Out with the crappy KitchenAid, in with the Bosch

[petek]

Some of you may remember my many travails with the KA dishwasher I bought back in 2012 to replace a just as bad 2006 model. Well after numerous repairs it started acting up again by not draining and it didn't seem to be cleaning well.

So yesterday I headed over to Lowest and purchased the Bosch Ascenta SHE3AR7uc. Which is their lowest priced model and Consumer Reports highest rated model. Scored a top 88 out of a 100.

We were surprised how light this machine is.. but considering the frame is mostly plastic that's to be expected. Not that the KA was heavy, but this is light in comparison

So early this afternoon I set to removing the KA.. where I noticed it had been leaking. After removal I found the leak to be the rubber pipe/bushing coming off the pump has deteriorated and disintegrated basically. NO wonder my wooden underfloor was soaked. Not good. 6 years and it's deteriorating.

The Bosch install went pretty straightforward with no real surprises, just usual awkwardness and my aging bones, aches and pains. That took me roughly an hour and I was ready to test.

I tossed in all the dishes the KA hadn't cleaned properly plus some more dirty ones and really just wanting to see if it leaked I set it for the 30 minute express cycle. No leaks found and I was really surprised to see how clean the dishes, pan and cutlery came out after a quick 30 minute wash.. Clean. I can't wait to retest this cycle with some really grungy dishes and if it cleans them it's going to be my go to cycle just as the one-hour was was on the KA.. Not a fan of 2 and 3 hour sensor washes.

 

[eurekastar]

Congratulations!

Congratulations!  I replaced my Kenmore Elite with a Bosch about six months ago and I really like it.  My Kenmore was excellent at cleaning and drying.  But my main issue with the Kenmore was the REALLY long cycle times.  The Bosch does the same job in half the time.  I read complaints about issues with drying and I haven't had that issue. 

 

[arbilab]

<blockquote>
rubber pipe/bushing coming off the pump has deteriorated and disintegrated 

</blockquote>
OMG, it had Andromeda Strain.

 

[arbilab]

<blockquote>
rubber pipe/bushing coming off the pump has deteriorated and disintegrated 

</blockquote>
OMG, it had Andromeda Strain.  It was a KitchenPool then?

 

[chachp]

Speed60

 

<span style="font-family: 'courier new', courier;">My Bosch doesn't have a 30 minute cycle but instead has a Speed 60 cycle that runs for 1 hour with no additional options.  I have been experimenting with it the past few weeks and I have also had some really good results.  If I add the Extra Dry option it adds about 30 minutes but I seem to get good results without it especially if I open the door as soon as its finished and let the steam out.</span>

 

<span style="font-family: 'courier new', courier;">I think the Speed 60 uses a little more water and runs both the upper and lower arms at the same time through the entire cycle vs. alternating between the two.  Does anyone know for sure?</span>

 

<span style="font-family: 'courier new', courier;">I have always used the Auto with Sanitize and Extra Dry and that started out a 2:51 which just seems like such a long time.</span>

 

<span style="font-family: 'courier new', courier;">BTW, I love the look of yours with the controls up front vs. on top.  I really wish we would have bought one with the controls showing.  The next one we buy will not be with the controls on top. </span>

 

[dustin92]

We bought the same model a couple years ago and haven't had any problems. You probably won't be happy with the performance of the express wash cycle for daily use, it just doesn't wash long enough. I usually just go for Auto or Heavy wash, and everything comes out clean. Half load does wash both racks fyi, but I rarely use it, little time and water savings over a regular wash. It took a little getting used to the racking configuration, but cleaning is on par with the Maytag it replaced, while using 1/3 the water and electricity. We usually start it after dinner or before going to bed and unload the next morning, so the long cycle times haven't been an issue.

 

[revvinkevin]

CONGRATULATIONS!

I bought a new Bosch dishwasher at the end of last year, you may have seen the thread. I have been very happy with it, as it does a great job and it’s so quiet it doesn’t matter when it’s running. I was leery of the sensor auto wash also, but end up using that all the time and add sanitizer option.

Like Dustin above, usually start it when going to bed or when leaving for work so it doesn’t matter that it takes over two hours to complete the cycle. The dishes come out cleaner in the Bosch than they EVER did in the Kitchenaid it replaced and I’m very happy with it!

Kevin[this post was last edited: 8/16/2019-13:55]

 

[lakewebsterkid]

I Agree

Every statement above is correct. The Normal or Auto cycle is your best bet because it will actually wash long enough. 90% of the time I use Auto with no options and my dishes are always spotless and dry when done.

