New Dishwasher Recommendation Please

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dishmobile01

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Joined
Nov 12, 2007
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Well, it happened, the Crapidaire (recently spotted for only $230 at the local big box) dumped water on the floor on its most recent hour and one-half journey to "lightly" wash a load. Installed new two years ago be the house's previous "owner", it groans like a thrashing machine and I am not interested in repairing it and would like a recommendation for new MOL machine. Thank you.
 
ge

i had the crap base model frigidaire which was brand new when i bought my house about 3 years ago, i bought a GE dishwasher a year after because i hated it so much! the GE is the only dishwasher with a stainless steel tub for the price and is also the biggest capacity, it is the quitest at only 52 decibles, it feels like it is built more solid than other models, i think it cleans great! another good brand is bosch, but bosch is more expensive and still has a plastic bottom tub and less capacity, the bosch also has a manual clean filter you have to pull out once in a while to clean.... bosch's usually have longer cycle times too, i bought my dishwasher for about $400 plus tax.

http://products.geappliances.com/ApplProducts/Dispatcher?REQUEST=SpecPage&Sku=GDWF100VWW
 
what are your preferences?

List them, and your budget. I want to see lots of replies.

I'm in a similar boat. Not desperate, but getting my ducks in a row so to speak. I am currently considering the Maytag line, primarily because I want a disposer and not a filter, but I might waver on that. These are features/prices from a thread I started a few weeks ago:

model/filter system/tub/rack/noise/controls/price
MDB7749SAB hard food, stainless, nylon, 53db, front control, $449.10 Lowes $599 HD
MDB6769PAB hard food, plastic, nylon, 57db, top control, $449.10 Lowes $348 HD
MDB4709PAB hard food, plastic, nylon, 57db, front control, $359.10 Lowes $449 HD

4709 is down to $404. 7749 has gone way back up. At the $449 price it seemed like a great deal. I personally am OK with a plastic tub. The GE at my office is quiet enough but its Chinese, plus I've always liked Whirlpool and Kenpool dishwashers best.
 
Have you considered looking on CL for a relatively new Kenmore/Whirlpool UltraWash/PowerClean STANDARD TUB machine. These were discontinued about 2 years ago but were one of the best performing dishwashers ever made. I've picked up 3 of them in the last year (for between $100 & $150) and installed them for friends and family who had new-ish machines that were performing poorly. Also, the true Kenmore/WP tall tub machines that were made from about 2001 on were decent performers for the price. In fact i have one in storage if you might be interested... LOL
 
GE's with the center tower

These suckers are about the most reliable still in production dishwasher you can buy. In fact if you go one model down you get rid of the electric controls and have a machine that could possibly outlast you with practically zero maintenance (then again those computer controls are getting more reliable or so I hear).

We have a 25+ year old Magic Chef badge'd version in a rental house, and that poor dishwasher has seen hell. Still runs, cleans about as well as you'd expect any modern dishwasher to clean and doesn't give a damn what goes in it. I've seen it eat whole cherry tomatoes from a tenant that didn't scrape their plates first and those dishes still came out clean with bargain store liquid detergent.

http://www.ajmadison.com/cgi-bin/ajmadison/GSD4000D.html
 
NO NO NO! We have had 2 of the GE wash tower machines, from around 2000- 2003 and they are absolute crap! Reliable, yes, but will probably clean worse than your frigidaire. We had to pre rinse everything and if you didn't, all the food was ground up and splattered back on the dishes. Ours didn't have any kind of filter, just a soft food grinder.
 
@dustin92

We have put Frigidaire's in other rental properties, I'm going to have to respectfully disagree I think the GE cleans great. But to each his own...
 
Whirlpool/Maytag/KitchenAid/Amana/Kenmore(built by WP) all from the same family, all good quality choices. STAY AWAY FROM GENERAL ELECTRIC JUNK!!!
Mike
 
Leaning toward Maytag

Thanks for all of your advice! HD has a sale until next week and I have found a Maytag TT with stainless interior and steam for about 550.00. Have any of you purchased Maytag Dishwasher model MDBH979SAM? If so, are you pleased? For the price point it seems to be a good choice but I would be interested in anyone's experience. Thanks again, cheers!
 
