Dishwasher Buying Guide

Shop for Energy Stars

If you were waiting for an excuse to quit hand washing dishes completely here it is: Dishwashers expend less water and electricity than hand washing, and they do a better job at cleaning. Dishwashers use about 6 gallons of water per load, and also use hotter water which is more effective against bacteria than your sponge. How do you know if your prospective dishwasher is energy efficient or how energy efficient it is? Shop for brands and models that have earned an Energy Star, which is the highest rating a product can earn for energy efficiency (translation: it’s good for the planet and it will save you money).

In January 2007, government regulations laid down requirements that dishwashers be at least 41 percent more energy efficient than the minimum federal standard to earn an Energy Star rating (the previous rate was 25 percent). Federal law requires that EnergyGuide labels be placed on all new dishwashers (bright yellow with black lettering), so locating a dishwasher’s energy factor or its Energy Star award is easy.

Once your dishwasher is installed, you can increase its overall efficiency by running it only when it’s full, not overloading it and skipping the pre-rinse cycle. You can also look for models that offer flexible cycles. These cycles allow you to load and wash just half the dishwasher (top or bottom). This is a great solution for singles, couples, or those who want to do a quick sink-clearing load.

Capacity and Design

Dishwashers are most often measured in inches and the most common sizes you’ll see are 18” and 24”. Eighteen-inch models are generally good for a household from 1-3 people, whereas the 24” dishwasher is best option for households with four or more people. It’s important to note that these measurements refer to the dishwasher’s depth, while its height and width will be larger, so check the dishwasher’s specifications for true physical dimensions (specs will also tell you what your rough cabinet opening needs to be).

If you can’t fit either an 18” or 24” model in your kitchen and still want a dishwasher, you’re not out of luck; countertop dishwashers perform the same functions and perform them as well as full-sized dishwashers, but sit on your counter and hook up to your faucet. Countertop dishwashers are similar in size to microwave ovens and are best for small loads or 1-2 people (they’re also portable and a great addition to your RV or camper on long trips).

When most people think of dishwashers, however, what comes to mind are the ones customized for you kitchen. Freestanding dishwashers are built right into your countertop and can be seamlessly integrated into the rest of your room’s design. These dishwashers come in standard or tall tub designs. Standard tub dishwashers have a service kickplate beneath the dishwasher door that allows for simpler maintenance and installation, but tall tub dishwashers offer about 20% more capacity and run quieter owing to the continuous front door.

Don’t have space to install a full-sized dishwasher, but need more capacity than a countertop model provides? Choose a portable dishwasher on wheels that can be moved. These dishwashers are on casters (wheels) which make them easy to move into place for hookup at the sink. Portable models come in 18" and slim 24" models and have capacity on par with standard 18” and 24” dishwashers.

Cleaning Ability

When it comes to cleaning, even dishwashers costing as little as $450 do a good job at getting caked-on, spattered-on messes clean. More important is how the dishwashers spray hot water onto your dishes, glasses and flatware. Generally speaking, the more angles the dishwasher sprays water from, the better it cleans. This spraying ability is usually described in terms of tiers or levels. Look for dishwashers that have a minimum of three levels. More won’t necessarily get your dishes cleaner, but fewer won’t do as good a job.

When it comes to cleaning cycles, you want your dishwasher to offer a regular wash cycle, light cycle, pots and pans and energy saver, which dries your dishes by air instead of relying on the heating element. Specialty cycles available on higher-end dishwashers include glass/stemware, quick wash, sanitize and rinse only which are convenient, but not critical (and they’ll add to the price of your dishwasher).

Features and Functionality

Almost all dishwashers on the market will do a better job at washing your dishes than you will, but that doesn’t mean all the features and functionality mid-range and higher-end models offer are overkill. These “upgrades” and extras add to the cost, but are often worth the investment for the convenience and extended life of the dishwasher. Features we think are worth looking for include adjustable racks, delay start, and quiet running.

Everyone’s familiar with the rack system in a dishwasher: two racks, upper and lower and a flatware tray. Some dishwashers now feature three, which if you’re a stickler for organization, may be worth a look. Adjustable racks allow you to get the most use out of your dishwasher by allowing you to make space for large platters, pots and pans, or to accommodate tall-stemmed glasses.

Delay start lets you load the dishwasher and set the time you want the cycle to start—a nice feature if you have company and want to manage the cleanup, but not drown out conversation when you’re done (or if you live in a water conversation area and need to run your dishwasher later in the day). If you choose a dishwasher with quiet run, noise probably won’t be an issue. Some owners say their quiet run machines are so quiet, they don’t even know they’re running.

Lastly, the dishwasher’s interior, also called the tub, used to come only in plastic. Today, dishwasher tubs are available in stainless steel which is more durable than plastic in that it won’t discolor over time, but doesn’t improve performance. It’s better to choose a dishwasher with a stainless steel spray arm, however, as it’s less prone to rust after years of continual use.

Affordability

Dishwasher prices are broken down kind of like cars; domestic dishwashers (such as Maytag) and foreign dishwashers (such as Miele). A domestic brand model runs $200 to $1,300 while a foreign brand dishwasher will run $350 to $2,000. State of the art Miele and Bosch dishwashers are mainly high-end machines, while brands such as Maytag or Kenmore sell higher-end and low priced machines.

According to most sources if you are searching for affordability a quality machine is out there waiting for you in the $300-$500 price range. This machine will wash well, look nice, be sturdy and reliable with proper care, but it will be very basic. If it’s “bells and whistles” you want, well, that’s going to cost you.

Basic no frills models can be purchased for under $300. Expect these to be noisy and limited in features. Moderately priced units will run from $350 to $600. They may be a bit noisy, but should be well featured and do an acceptable cleaning job. For units that are exceptionally quiet, feature state-of-the-art design, cleaning sensors, or stainless-steel interiors, expect to pay anywhere from $600 to $1200 or more.

Warranties and Service

Purchase a dishwasher that offers at least a one-year warranty on parts and labor and two years on durable parts (doors, electronics, etc.), but don’t let warranties be the deciding factor in choosing one brand over another. More important to consider is how the manufacturer will service repairs. Ideally, the manufacturer’s service center will be local so in case something goes wrong, you’re not back to hand washing for very long.

Need to know more?

• How to "green" your dishwasher
  http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/02/how_to_green_your_dishwasher.php
• What does Energy Star Mean?
  http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=dishwash.pr_dishwashers
• The Dishwasher Guru
  http://www.dishwasherguru.com/