Dishwasher Review

Lately the push to be “green” has pervaded our culture. Reducing carbon footprints, reusing forgotten items and recycling in our home have become common practices. The home appliance world has been hit by the “green” bug, and energy efficient dishwashers have been popping up all over the place. These Energy Star qualified dishwashers are not only good for the planet, they’re good to your pocketbook. Replacing your old dishwasher could save you money every year on your energy and water bills. To help you in your search for the perfect dishwasher, we’ve researched the top dishwashers on the market and compared them on the above side-by-side matrix. At TopTenREVIEWS We Do the Research So You Don’t Have To.™

What Should You Look for in a Dishwasher?

When researching the many different dishwashers for sale, we came across similar themes in each brand that translated into the characteristics you should look for in a dishwasher. We placed a higher priority on functionality and features than we did appearance.

Functionality
Look for a dishwasher with a low sound rating. The lowest we found was 49dB, equivalent to a whispered conversation in a library. A quiet dishwasher with a large capacity is ideal, and some of the dishwashers we found can hold up to 16 five-piece dish sets. You also want to look for an energy-efficient dishwasher. Every model we reviewed is Energy Star qualified, which means that not only can you receive a rebate at purchase, but you can also save money on your monthly energy and water bills.

Features
Some features should be essential on your dishwasher shopping list. Our favorite feature is the concealed heating element. How many times have you lost a plastic dish or eating utensil to death-by-heating-element? When the melting source is hidden, this is no longer an issue. Also look for a tall tub capacity with a stainless steel finish. You’ll be able to hold more dishes, and the stainless steel finish traps in heat to avoid wasting energy.

Appearance
Appliances are bling for your kitchen, and a sleek, modern dishwasher is just what your kitchen needs. When you install a dishwasher with a stainless steel façade and hidden controls, your kitchen will thank you for the updated look.

Warranty Coverage
The warranty coverage section in our dishwasher reviews definitely separates the men from the boys. Most likely, if a product is ranked five or below, it doesn’t have a warranty worthy of a higher ranking. Don’t settle for anything less than a dishwasher with a one-year warranty on parts and labor, a five-year warranty on racks and electronics, and a lifetime warranty on the tub and door liner.

Be a savvy shopper and weigh the pros and cons of each product. If you have many small children be sure to either purchase a dishwasher with hidden controls like GE’s GDWT160RSS, or find one that has a good child lock like the Bosch SHE6AP05UC. If the area where your family spends most of their time is near the kitchen, place high priority on the sound ratings when considering which dishwasher to purchase. Our number one product, the Samsung DMT800RHS is literally whisper quiet at 49dB. Finally, don’t purchase a product that doesn’t come with a good warranty. Compare the best dishwashers in our side-by-side matrix to find your perfect fit. Also be sure to check out our informative dishwasher articles in the learning center.