, and express wash) worked, heat dry no longer worked, and one day the start button no longer responded.. The touch pad felt brittle and I think 2 or 3 buttons fell off (my mom and I are NOT hard on anything). You are probably much better off with the manual control model.