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Dishwashers Reviews
Updated October 2007
Consumer Reports has the most credible dishwasher reviews. The magazine's editors test new dishwashers on an ongoing basis, updating ratings every six months or so. Over 30 models are currently ranked at this publication and are evaluated for loading flexibility, cleaning ability and noise. Consumer Reports also offers repair data culled from a yearly survey of over 130,000 subscribers. J.D. Power and Associates, best known for its surveys on vehicle satisfaction and reliability, also surveys appliance owners. Over 12,000 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 and for Whirlpool and Whirlpool Gold. However, J.D. Powers doesn’t ask owners to rate specific models. Good Housekeeping also tests dishwashers, but its most recent roundup is a few years old (though it does test a few current models on occasion). James Dulley, in his Sensible Home reports, also examines new dishwashers that are quiet and efficient. EnergyStar.com and ACEEE offer lengthy lists of models that save energy and money. We looked to ThatHomeSite.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. In professional testing, most dishwashers priced over about $450 are proven to have good cleaning ability. Dishwasher technology hasn't changed that much in the last decade, so basic cleaning ability is generally good for all but the cheapest dishwashers. However, reliability and noise level 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, performance and reliability over the long term justify the expense. Whirlpool Gold dishwashers also score more highly. Whirlpool dishwashers have the lowest rate of repair overall. Owners like Whirlpool Gold's styling, performance and price about equally. The highest repair rates go to a couple of imported brands, Asko (Sweden)
and Fisher & Paykel (New
Zealand). The
Asko Encore D3531XLHD
(*est. $1,600) also
earns very good scores for cleaning and is one of the quietest dishwashers
in tests. It also uses far less water than most -- about three gallons per
load compared to an average of six gallons for most others. However, other
dishwashers can clean just as well for less money and with far less risk of
eventual repairs. In one survey, Asko dishwashers had a repair rate that’s
almost twice as high as other dishwashers. Fisher & Paykel is mainly known in the U.S. for its
Dish Drawer models
(*est. $700 for a single drawer, *est. $1,500 for a double drawer)
.
These look nothing like a traditional dishwasher. Rather, the Dish Drawer looks
just like its name would suggest -- a pull-out drawer. While appliance enthusiasts
love the look of the Dish Drawer models, they are expensive and prone to leaks,
pump problems and control issues. In U.S. surveys, about one-quarter
of all Dish Drawer models need repairs. Fisher & Paykel also earns low
scores for long-term reliability at Choice.com.au, an Australian review publication.
In one survey, Fisher & Paykel models had the highest repair rate of any
brand. So if you really want a Dish Drawer, you'll have to weigh style against
high cost and a low reliability record.
... Continued
Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
We find good reviews for most dishwasher brands. Bosch is judged the best dishwasher brand according to an owner survey conducted by J.D. Power and Associates, so we've included a Bosch dishwasher in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers. Kenmore Elite dishwashers (made by Whirlpool) also perform well overall. We’ve seen some recommendations for LG dishwashers, but this brand hasn’t been making dishwashers long enough to have a proven track record. Advertisement
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© 2008. ConsumerSearch, Inc. A service from 
, a part of The New York Times Company. All Rights Reserved.
ConsumerSearch and ConsumerSearch.com are registered trademarks of ConsumerSearch, Inc. Other trademarks or service marks on this site are the property of their respective owners. ConsumerSearch is not sponsored by any source reviewed, and we accept no consideration or payment for including, excluding, or ranking any reviews, products or services in our reports.
* Pricing information is approximate as of the time this report was written and is based on observed market selling prices and/or list prices. Actual selling prices may differ.
