The dishwasher has a 10-year limited warranty and is rated A++ for energy efficiency.
We’ve all been there: You open the dishwasher, only to find that your glasses are still dirty or your plates are covered in grime.
You need to replace your dishwasher. But first, check your warranty and see if you can get it extended.
If you’ve already looked into getting a new dishwasher, you know that the price tag can be a shocker. Some models cost as much as $1,500 and take up precious space in your kitchen with their large size.
So, what about the warranties? How do they work? How long do they last? Can you get them extended if you need to? And how much will that cost you?
Here’s what you need to know about warranties and how they affect the cost of a new dishwasher.
If you’ve been thinking about replacing your dishwasher, please do check your current dishwasher’s warranty before getting a new one. I fell into this trap last year and wish I had checked before purchasing a new one.
I bought my home when I was single and just starting out in the working world. It came with all major appliances already in place, including a dishwasher that worked just fine. I figured that if it started to give me problems, I would just buy a new one.
Fast-forward seven years and the dishwasher finally gave out right around the time my husband and I were about to have our first child. I don’t remember exactly what the issue was, but it was definitely on its last legs.
I didn’t think much about our old appliance as we shopped for a new one; it never occurred to me that it might still be under warranty or that we could have purchased an extended warranty from the manufacturer when we bought our home.
We purchased a new dishwasher from a popular national retailer at what seemed like a fairly reasonable price for someone on my budget: $600. It was $100 less than I had planned to spend, so I considered it something of a bargain until my brother-in-law offered to install
Many people don’t realize that their dishwashers come with warranties. Some dishwasher warranties only last one year, while others last two or three years. You’ll want to check your warranty length before considering a replacement dishwasher. If your dishwasher is nearing the end of its warranty, you might consider buying a new one anyway. But if the warranty is months away from ending, you can hang on and wait for your old dishwasher’s demise before buying a new one.
When you buy a new dishwasher, you have plenty of options. For example, you can get a plain white one for under $300, or you can spend more than $1,000 for a fancy stainless steel model with lots of features. Most models in between those two extremes cost around $500 to $600. If your budget is tight, then spending less on a cheaper model can be a good way to save money without sacrificing too much in the way of quality and features.
If you’re spending more than about $800 on a dishwasher, however, you might want to take a look at some other types of appliances instead. For example, washer-dryer combos make it possible to wash and dry clothes in the same unit (and they’re usually smaller than separate
If you have a dishwasher that is less than three years old and has stopped working, it is best to contact the manufacturer for repairs or replacement. Often manufacturers provide free service for models that are not older than three years. If your model is more than three years old, you can get it serviced for a minimal fee.
Dishwashers are usually made of stainless steel and plastic, both of which are durable and long-lasting materials. However, some parts can still wear down before the dishwasher itself reaches its lifespan. Some common problems include:
The door latch may not be closing securely. This can cause the door to come open during a cycle, which makes the washer stop working and prevents you to add any more dishes until it cools down again.
The spray arms may not be spraying properly due to clogs in their nozzles or they might need lubrication where they meet with other parts of your appliance such as seals on both sides of each arm’s shaft (these sealings prevent leaks).
A reader writes:
I have a [model] dishwasher, which came with the house when I bought it in [year]. It’s been good, but recently it has been making a lot of noise. I haven’t used it for a few months, and it seems to be getting worse. If you load it with dishes and turn it on, sometimes you can’t hear the TV even if you turn up the volume. This problem is mentioned online, but no one seems to know how to fix it or what’s causing it. (I’ve tried leveling the machine and that didn’t help.) Do you have any advice?
My advice is not to get it fixed. Dishwashers are very reliable these days, so yours is unlikely to be more than 5 or 10 years old. If you spend $200 fixing this one and then use it for another year or two before buying a new one, you will save almost nothing compared with just buying a new one immediately.
However: There are two exceptions to this advice. First, if your dishwasher was stolen by thieves and replaced with an inferior model that makes noise, by all means get that fixed. Second, if your dishwasher is still under warranty, definitely call the manufacturer; they may repair or
I love my dishwasher. It’s a great machine. But I’m not sure I’d recommend buying one. You may be better off hiring a cleaner to wash your dishes by hand.
Here’s why: Dishwashers are a common source of repair headaches and service calls because they’re complicated machines with dozens of moving parts that suffer from constant exposure to water, food, soap and temperature changes. And while many dishwasher repairs are easy to do yourself, some are expensive and require the skills of a professional.
How expensive? A new dishwasher can cost anywhere from $250 to $2,000 or more. What about repairs? Let’s say your dishwasher is leaking at the bottom–a common problem–and you decide to do the job yourself. You’ll need a special clamp-like tool called a dishwasher seal fastener ($28), plus a new door gasket (about $40). If your machine is more than 10 years old, it’s probably worth replacing the lower track and wheels assembly kit ($25) and the tine row pivot clip kit ($10). And don’t forget the tub seal and bearing kit ($21). In total, you’re looking at more than $100 in parts — plus an hour or two of labor —
I recently purchased a Fisher & Paykel DD6021WH 6 Place Dishdrawer Dishwasher and it is the best dishwasher I have ever owned. It is so quiet that you can not tell that it is on and it cleans the dishes spot free. I love the fact that I have a drawer type dishwasher and that I can wash half a load of dishes if I need to.
I would recommend this to anyone who wants a small dishwasher at an affordable price. A few weeks after purchasing mine my sister and her husband bought one too.