Install, Maiden Voyage!
SO! This friday I set up the GDF540. As a mechanical engineer, it was easy to tackle, but....it did take me about 2 hours! It was a bit complicated, and more of "some assembly required."
GE did not attach the counter clips, nor did they attach the drain hose extension.
The rear leg threads were tapped all crooked, so the rear legs don't sit flat on the floor. That was annoying.
BUT, the rest of the machine seems quite well made.
Pictures included of the cleaned load.
Comments:
- It's certainly quiet. There's almost no motor noise from the wash pump. It makes a faint DC current whine, but it's barely noticeable with the kick plate on. The drain motor is the familiar groan they all make.
There's a different sound for when it switches between lower and upper wash action. But it's nowhere as annoying as Frigidaire's old system where the middle arm got its water from the ceiling.
- Loading will be a learning curve for my parents. The layout is different. But we were impressed how much you can actually get in it, even with the slightly smaller racks.
- The silverware baskets sure are different. And the soap dispenser totally encroaches upon the lower basket. If you notice, one basket has a handle. The other does not. It seems best to put the one with the handle on the bottom, in order for soap to clear. Which is too bad, since it would make more sense to have the handled basket on the top for ease of pulling the top rack. Oh well.
- There's hardly ANY room underneath. It's SO low profile. And the door is lower to the ground, which helps interior space. But if you have standard 'man' hands like me, it's best to do all the hookups, if possible, BEFORE you push the machine back.
- Maiden voyage was run on AutoSense with Heated Dry. It honestly didn't take as long as I thought, or heard people complain about. The load was a mixed load with some dinnerware and non-stick pots and pans.
Took about 70min or so wash. Did 2 pre-rinses, main wash, and 2 post rinses. No idea how long the dry took. We went to bed.
Everything WAS clean in the morning. Only one issue. Where two bowls were touching, some crud got stuck. But as long as there's space between all items, everything came clean. The spray DOES sound quite forceful, from each alternating arm. More forceful than what it sounds and looks like from Whirlpool's alternating systems.
- Drying performance was noticeably different from the old 2003 machine. All the dishes were dry, but the interior does leave a lot of moisture, including the silverware racks. But the silverware was dry. Just not the baskets.
It's BEST to unload the lower rack first of course. Then top.
- I inspected the fine filter and there was a thin film of gook on of the quadrants, but it was no big deal. The rest was clean. I instructed my parents to just check it once a week, and rinse it out as needed.
To my surprise, they were elated that it was easy to remove and clean. Instead of calling their son to take it all apart to clean
- Other complaints I saw online were from water dripping from the exhaust vent. After the cycle in the morning, there was noticeable condensation around the vent. And it could leave some drops on the floor when you open the door. But nothing too different from our old machine when heat boost was used. (shrug).
Overall, we're impressed and I think my parents will enjoy it. I rather liked it too.
Now here's to hoping it lasts for a few years, problem free.
