How good are Hobart kitchenaid dishwashers?

[oliger]

This Saturday I am picking up what I believe is an Energy saver IV Kitchenaid. It is coppertone brown, and I am told that it works. My current dishwasher (newer Bosch) I can wash a full load of dishes without even rinsing them off and they come out clean. How well should the Kitchenaid do in comparison to that? Any good features? I know that the newer dishwashers don't have a good dry cycle.

 

[joeypete]

They do a great job!

I have an 85 Monterey that is currently not installed (I have to replace the program switch). Used it from Jan. 2016 to Nov. 2018 and it is a beast at cleaning. One thing that I love about the old KA's...the ones that have an upper spray arm...is that because there's a guard below the spray arm, you don't have to worry about anything hitting the arm. If you can get it closed, you're good to go! I really miss that honestly. Despite the "small" size compared to tall tub machines, you can fit a lot in there. You can pack them pretty good because of the vigorous wash action. I found that you still need to make sure everything gets exposure to the water of course, but you can load it a lot more "care free" than newer machines.

In it's place I purchased a top end Kenmore Elite front control machine. It's basically a KitchenAid and I have to say I am extremely impressed with it. Obviously it's gobs quieter but it cleans amazing. I don't have an issue with drying in mine. I'm quite surprised when I empty it in the morning that everything is basically bone dry. The Hobart was good at drying too but this one is the same if not a bit better. Mine does have a blower fan too so that may have something to do with it.

But I think you'll be happy with the machine. By today's standards those old Hobart's are considered commercial style now.

Let us know how you like it!

 

[oliger]

Thank you, I will post it on here if it ever gets hooked up. Probably not until this new one dies. I always found that older dishwashers hardly clean at all, but I heard nothing but good from these old Hobart ones.It was $20 so I figured it was worth getting because every other major appliance I have is coppertone brown.

 

[norgeway]

Kitchen Aids and reverse rack

Maytags will out clean any new dishwasher in 1/3 the time, Where the new ones use 5 or so gallons, the older ones use 10 to 15, therefore the pump pressure can be MUCH higher, like 50 gallons a minute of water recirculation, the new ones cant do this because there is not eough water in the sump to sustain that kind of pressure. that's why they clean somuch better, those old one arm wonder Kitchen Aids will blast off even burned on soil.

 

[appnut]

The Energy Saver IV was KitchenAid's first attempt at being more energy efficient.   It heats the water 2-3 times,  depending upon the cycle.  While it's heating the water, it's not circulating water--described as "dwell".  Once it reaches the target temp, then it will begin circulating.  Heating period is one of the prewashes and the final rinse.  The other thing is the Energy Saver IV does not have a real heat4ed dry and a blower fan helps remove moisture during the "dry" period.  This was also known as the "19" series and wasn't all that popular because the water heating period lengthened the cycle to what people were not accustomed to plus no option for a heated dry.  

 

[funktionalart]

Very few people don't like them...

And the reputation is beginning to spread, apparently, as my recent (December) house sale in Arizona stipulated that my Hobart Kitchenaid KDS-20 remain for the new buyers. I wasn't happy about that. I LOVED that machine....luckily I hung on to my KDS-23 and brought it to the new house instead. I'm just one of those who has zero use for new appliances. Old school all the way. Bullet proof machines that clean and dry in under an hour...Ha!

 

[oliger]

Here is the only picture I have of it right now. I don't know much about it other than it can still wash dishes. It is obviously filthy and looks like some water damage on the door. Can anyone tell me an exact model? I have no idea if it really is an energy saver. Or maybe what year it is.

 

[appnut]

Since you say it's an Energy Saver IV, that is a KDI19.  "I" stands for Imperial.  It could also be a KDI18 or a KDI20.  I've just looked at my 19 series brochure and nothing in that brochure resembles that dishwasher.  So I say it's a KDI18.  

 

[combo52]

KA KDI -18

I would leave this one behind, it looks rough and it does not have a water heater at all, you would need a very hot water source to get any real cleaning out of this DW, this and the KDC-18 were the last DWs KA ever sold that did not have a water heating element.