My Recommendation

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend you choose a dish drawer. The latest models now feature extra rinses in some of the cycles! We haven't experiened any mechanical/computer glitches APART from the drain filter separating, although that is my own fault (frequent cleaning/dishwasher cleaner use!)
Whilst you don't fit as much into extra drawer as a regular machine, you get really good cleaning ability, and good, strong water movement!

We now only use the Delicate cycle, which cleans most things really well. It also includes a secret 3rd rinse. The actual washing/rinsing takes 60mins + 30mins of fan only drying.

A link is posted below of a thread I have posted to demonstrate the performance of the machine

http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?40287_10
 
dishwasher

STAY AWAY FROM MAYTAG/WHIRLPOOL! junk!!!! they are a greedy company! all they car about is getting your money! the won't help you if you have a problem! plus whirlpool/ maytag dishwashers are being investigated for causing fires.
 
Too bad the original Maytag Jet Clean dishwashers aren't available anymore. We've had them since the mid 80's and have never had a problem with any of them. They clean anything you put in there perfectly. And we don't even scrape out dishes.
We lucked out and got one of the last JetClean models back in 2008. Even with electronic controls it hasn't had one single problem yet.

Have you ever considered a vintage KitchenAid or Maytag?
 
the quitest at only 52 decibles

I'm still amazed at the noise level of American machines!
Over here the noisiest machine on the market is rated at 51 decibels with hi-end like SMEG or Miele are rated down to 39!

Anyway, when you exclude GE and Whirlpool, are there any American manufacturers left?
 
I own a Miele dishwasher and I'm quite happy with it.

It's quiet, it has a top cutlery rack instead of a basket, stainless steel tub, a rinse aid dispenser that doesn't leak (Every Whirlpool I've ever owned leaked Rinse Aid) and it has a built in water softener.

Now, because I'm in Canada, I pay more than you will, my Miele set me back $2100, but it was worth the money to pay for quality.

You could probably find a decent Miele dishwasher for under $2k.

If you don't want junk, you have to pay for it. At least, IMHO.
 
To Dishmobile

I'm leaning towards the one like yours, but with the plastic tub. Its $404 at Home Depot. I'm holding out until 1) present machine totally quits or 2) I get a new job. Until then I keep watching the prices rise and fall, and the product numbers change. I'm sure its got flaws, but me and other family members have had good luck with Whirpool-based dishwashers. I'm looking for good all-around value. Doesn't need to last 30 years, and no way am I spending $1500 on a dishwasher that costs more than several cars I've bought.
 
Regarding the "wash tower" dishwashers. When I first moved in this house in 2004 (brand new) there was a BOL Whirlpool dishwasher with the center wash tower and two buttons on the console (On/off) heated dry and the mechanical dial.

It was loud, but you could REALLY hear the water sloshing around and it DID clean well! So I'm assuming that the GE wash tower BOL is very similar and probably cleans well too, but I've never owned a modern GE dishwasher.

I sold that dishwasher to my friend who lives across town and purchased a MOL WP dishwasher in 2005. Her dishwasher and mine are still going.

I would get a MOL Maytag with Stainless interior. For some reason, the Maytag brand (even though WP), you seem to get a little bit more for less price. Not sure why
 
Before we bought our current Maytag we had a Kenmore branded GE BOL model. It cleaned well but it would wake the dead it was so loud. But it did clean well.
It was 14 years old when the pump went out on it. At that time we just replaced
all of our kitchen appliances.

I have found that most dishwashers will clean well provided that they have access to very hot water. We keep our water tank at 140F and always use the Hi Temp Wash option on our Maytag. Dishes always come out spotless.
 
What about

a Miele, they really are super, or Siemens, they are a bit cheaper but you still get a decent machine. We currently own a Siemens and its been going strong for about four years without a hickup. Sometimes that machine runs four times a day when we entertain, it is really quiet and uses very little water. I dont have any experience with American machines, but it seem like they tend to use more water and electricity. I have never come across a dishwasher in South Africa with a food disposal. And never have I actually seen a regular one in a house here. So in my oppinion I dont think you really need a machine with a food disposal, scrape your plates beforehand.

Hope you make the right choice for you.

