Dishwashers Discussions

I wouldn't buy a Kenmore. We.ve had one about 8 months and it doesn't get dishes clean and doesn't get them dry. I'm about to go out and buy another brand.

I'd suggest a model like the Kenmore 13742. It's a Consumer Reports Best Buy and it's rated #1. It's usually on sale in the mid-$500s. It's got Turbo-Zone, which cleans your baked-on, caked-on dirty pans and casserole dishes. No more washing in the sink then washing in the dishwasher! It's also got SmartWash, so it ends the wash cycle when the dishes are clean, rather than just running until the timer gets to zero. You might also want to look at the Whirlpool 19542, which has similar features (though the adjustable top rack is much more difficult to work than in the Kenmore). This model is also usually in the mid-$500s.

it is so hard to pick one..I've been reading reviews all night and of course each brand has its downfalls.  Bosch seems to be too small on inside, loads take longer and they are more expensive.  Kenmore seems to have a lot of negative reviews on drying problems. I just dont know what to choose, but have to choose something soon, as my husband already ripped out our cupboards and I have no sink now until he puts it all back!

If it's not working properly, you ought to call 800 4 MY HOME (469 4663) so they can get the dishwasher working properly. Sears would rather you didn't have to spend money unnecessarily for something that can be fixed. There's no reason to allow something in warranty to continue working improperly. Take advantage of our free warranty service.

By the way, which model do you have, and when you say it doesn't get the dishes clean/dry, are they hot when the cycle is over? Because it sounds like the element might not be working properly, meaning the drying cycle wouldn't work, and the water wouldn't get hot enough for the detergent to be fully effective. At any rate, you should have a technician take care of the issue for you, rather than buying a new machine when the one you have is so young.

thanks so much for that info.  I will look into those 2 now.

Thanks again!

Also, do you recommend a stainless steel tub?

jmiller184 said…

Also, do you recommend a stainless steel tub?

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Stainless steel tubs are good for a few reasons: slightly better drying, no stains (duh!), looks great, no corrosion, more durable overall. Stainless can, however, increase the price, and many models by American brands will not have stainless steel tubs in the price range you're looking at. They're still great machines, though, so don't feel short-changed if you choose a plastic tub. Fortunately, in your price range, racks will be nylon, and that's a much bigger deal than a stainless tub (as anyone who's had the nubs break off of the tines and get all rusty and nasty knows!).

In your price range, a stainless tub would have to be a Bosch. There are a couple models that Sears carries in that range, including the Sears-exclusive Ascenta. The tubs are less spacious because of the European condensation drying system. Here comes your lesson for the night!

American brands (Whirlpool/GE/Frigidaire) use an exposed element to heat the water, air, and dishes inside the dishwasher to turn the water to vapor. That vapor either escapes through vents on the front or condenses on the walls and drains out the bottom (these dishwashers will have vents on the top surface, and the vents only allow fresh air in after a few hours post-drying).

Foreign brands (Bosch/LG) use a concealed element to heat the water in the final rinse. Fresh air is then circulated between the outer and inner walls of the tub. This lowers the temperature of the tub (which must be made of stainless steel to achieve a low enough temperature, which is why Bosch always has stainless tubs) and encourages condensation of the hot water onto the cool walls. The water drips down and drains out the bottom. You are then required to open the door to allow fresh air into the inside of the tub, completing the drying process.

These dishwashers also have a triple-filtration system instead of a grinder-disposal, which increases energy and water efficiency and reduces noise. If you'd like to see a Kenmore model with the same filtration feature, see 13882, which is just a little more than the price range you were asking for. Dishwashers with this filtration system are around 52 decibels on average, versus around 58 for grinder-disposals (6 decibels is two noticeable sound levels, or whisper versus conversation level). Cleaning performance, however, is in no way compromised.

Because of the need for air space for the drying system, Bosch and other foreign brands have smaller tubs. The condensation drying system does use slightly less energy overall, so if total efficiency is a big factor, check out 17272 (which is the Sears-exclusive Ascenta) and 17112.

I hope this hasn't been overwhelming for you. I know it's a lot of information all at once. Hopefully, it will help you make a decision you can be happy about. Good luck!

What about the Samsung stainless dishwasher. There isn't any customer reviews on your website. There is nothing but negative reviews about it on the Lowes website about it leaving water all over the dishes. Is this because it should be opened and allowed to finish drying also? Anyone know anything about this dishwasher?

 barnie1

My recomendation is do not buy anything manufactured by LG, and be careful because Sears will rebrand famous names like Kenmore on LG products. And be careful about the history of the product, find out if there are returns, recalls, or other issues a good place to check is messages boards outside of Sears. And the most important find out what the return policy is from Sears and the manufacture that made it. All I can say is be careful from who you buy it from.

Yes, the need to open the door is the root of the drying problems. Most Americans aren't accustomed to this system, and most Americans don't read the user manual, so most Americans with these dishwashers don't use them properly. When used properly, the drying system should be just fine.

I agree- do NOT buy LG. I have all LG appliances and started having problems as soon as the warranty was up .The dishwasher is terrible.I won't pay to fix it- needs a pump after 1 year for 400 bucks- trying to figure out which brand to buy now.

