My new budget friendly Whirlpool dishwasher

[leelee]

Purchased a new dishwasher a few months ago. Tight budget right now. So this was a $400 purchase. I previously had a whirlpool dishwasher that gave us many good years of service and I picked this one because it had the same configuration of the inside racks and cutlery basket.

This new dishwasher performs fantastically. I’ve tried all the cycles. I don’t use the 1 hour wash for a huge heavy soiled load. I use cascade packs and cascade rinse aid. I can really load this thing up, huge capacity.

Now for $400 I don’t know how long this machine will last. My old whirlpool had a food grinder and this one has a filter that you have to clean. I don’t love this feature, but now that I’ve lived with the filter for a few months I don’t hate it. It literally takes a few minutes to clean out and you’re good to go. I have always liked the silverware basket on the door. I just leave all the lids open on the basket and have never had a problem with my silverware not being cleaned properly. I run it after dinner and by morning it’s 99% dry (I use heated dry and rinse aid). This machine is really getting a workout now that 4 of us are home all day due to Covid19.

I’ll attach pics from last nights huge load! Take care everyone.

 

[combo52]

New WP Basic DW

Hi Lee, glad you are enjoying this new no-nonsense DW.

One thing I can tell you is it will outlast the expensive, KAs, Mieles, Bosch, Frigidaire's, GEs and on and on.

And it will be easier to fix when it does fail.

John L.

 

[Chetlaham]

Will this outlast a 2019 Maytag?

 

[littlegreeny]

Question for John...

Isn't the wash system pretty much the same across WP's lineup? Why do you think this would outlast a Kitchenaid? I know they have a slightly different wash system in Maytag, but I thought Kitchenaid was pretty much the same as WP but the Kitchenaids have more bells and whistles and more sound insulation.

 

[combo52]

Quality Of WP DWs

Quality across the WP lineup is about the same, the problem is complexity if you look at a new $1000+ KA DW there are almost twice as many parts to cause service calls and problems, things like

 

Diverter motors and seals to leak

 

Variable speed main wash motors

 

Variable speed drain pump motors

 

Automatic vent dampers

 

Fan motors to help drying

 

Motor driven lower wash arms

 

Fancy ball bearing rack glides that break

 

Adjustable top racks

 

Additional top silverware racks

 

Interior lighting systems

 

These are just a few of the reasons that a high-DW is never going to be as trouble free as a good basic DW.

 

I would expect a 2019 MT DW to be about as reliable as the basic WP as it does not have most of these complex extra features.

 

John L.

 

[littlegreeny]

Good points John and

thanks for the explanation. This model is pretty simple, so less parts to break.

 

[stricklybojack]

.
Congrats on the new appliance.
Around here working dishwashers are often free.
Here is a typical ad:

 

[gelaundry4ever]

wash system

I assume most of whirlpool's lineup still operate the wash arms separately, with the exception of maytag.

 

[agiflow3]

Has anyone seen the new KA and Maytag models live yet ? Don't know where to find them.

 

[appnut]

You can look at Home Depot and Lowes.

 

[stevet]

Calling Combo52 and Good points on the WP dw's

John, I sent you an email a few days ago to the address listed in the profiles on here. Can you let me know if you got it?

Also, I would agree with John about the lower level of features on the Whirlpool you mentioned. And have also had surprisingly amazing results on the 1 hour wash cycle.

All cycles use the soil sensors to one degree or another so even the 1 hour cycle cleans amazingly well even with normally soiled dishes.Also, it has more water changes so it would not be considered the energy saving cycle that the machine is certified on.

I would say to give it a chance and see if it works for you. Definitely make sure you use a drying agent and that the water at the faucet is hot when you start the machine.
Let us know how it works for you.

And BTW, no alternating arm action on them either. The pump has just enough umphh to work them all at the same time. No hurricane in a box by any means. More like a slight summer breeze!

 

[agiflow3]

Thanks Bob. I will try again. So far I haven't seen them yet. I'll take a look tomorrow if possible.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

wash system info

Thank you for the wash system information. I could've sworn both arms would alternate, but it's good to know they run simultaneously. My guess is that the all-new maytags will also run them simultaneously. I wonder how they'd sound whether empty or full. Maybe even both.

 

[Chetlaham]

Fancy ball bearing rack glides

Indeed! After only two years on my 2014 model the ball bearings started to fall one by one. By the time 2018 came along the top rack rails had to be zip-tied together. Avoid, avoid, avoid.

 

[agiflow3]

I saw the new Maytag and KA dishwashers at Lowe's earlier in the week. I also saw they had the Maytag commercial washer MVWP576KW and matching dryer on the floor. Hopefully they will do well.

Was impressed with the quality of the SS wash arms. They felt pretty solid. The machines seem well made.

 

[Chetlaham]

Maytag was my pick, they are the best atm IMO.

 

[zeldaella]

I found many people seem to like Whirlpool dishwashers. Are they really good?

 

[imperial70]

For the past 33 years

I have owned nothing but whirlpool dishwashers and they have never let me down. The first 2 were power clean modules (still running when I moved or sold my place) and the third where I am now (been here almost a year) is a point voyager. I've never had to repair any of them and each one of them cleans dishes left in them for a few days. Normal cycle with hi temp wash. Finish or Cascade or store brands. Tablets, packets or powder.

 

[combo52]

Whirlpool DWs

Whirlpool is by far the largest builder of DWs in North America, overall they build a good product.

 

Frigidaire and GE are the other big brands, however both GE & FD have had a lot of problems, they both have a main motor with brushes in them and these motors have a very short life in many cases which leaves you with an expensive repair bill.

 

Bosch has become a fairly popular brand in the US over the last 20 years and if tarted well are holding up fairly well. We feel they are about on par with FD for sturdiness neither one of these brands are good if you are hard on things or probably not good for many rental property situations.

 

Bosch also has the smallest capacity and has restricted loading pattens and no heated dry option, the DW itself is also smaller in width so it often leaves nearly a 3/4" gap on both sides when installed in many kitchens.

 

GE and WP DWs are Union built in the US so you can also feel better about knowing that the people that assembled your DW have better pay and work benefits for them selves and their partners and families.

 

John L.