New here and in need of a little help.

[stevet]

Thanks!

for the pics. At least you have the heated air dryer. That machine has the 3 most desired cycles and very often, the light/china cycle will get your dishes clean.With the lack of a tank heater, you will probably have to use the heated dry to get the dishes dry and it is a good idea to do that insulation blanket you spoke about previously. I usually double wrap my machines to help keep the heat in. And some noise out.

 

[jend]

So far I am absolutely in love. I am using up the cascade tablets that I had and water temp is 133 and stuff is coming out great. The first load had a few stuck on spots but those were gross spoons that were rock hard stuff. I have used the normal load option only. I am hoping in the next few loads to use the light and see how well it cleans.

 

[rp2813]

No need to add anything to what Steve-the-Hobart-SME has stated above.

 

You can't get more simple and straight-forward than this with a KitchenAid dishwasher!

 

Interesting how the timer has an "Off" position between Rinse/Hold and Normal cycles.  Saved them a selector button and related wiring.  Truly unusual and the most BOL model offered, but still an entirely capable machine.

 

Congratulations Jen!  You should get many years of trouble-free service from your "new" KitchenAid!

 

P.S.

 

See you back here when your modern clothes washer fails.  ;-)

[this post was last edited: 8/31/2012-04:07]

 

[volvoguy87]

HOT water.

In my house, I am re-doing the water heating system and most of the plumbing. I am debating the best way to get really hot water. I want my primary hot water to be 120 degrees. This will feed all the taps, showers, and the back spigot (mixing valve spigots are GREAT!). I want 150 degrees or so to go to all the washing machines and dishwashers. I've got 2 options.

Option 1, have a small tankless water heater to boost the temperature of the hot water for my appliances (30 degree temperature rise won't require a big one).

Option 2 is to have the water heater set to 150 all the time and then use a thermostatic mixing valve to temper the water down to 120 for the taps. A thermostatic mixing valve mixes cold water into hot water to make warm water. It can also extend the capacity of a tank-style water heater because the tank of water is kept at a higher temperature, but less of it is used to make a given volume of tempered water. In my system, the 120 degree tempered water would supply most of the plumbing, but I would install a T fitting to supply un-tempered 150 degree water to my appliances.

My water heating system will be highly efficient, and it will be less expensive to heat water via water heater than via heaters in individual appliances. It will also reduce wear and tear on the appliances by reducing the time spent in a heating delay.

Clear as mud?
Dave

 

[jend]

rp2813 LOL too funny about the washer. I was telling hubby that I would honestly cry like a little girl when my washer dies. Isn't it a shame that a BOL vintage is way better than a new DW from today? The older I get the more I find I want simplicity. I don't want to think my way through complication.

Dave - Yep clear as mud. Now my hubby will understand

 

[retropia]

Would a little vinegar or LimeAway in the sump on top of those mineral deposits also work to remove them? I often use vinegar to dissolve the mineral deposits that build up on our faucet spouts and aerators.

 

[rp2813]

And Jen, for now you're running the tap at the sink until the water is at its hottest before starting the dishwasher, right?

 

Also, I don't know what the rest of your kitchen looks like, but are you aware that you can still get the stainless steel door and access panel inserts for your KDB21 through Sears parts?

 

 

 

[qsd-dan]

I took the tap water temp and it is at 133 degrees but I can bump it up a notch.

Yeah, bump it up to at least 140F.

I found a night and day difference in cleaning from my old reverse rack Maytag by simply increasing the tap temp from 140F to 150F. This is the reason behind my 150F recommendation.

 

[jend]

No I haven't been running the tap first. Honestly I load it and turn it on and come back an hour later to beautifully cleaned dishes. I'll try the tips and see how much better we can get it

 

[danemodsandy]

Washer Tip:

If your washer ever dies, get back to us and we'll give you the secret Maytag handshake.

Simplest, most straightforward engineering in the business and longevity like you would not believe.

Mine are from 1977 or so. I got into Maytags when a more "modern" washer broke down, and I was astonished at how much cleaner the first load came out than the results from my old machines.

In fact, you might even enjoy switching before you have to. Jus' sayin'.