Regards
 
Look into Bosch or Thermador in the US
I own a Neff (made in Germany) dishwasher, and have done for a long time now (over 8 years), it works well even today, cleaning everything well. Neff is owned by BSH, who own Bosch/Thermador. All Bosch in the US, far as I am aware, are made in Germany and as mieleforever said, built to similar reliable standard as Miele.
14 place settings on some machines too - perfect for a large household.

When we visited the US we had Hotpoint (GE) in both our Villa's - They too worked extremely well - but loud, and dry amazingly. Just a shame the main wash seems pretty short. But you can't go wrong with a Timer, and a wash tower.
 
Many Bosch are made in North Carolina

I have read of folks bashing Bosch dishwashers that are made in North Carolina, as many are.

As I understand it, only the high end Bosch are now made in Germany (and with the decline in US wages, maybe all are US made by now?)

I have a MOL Bosch, http://www.lowes.com/pd_371809-39047-SHE55RF5UC_0__?productId=3532030&Ntt=bosch+diswasher , which has performed flawlessly (and appears to be on sale at Lowes at the moment). Plus when I got it Lowes had free delivery, haul away, and 0% finance for six months.

Mine is made in North Carolina.

It does not have a water softener, but I have moderately soft water anyway.

It does have a sanitary cycle which I use religiously.

I understand that some don't like low water use diswashers. I also understand that if you have very fat dishes, such as fiesta ware, the Bosch racks might not work for you. I use Corelle dishes and have no issues.

I recently started using Finish dishwasher tabs (available at Sams Club for $13.50 for 120 tablets - quite a deal, I bought a 2 year supply of 6 cans) and they clean very well.

Your mileage may vary. This is merely my experience.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_371809-39047-SHE55RF5UC_0__?productId=3532030&Ntt=bosch+diswasher
 
Thanks for all of your help!

I purchased the Maytag MDBH979SAW (TT - SS tub - steam - chopper blade - nylon coated racks) because it looked the best of similar MOL machines. It will be delivered before long and I will give you the "run down" after the Jet-Clean Sani-cycle. No it is not the real Newton Maytag (I remember Maytag's first DW) but hope it will take care of business (ANYTHING will be better than the Crapidaire it will replace). Thanks again!
 
Speaking of recommendations: I found my dream dishwasher!

I've just seen the new SMEG dishwashers presented at Eurocucina 2012!
With a 5,6 kW installed power it can finish a "pots&pan" cycle in 16 minutes from start to finish and at the same time have a A+ rating on all the cycles if used in "domestic mode" with standard cycle times! This is just LOVE! :D
 
I ordered

I finally took the plunge and ordered MDBH949PAB. The price dipped down by $50. I was also watching MDB4709PAB, which had been the same price. The only discernable difference I can see is a "cup shelf" which I can't justify paying $45.90 more for now that the 949 price went down.

Dishmobile01's and I made similar selections, he/she went for the stainless tub, mine is plastic. I'm sure we'll both give ample feedback once they are delivered and installed.
 
That is a good choice but if you have granite counters they can't install it and I had to exchange it for a L.G. dishwasher which as been a great dishwasher for me,yes I know everybody trashes them in here but I use mine like a old Maytag Reverse rack.You will be happy with your Maytag though we some of those in our rentals..

<h1><span class="product_number"> </span></h1>
 
Volsboy. No granite counters.
Interesting comment about you putting Maytags in rental properties.

One of the reasons I chose Maytag is that they still have hard food disposers. I may decide to rent my house in the near future. It seems a lot less potential for trouble to just have the disposers rather than trusting tenants to clean the filters consistently.

Me personally, I'd rather not have to clean a filter. Gross! I don't rinse dishes either. I just put them in the machine and run it. That's what I want a dishwasher for, and I don't want a machine that forces me to take extra steps or clean out crud! The less I have to do and the less I have to touch, the better.
 
My DW was delivered

MDBH949PAB delivered yesterday. Will install this weekend then post some thoughts and pics. A couple initial comments:

- The date of mgfr is stamped on the back, 9/6/12 around 3pm. So it was made exactly one week before it arrived at my house (9/13/12).
- The design of the lower rack means I lose some space vs. the UltraWash.
- I like the silverware basket design better.
 

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