Dishwasher Review

Dishwasher tests and reliability ratings

Consumer Reports has the most credible dishwasher reviews. Editors test new dishwashers on an ongoing basis, updating ratings every six months or so. Forty-seven models are currently ranked and evaluated for loading flexibility, cleaning ability and noise. In addition, Consumer Reports offers repair data culled from a yearly survey of more than 110,000 subscribers. Subscribers are now also invited to write product reviews online. J.D. Power and Associates, best known for its surveys on vehicle satisfaction and reliability, also surveys appliance owners. Almost 15,000 respondents evaluated their dishwasher brand for reliability, price, performance and style. One nice aspect about the J.D. Power survey is that it separates results for a manufacturer's high-end and low-end lines. For example, there are separate ratings for Kenmore and Kenmore Elite products, and for Whirlpool and Whirlpool Gold models. However, J.D. Power doesn't ask owners to rate specific models.

Good Housekeeping also tests dishwashers, but its most recent roundup is a few years old. James Dulley, in his Sensible Home reports, also examines new dishwashers that are quiet and efficient. EnergyStar.gov and the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) offer lengthy lists of models that save energy and money. We looked to GardenWeb.com for owner opinions and discussions of mostly high-end dishwashers. We found good practical advice here, along with installation tips and feedback on repair issues. Finally, we considered some user-written reviews found at sites such as Epinions.com, Buzzillions.com, RateItAll.com and Sears.com, which provide insight into customer-service issues and how well a dishwasher will hold up over time.

The cleaning technology used in dishwashers hasn't changed much in the last decade, so testing shows that basic cleaning ability is generally good for all but the cheapest dishwashers. One thing that has changed, however, is efficiency. Most modern dishwashers are Energy Star-compliant and consume far less energy and water than older models. According to National Geographic's Green Guide, 10-year-old dishwashers use between eight and 15 gallons of water per cycle, while the average Energy Star model uses only four gallons. However, water usage is not part of the Energy Star rating criteria, so be sure to check any models you are considering. Energy Star-rated dishwashers must use 41 percent less energy than non-Energy Star models. And if you think you'll save energy by washing your dishes in the sink, think again. According to a 2004 study at the University of Bonn in Germany, the most energy-efficient dishwashers consume only one-sixth as much water and half as much energy as hand washing. Reliability and noise level also vary from brand to brand and between dishwasher models. The best scores for overall satisfaction and reliability go to Bosch, according to J.D. Power. Kenmore Elite models are a close second in this survey. Although owners say they paid more for the Bosch dishwashers, they find that performance and reliability over the long term justify the expense.

The highest repair rates go to a couple of imported brands -- Asko (Sweden) and Fisher & Paykel (New Zealand) -- along with Maytag. In one survey, these brands had a repair rate that's almost twice as high or more than other dishwashers.

Fisher & Paykel is mainly known in the U.S. for its DishDrawer models (Single drawer (*Est. $850), Double drawer (*Est. $1,500)). These look nothing like a traditional dishwasher. Rather, the DishDrawer looks just like its name would suggest -- a pull-out drawer. While appliance enthusiasts love the look of the DishDrawer models, they are expensive and prone to leaks, pump problems and control issues. In U.S. surveys, about one-quarter of all DishDrawer models need repairs. Fisher & Paykel also earns low scores for long-term reliability at Choice magazine, an Australian review publication similar to Consumer Reports. In one survey, Fisher & Paykel models had the highest repair rate of any dishwasher brand.