 

John

 

[oliger]

It does look really rough, but its only 20 bucks so I thought that it wouldn't hurt if it was junk. I'm just going to have it set around as a back up until my current one dies.
Without the water heater it probably won't clean well at all then. I have a house over 100 years old with awful water pressure and it can take a while for the pipes to heat up and actually get hot water out of a faucet.

I appreciate all of the good information!

 

[norgeway]

John

Wont steer you wrong!

 

[ozzie908]

Cycle length query

Why do people not like longer wash times if it saves you money?
Having never had super quick washes on a DW I don't really think about it as I just leave it to it and do something else or just go to bed and empty it in the morning.
Do you have other things to be getting on with or is it you need whats in the machine ?
A confused Brit who has more than enough time on his hands without machines doing their jobs quicker lol
Austin

 

[oliger]

I don't know other people's reasons, but I only use the dishwasher for about 40% of my dishes. I use a lot of 1960s enamelware pans and 70s Tupperware that can't go in the dishwasher. I have to wait until the dishwasher is done to wash them, so I do like a dishwasher with a shorter cycle. Then after I wash those, if I have clothes to wash, I start the washing machine before bed.
I don't like to ever have dishes setting around, it disgusts me. So if I use the dishwasher after every meal- 3 times a day, I like to have it run shorter cycles so I can use water when I need it.

 

[combo52]

Enamel ware and Tupperware do beautifully in a DW, If an item does not go in the DW I have no use for it, life is way too short to spend an hour a day washing dishes when the whole mass can be dealt with in about 15 minutes a day.

 

John

 

[oliger]

Enamelware probably can go in the dishwasher, but Tupperware made before 1979 (all of mine) absolutely cannot. It warps the lids, and then they don't seal. Ive had it happen on holidays when people do dishes for me. I'm also really finicky about spots on dishes, and besides plates and glasses, I don't think the dishwasher cleans to my standards.
I really don't like how much time washing dishes takes, witch is the only reason I use the dishwasher at all.

 

[mattl]

I've got ancient Tupperware and it all goes in the DW.  I only use 2 or 3 pieces but in the dishwasher they go  I use a lettuce keeper and a celery keeper that has been around odds are since the early to mid 70's.  Have a few bigger bowls, actually huge bowls, use them for summer parties, they go in too.  AS others have said -if it can't go in the dishwasher I don't need it...

 

One thing I will add is I NEVER use heated drying, that may make a difference.  I do use the Sani rinse on my KA and everything flash dries.

 

[oliger]

These are the kind of lids I have trouble with. The bowl itself that is made out of harder plastic I have never had warp. It is always the lids.

 

[launderess]

"Cycle length query"

Various reasons why some households don't like these several hour long DW cycle times.

First and foremost are those who either were brought up or otherwise do not believe in allowing appliances to run while they are asleep or out of the house. My father was hugely against such things, so that is how one was brought up.

Two, much depends upon how a household handles dishes. If there is only the one DW and either a large family and or a huge meal (such as family events), the dishwasher will have to run perhaps more than once. If cycles are two or more hours long then that creates problems. Likely what cannot fit in first load will have to be washed by hand instead of standing around waiting for machine to finish.

Being as all this may standard wisdom on both sides of the pond is that households run dishwashers last thing at night before retiring; thus several hour long cycles shouldn't be an issue.

Was reading posts on another online appliance site.

Married couple purchased a new washing machine that ran for hours so the wife started it before going to bed.

Husband: "Wot's that noise?

Wife: "It's the washing machine"

Husband: "You're running it now, while we're going to bed?"

Wife: Don't worry, it is spinning now, cycle should be over soon."

Husband "Well if the house burns down while we're sleeping it is your fault".....

 

[wiskybill]

Jon,

I have a lot of the same Tupperware. It goes in my dishwasher, top rack, with no problems. Like Matt I rarely, if ever, use the heated dry cycle.

So far no issues wit it.