 

[jend]

Lol I'vebeen bittenby the bug...I sent an email on another DW. Its too pretty not to.

 

[qsd-dan]

<a name="start_42171.621643">No I haven't been running the tap first. Honestly I load it and turn it on and come back an hour later to beautifully cleaned dishes.</a>
 
Pretty soon, we'll have you shooting up and racing to the kitchen faucet for a good purging every time you hear it drain. I get a good laugh from friends and family members when I do that with the 18's and the 19, lol.
 
We'll give you the secret Maytag handshake.
 
Love it!
 
That Series 2 806 washer and 808 dryer are stunning, Sandy.
 
Still don't understand your squeamish issues with the Almond color ;>)
 
Those remind me of the set Revinkevin use to have.

 

[jend]

Lol the hubby already thinks I'm nuts...what's running through the house to run the tap haha

 

[washer111]

Nice work on replacing something modern with something old! 

 

Who cares if its a BOL model, as long as it gets the job done, you are perfectly alright! 6grains of water hardness is described as moderate hardness. I would definitely recommend you get some STPP from the link below, and add maybe 1/4-1/2 a tsp. with every load in the Main-Wash detergent cup. 

 

If you have a recirculation system for your hot water heater, ensure that is running, that way, you don't have to race after the dishwasher when you here the ol' girl snap into the draining cycle. That, or just keep the water heater really hot, to help make up for any lack of heat as the line is initially purged.

 

Sorry to have to hijack this thread, but how many rinses do the KA's run post-wash, and how long do they run. This would determine whether Jen has to go and run the hot tap each time the machine drains, or just at the end of the Main-Wash. (I happen to do this for our DishDrawer, since we have solar heater water).

Also, does this BOL model run any Pre-Rinses/Washes?

 

If I were you, I'd have the water heater right up at 150F, that way, you'll get 100% detergent dissolving in the relatively short Main-Washing period (and it'll help sanitise your dishes, if you happen to be a germaphobe, like me!)

 

One last question, could you tell us how long it takes you to run the water hot in your kitchen when the lines have sat for around an hour? That way, we could figure out whether you really need to "waste-water" running the tap (I s'pose you could justify it by washing your hands lots, *lol*)

 

Congratulations and Good Luck with your KitchenAid. I envy you so much (Not because our DishDrawer is crap - its because I'd like to have a nice old dishwasher :] )!

 

[autowasherfreak]

Those early Maytags are some of best and most dependable washers and dryers ever made!

 

[rp2813]

I only run the tap once before starting the machine.   Because my machine has automatic water heating, I don't bother running the tap before each subsequent fill.  The water stays hot enough to provide the machine with at least the minimum temperature required for the automatic heating system to bring it the rest of the way up to optimum wash temp.

 

That's one of the things that annoyed me about the Thundering Thermador's steam cycles.  It would take up to 45 minutes to complete the steaming sequence, and by that time the water in the pipes was such that it was like giving the dishes a cold shower after that steam bath.  A ridiculous gimmick on an over-all ridiculous excuse for a dishwasher.  It was beautiful on the outside, though.

 

My Hobart-inspired ISE Classic Supreme has been a delight to use after giving the TT the boot a year and a half ago, and of course it's infinitely quieter.  Almost anything would be.

 

[jend]

washer111 - I can turn the tap on and it gets pretty hot reasonably fast. I bought Cascade professional for food service today and ran a load. Worked very well.

 

[danemodsandy]

Dan - Almond

"Still don't understand your squeamish issues with the Almond color"

Because Almond was invented for the express purpose of concealing - up to a point - a film of kitchen grease and dust. By the second half of the 1970s, when the color was introduced, housekeeping was falling by the wayside in many homes, in favor of two-career households.

Almond was considered to stay "clean-looking" longer than other colors. I don't particularly care for "clean-looking." I like clean.

So, that's my frotz about Almond.

 

[washer111]

@ JenD

My assumption is, you don't have to draw more than around a gallon of water? (That would be around 8secs, I suppose).

 

In that case, I would just set the water heater really hot, then maybe get tempering valves for your showers/sinks if its practical. That way, any "cold" fill in the KA machine will be negated with flaming hot water. You'll probably notice better drying/washing results that way too