JoanneNAPLES said…

I agree- do NOT buy LG. I have all LG appliances and started having problems as soon as the warranty was up .The dishwasher is terrible.I won't pay to fix it- needs a pump after 1 year for 400 bucks- trying to figure out which brand to buy now.

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I am told, by friends with similar experiences, and by technicians, that this is common. The pump gets replaced with a better quality pump, and that fixes the problem. Why LG doesn't just start with the better pump is beyond me.

These stainless dishwashers look so nice, but opening the door for drying seems like a step back in technology. Who wants to walk into a kitchen with a dishwasher door open.

I purchased the Maytag MDB7851AW and it was installed last week. I have been very impressed with the performance. The tub is huge and holds large pans and baking sheets very easily. Dishes and glasses are so clean they squeak. I even like the siverware basket as it stops "spooning" leaving some silverware dirty. The steam cycle worked very well on a mixed load of dishes and greasy pots. It is a little over your budget but it has quite a few bells and whistles and seems to be engineered and manufactured well.

Good for you Cookbookcolletor, i am happy to hear all is well and you did not but an LG manufacture product.

The Maytags, and several other Whirlpool-manufactured models, with steam do a great job removing stains that usually are almost impossible to remove, like lipstick. And many of the Whirlpool-manufactured dishwashers have silverware baskets with a flip-down top that can act as a sorting rack for silverware, increasing usable silverware space and improving silverware cleaning.

I'm looking to buy a quiet dishwasher. My sister has a Whirlpool that she bought from Sears but does not know the model number. It wasn't very expensive either and it works great. Any idea what it could be. Of course I want clean, dry dishes but I'm one person, it's a small house so I need quiet too

Thanks,

If quiet is your primary concern, look for dishwashers with the triple filtration system rather than a grinder-disposal. There are Kenmore, Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Bosch, and Samsung dishwashers with this system. Frigidaire also has a model that has similar noise ratings, though it doesn't have a filter that is easily removed and cleaned (they only need cleaning every few months or so). If you visit your nearest Sears store and ask to see dishwashers without grinder-disposals, they'll be happy to show you models that suit your needs.

Purchased a kenmore elite $900, stainless steel tub, did not clean anything nor did it dry dishes; am sending it back.  Was afraid to buy a Kenmore again, so I went with the whirlpool gold GU2475XTV, model 19962 (not stainless steel interior) for $602; not delivered yet.  After researching now, wondering if I made the correct choice.  I hate problems, and consumer report rates best for reliability.  but now have doubts on the performance.  Only 2 of us, and wanted something with small load capabilities and drying, etc. pls. help quick. thanks

Looking for a 2 drawer dishwasher for empty nesters. What do you recommend? My husband and I may only run the dishwasher twice a week due to our schedules. Are these dishwashers as efficient as the regular size ones?

The door isn't open all the way; just a little bit so air can get in. I apologize if I was unclear.

Sears has 2-drawer dishwashers under the Kenmore and KitchenAid brands. Both are excellent machines, and you can run just one drawer at a time if you so choose. They are also Energy Star rated, so they do save water and energy (though, to be fair, Energy Star ratings for dishwashers don't always mean much, as almost 95% of dishwashers on the market qualify; new, more stringent standards for dishwashers are on the way).

You can also choose to have two separate single-drawers, and place them on either side of the sink (if that's to your liking). The installation is a bit more complicated, and requires changes to cabinetry, but it's an option.

And the Ascenta line isn't Sears exclusive...  Not sure where you got that info from.

You're right that the Ascenta line isn't exclusive to Sears, but Sears does have an exclusive Ascenta model. I apologize if that wasn't clear.

Need to purchase 18 inch dishwasher because of space limitations.   Can you advise things to consider, and what is available on the market?    The larger the capacity the better, given we are downsizing out of necessity, not choice.  However, definitely looking for one with solid performance, as this is in a rental.

I need to replace my dishwasher and my priorities are : quiet and clean dishes. I wash my pots and pans by hand, so I need a dishwasher for dishes, glassware and silverware.  Do you have a recommendation?  Budget will be between $400-$650.

Thank you.

Hi FrancoiseLovejoy-

Welcome to MySears!  There are lots of folks on this site who can probably give you advice on the best dishwasher for your needs.  Also, the Blue Appliance Crew at your local Sears are a great resource, too, for buying all appliances. 

I also copied a link to sears.com.  There are loads of dishwashers in your price range.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/c_10153_12605_Appliances_Dishwashers

Good luck on your purchase!

Has anyone any knowledge of the Kitchenaid dishwasher Model 17049. It looks so simple - no extra bells and whistles. I'm used to GE dishwashers which have been very reliable. I'm also interested in quiet since my kitchen and family room are one in the same. Trying to keep my choice in the $600 range.

I would not buy a Kenmore - I have had mine for a year and a half and have had to replace it once and had several service calls.   It does not get the dishes clean and Sears will not stand behind it.

Hi davidk-

Welcome to MySears!  I am sorry to hear you had a bad experience with your Kenmore dishwasher.  I would like to send your complaint on to our customer service team on site:  SearsCares.  They have helped community members that have had appliance issues, and, maybe they can help you with whatever went wrong with your dishwasher.  Someone from the team will contact you in the next day or so.