Front Panel for Recent Maytag

[spookiness]

I have a Maytag MDB8959SKZ. Controls on top, 3 rack, stainless front. I'm quite happy with it and got a fantastic price from Costco about 2 years or so ago. (Love my Maytag gas range too)

Subsequently I'm contemplating a kitchen remodel. Maytag customer service, via their website, after 1 month returned a weirdly-worded (AI?) response that basically said my question was unanswerable.

Does Whirlpool have a retrofit kit that would all me to put cabinet-matched panels on this machine? All my appliances are new-ish, so no real need to replace any if the remodel goes forward.

I probably should have asked you all this question first. Thanks and hope Santa fulfills all your appliance wishes.

 

[wayupnorth]

My niece has a newer Maytag dishwasher in stainless. The front panel showed rust and Maytag sent a new front panel, under warranty and her dealer replaced it.

 

[maytaga806]

I don’t think so but there’s a slight possibility. Maybe call whirlpool or Maytag and ask this exact question over the phone they may offer custom panels.

 

[michaelz08]

It’s probably possible but not simple.

I would go to a parts site and compare the diagrams for your model to something like a KDTE304LPA to see what would need to be ordered.

Niche replacement parts like this tend to be expensive though, it might be more cost effective to find an open box KDTE304LPA than it is to convert your Maytag!

 

[combo52]

Most dishwashers are no longer adaptable to wood panels

You need to buy a specific model to do this. You probably have to go to a KitchenAid or a Jennair machine that is panel ready.

It used to be you could put custom panels on almost any dishwasher by buying a custom panel kit with trim, etc., but they're no longer doing this.

Generally, I would not recommend putting a wood panel on a dishwasher. It adds so much weight to the door, the panel often cost nearly as much as the dishwasher. It won't fit another dishwasher. When this dishwasher wears out there are a lot of problems related to having those heavy panels on dishwasher doors.

Not least of which it's kind of silly to make a dishwasher look like a cabinet. It's just not very functional. You're not gonna be able to make a stove look like a cabinet. You're not gonna be able to make the sink look like a cabinet you can make a refrigerator look like a cabinet if you wanna go to a great deal of expense, but there's really no point in doing so there's other ways to decorate.

John

 

[michaelz08]

@combo52 makes a good point about the weight on the door. While it may physically be possible to remove the stainless steel front, order some things, and mount whatever you want, there's the limitation of the door springs.

In current gen Whirlpool panel ready models, the door springs are adjustable so you can pick the right one for the weight of your door. Standard WP dishwashers have no spring adaptability and this could become a problem.

If you're asking because, perhaps, you wanted the handle to match other new appliances in your new kitchen then it's worth noting that within the WP brand portfolio all the handles can be interchanged as the mounting points are the same. I am helping a friend remodel and he has a mix of KitchenAid, JennAir, and Whirlpool appliances and he may decide to swap some handles to reduce the different styles in the kitchen. eBay has many for sale at reasonable prices.