 

[gansky1]

Everyone I know loves their Bosch dishwashers, mom and sister have each had two.  In moves to new homes and upon encountering a  BOL Whirlpool and a mid-line Frigidaire after a Bosch, they both replaced them within a month or two.   

 

 

 

[petek]

Today, well yesterday now , I finally had enough to do a full load and once again chose the 30 minute express cycle. Everything came out beautifully. Will I ever use all those other cycles like Normal, Auto, Delicate, half load etc.. ? Who knows, as long as it keeps doing a good job in 30 minutes it's going to be difficult for me to choose any of the other cycles which take at least 2 hours.

 

[henene4]

Speed60

You would have been far better served going up to a series 100 machine with the Speed60 cycle.

The Express cycle washes at only 113F and rinses at 131F without a proper drying cycle.
No prewash either. Just 3 fills.

Meanwhile the Speed60 washes at about 127F and rinses at a whopping 158F by default and adds a prerinse.

I was saddend to see the SpeedPerfect option disappear on many of their models.

The EU version of that option (VarioSpeed) is a great tool giving you any cycle you want shortend.

Uses more water and energy though.

 

[petek]

That is not a compelling reason for me to spend more money for something of very dubious value. I have always opened the door to let the dishes dry and never used the heated dry cycle on my kitchenaids. There is a point of diminishing returns (overkill) when it comes to things like how many rinse and prewash fills. All a layperson like me can do is to look at the dishes when they come out and decide if they are actually clean or not. And CR who have all the test equipment and microscopic instruments/microscopes to actually analyze how clean the dishes came out of their test machines gave it the highest ratings. My priority with a dishwasher is clean dishes in the least amount of time at a reasonable prices and so far it has delivered, albeit it's only been two loads so far.

 

[chachp]

 

I suppose we could whip them out and see who’s is bigger or we could do a scientific test.  I vote for the test.  <span style="font-family: Wingdings;">J</span>

 

This is not one of my Bob Loads but it’s dirty enough that I was curious to see what would happen on the Speed60 cycle.  So I just started the dishwasher and I’ll check in an hour to see how it did.  With the baking pans like this I wouldn’t normally try the Speed60 but what the hell I can always wash them over.

 

[chachp]

The Results...

 

<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva;">I have to admit I am really surprised.  The load was spotless.  They were still on the wet side which I expected, but I am shocked at how well they came out.  I expected at least a little crud in the baking pans or cloudier water in the tops of things but none to be found.</span>

 

<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva;">So, although mine isn't a 30 minute cycle, this 60 minute did a pretty darn good job.</span>

 

[appnut]

Ralph, what did the filter look like?

 

[chachp]

Filter

 

<span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif;">Hi Bob, </span>

 

<span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif;">Actually not too bad.  I have been cleaning the filter about once a week and adding a little Cascade power as a prewash at John L.’s suggestion and the filter has been pretty good.  It's really cut down on the smell between loads.</span>

<span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif;"> </span>

<span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif;">I didn’t use the Cascade powder in this load as I was curious to see how it would turn out, but the filter looks better than I would have expected.</span>

 

[petek]

Ralph do you think you'll be using the 60 min cycle more often now? lol . I wished I could go to sleep or go out and leave the dishwasher running but that anxiety kicks in about something going wrong.. More so now since we had the water heater tank blow a few months back and made a big mess in the basement.

 

[chachp]

60 Minute Cycle

 

<span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif;">Pete,</span>

<span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif;"> </span>

<span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif;">I suspect I will.  I will use the Speed60 if I’m around to open the door when its done. I am also going to experiment with adding the Extra Dry option.  That adds about 30 minutes to the cycle.  Too bad I didn't wait a little longer as some of the 2019 Bosch dishwashers now open the door at the end of the cycle. </span>

<span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif;"> </span>

<span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif;">I don’t worry so much about a fault because these dishwashers have some kind of system that protects against flooding the kitchen. My anxiety comes more around giving up the Sanitary cycle when I use the Speed60.  Logically, I realize that the second I open the dishwasher I probably lose any benefit of running the Sanitary cycle, but I have used a Sanitary option of one form or another on every dishwasher I’ve had as long as I can remember. I’m sure I’ll get over it.</span>

 

[appnut]

Ralph, look at your cycle/option chart and see what the final rinse temp is when you use the Extra Dry option.  When I was looking yesterday, I think it said 161 degrees.