Thursday, September 02 2010 @ 08:43 AM GMT+5 Contributed by: paulgardner
When we bought our home in '98 all the appliances were Kenmore - the previous occupants having worked for Sears. They were unspectacular but sturdy appliances, some that atrocious avocado color many boomers have come to loath.
6 years ago something on the dishwasher broke.
We'd already had the experience of failing to find a repairman for other Sears stuff. With no other option (after doing due diligence with Consumer Reports) we bought a new dishwasher for $400. It was a Maytag and came with good recommendations from C.R.
Unfortunately, C.R.s good marks were not borne out in the performance of the machine. It was just as noisy - at times noisier than the Kenmore. It did not make the dishes squeaky clean as the Kenmore did. In fact, they were just this side of slimy to the touch. Then it started needing repairs after two years. The impeller went. The motor got replaced. We bought a new latch set. And a couple weeks ago something else inside broke. One minute purring along, the next growling and groaning wildly and sounding ready to blow up almost.
Yesterday the repairman came by with a new seal/impeller kit. He installed the part and tried the machine. The noise was still there. Turned out that water leaking through the busted seal had rusted the bearings on the motor and we would need a new one for $200 plus a min. of $60 labor.
I thought when we bought the Maytag that would satisfy our dishwasher needs for the remainder of our time in this house.
Apparently not.
I'm not going to tally the amount we've spent on this machine in less than 6 years, but the decision was not hard. We'll be buying a new one.
The Cocoplum repairman was quite informative.
He told me not to expect more than 6 - 8 years from an appliance of any sort now. Maytag is the make that he repairs most. Also that virtually all the dishwashers they sell have the same motor. He's recommending the base model Whirlpool (he says the Kenmore was actually built for Sears by Whirlpool) as most reliable for the money (under $400 plus $125 installation fee).
I'm wondering what dishwasher stories others here might have that could be instructive or helpful?
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Dishwasher Recommendations?
Authored by: aintdave on Thursday, September 02 2010 @ 09:11 AM GMT+5
Remodeled my kitchen 1 1/2 years ago and installed all
new
Whirlpool appliances. Had good luck so far with them,
except the
broiler in the oven, which I think is kinda weak, though
ok.
Dishwasher is a "Quiet Partner II", cleans nicely, is quiet,
and
has had no problems. You need to get your water hot
before
you start, and I always use the heated dry setting and a
drying rinse, like Jet Dry. Doesn't use much, so it's not
too
expensive. Electric bills are down, and I barely hear it
running, even in the kitchen.
Authored by: HowardP on Thursday, September 02 2010 @ 04:20 PM GMT+5
We got a KitchenAid from Cocoplum and had them install it.
Its been flawless and fairly quiet. I tried using Seventh Gen
and other natural brands of autodish stuff,dont bother! They
leave a gummy finish that looks like crap. I now use Cascade
complete gel. They sparkle and Im a happy camper! Haha...I
sound like a commercial,wheres my royalty check please!
Authored by: Jeezum Crow on Friday, September 03 2010 @ 01:16 PM GMT+5
I bought a new dishwasher a couple of years ago to replace an old Whirlpool. In general, new dishwashers do not clean as well or a s quickly as old ones. I mean really old ones, like 15 years or so. The new ones do not use enough water to get the job done properly.
The first replacement delivered was a Maytag. It left the dishes wet and everytime the door was opened, it dripped water from the steam vent holes on to the floor. This was not acceptable in my kitchen with a wood floor. I made the dealer take it back.
Then they brought me a Kitchenaid. It is not perfect but is light years better than the Maytag was. It is very quiet, which is a good thing because the cycle takes three hours to complete. I have to run it on the heavy cycle or else it leaves the glasses cloudy. I think that is soap film because of not using enough water to rinse. The dealer tried to tell me it is my water. Well, it from the same well that I have always had and worked just fine in my two previous machines. But if I use Finish powerball detergent tablets and the heavy cycle it does a satisfactory job.
If I had it to do over again, I would have kept on repairing the old Whirlpool. It was noisy and had only one cycle, but it took just an hour to complete and left everything very clean and dry. I'm sure it used more water, but my supply is plentiful.
Authored by: paulgardner on Saturday, December 11 2010 @ 10:51 AM GMT+5
I never did thank you guys for your responses.
I did take them into account and we did buy a Whirlpool.
So far, so good.
Cleans well and is quieter than the Maytag (a little).
I am shocked by how long it runs.
The Maytag would go into a noticeable dry cycle which I could interrupt and allow the dishes to air dry (which admittedly does not work for plastics - you have to towel dry them).
This machine seems to have no dry cycle, although there is a light which is labeled "dry cycle" - I've never seen it come on, though.
new
Whirlpool appliances. Had good luck so far with them,
except the
broiler in the oven, which I think is kinda weak, though
ok.
Dishwasher is a "Quiet Partner II", cleans nicely, is quiet,
and
has had no problems. You need to get your water hot
before
you start, and I always use the heated dry setting and a
drying rinse, like Jet Dry. Doesn't use much, so it's not
too
expensive. Electric bills are down, and I barely hear it
running, even in the kitchen.