Maytag's Tall Tub Dishwasher

[frigilux]

Sorry to belabor the point, but I just find it hard to fathom why, when every appliance line in every brand they've acquired over the years has rather quickly become a Whirlpool clone (including KitchenAid), they'll keep producing two different dishwasher designs. What in their corporate history points toward this happening?

Believe me, I'd love to be proved wrong on this point; I think Maytag dishwashers are fantastic!

And who know, they might decide to keep the Maytag platform and dump their own as an easy way to introduce "the all-new, completely redesigned Whirlpool dishwasher!" I suppose that hinges on Whirlpool having acquired all the rights/patents/etc. for Maytag's designs in the purchase agreement.

I'm skeptical, given their history in this matter, they'll continue to produce both for very long.

 

[andrewinorlando]

WIth KitchenAid, they lost the manufacturing facility and equipment during the buyout, so they really had no choice but to introduce their own design into the KA models. Can't speak for the rest of their acquisitions, but I don't remember them being anything special like KA was.

When they acquired Maytag, they also acquire all patents, rights to patents, contracts, debts of the company, etc., so there is no question that they have rights to it. It's just a matter of will it sell such that they can justify keeping that design going without major reliability issues like their washers had. Like I said before, in manufacturing, everything has an expiration date....be it the technology due to regulation, the manufacturing equipment, etc. Whether or not it lives beyond that point depends on what it does for their collective bottom line. It would be nice to see a changeover to the Maytag design for Whirlpool's own line...kind of combining the best of both worlds in terms of technology.

The new KA dishwasher lines are apparently getting rave reviews so far. I checked one out last week, got to try it at the store, opened the machine while it was running and got a nice shower in the process...there was actually a good bit of water flying around in there. Maybe they've abandoned the lawn sprinkler wash system? One can only hope.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Leslie, Does the Maytag with the PowerClean wash system have a wash arm under the top rack? That was the only thing that kept my Maytag standard tub dishwasher from being a machine with every feature needed so that it could be packed full and clean everything in the load. Thank you for your reassurance that the Maytag tall tub design will continue. I want to get one of the next to the top of the line Maytag or JennAir DWs and make it a portable with wheels instead of leveling feet, side panels from IKEA, a nice piece of counter top and a strategically mounted concrete weight in back. Or maybe just the cabinet from a Maytag portable.

 

[frigilux]

Andrew---If they acquired all the rights/patents/etc., that could make a difference in their production strategy. Thanks for all that information!

 

[magic clean]

"Que Sera Sera"

Tom;

"Leslie, Does the Maytag with the PowerClean wash system have a wash arm under the top rack"? Yes

 

[andrewinorlando]

Well, I can't wait to see one of the new ones and see what the space inside looks like. One of the drawbacks to the power clean module always seemed to be a lack of rack height on the lower rack. I've gotten really spoiled with the GE tall tub's ability to accomodate 13.5" platters along with tall wine glasses in the same load! That's a nice feature to have. Of course, the power clean machines will outclean just about anything, which is a major plus in anybody's book!

 

[magic clean]

New

Maytag standard tub dishwasher model by Whirlpool with Power Clean wash system.

 

[johnb300m]

Wow, they really went back in time didn't they for the Maytag.
That's the design without direct feed water distribution.

That kinda stinks.

 

[magic clean]

John

it loads similarly to the Maytag machine it replaced with the lower rack spray tower. Notice it has split flatware baskets off to the right side with sorting covers. Plus a small items basket (on the machine door for photo purposes) Not too bad for a under $275 machine I think?

 

[magic clean]

Also

what is not readily apparent, the lower rack has a bullnose. The front is bumped out. So it can handle large pots & other items in spite of the water feed column for the upper rack.

 

[appnut]

OK guys give it a break. Do you realize THAT new Maytag is just like the Kenmore UltraWash non-TT dishwashers? Before Scott55405 moved to LA, the UltraWash portable he had in his apartment was pretty much like this, including bull-nose bottom rack and the "top" spray nozzle through the upper rack!!

 

[johnb300m]

though...

because it has a PowerClean...I would highly consider getting this machine.

 

[andrewinorlando]

So, is Maytag selling the version of the non-TT with the direct feed upper wash arm, or only the tower feed version. I'd certainly consider the direct feed, but that tower in the center is a pain in the ass.

 

[stevet]

You are so right, Andrew!

That was such a stupidly designed dishwasher in every version WP ever made. It had a great pump system but that center tube restricted the placement of dishes and the upper washarm was so easily blocked by dishes or anything tall placed on the sides.I can load so much more in my DU950 machine than that thing would hold on the bottom even without the bullnose rack.

They did the right thing copying the KitchenAId washarm setup and added the direct feed inside but they still missed the boat by underslinging the upper washarm. Kitchen Aid was smarter with the upper arm fed thru the rack and the "China-Guard" which almost always guranteed a block proof washwarm.
What a step BACKWARDS for the Maytag line!

Just my $.02

 

[johnb300m]

I agree with you SteveT, but in Whirlpool's defense, this IS the Maytag BOL machine.
I'm a little relieved Whirlpool didn't put the true WP BOL system in; the DuraWash with the center wash tower and "soil settler" filter system.
Talk about junk...