Photo courtesy of Whirlpool Corp.
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If you don't presently own a dishwasher, your main obstacle probably isn't budget--it's space. Although you can spend $700 or more for a state-of-the-art dishwasher, you can also buy a solid, serviceable model for under $200--a price most families can afford with a bit of scrimping here and there. Plenty of models are available in the $350 to $600 range. Space is a more difficult issue. Many older kitchens simply don't have a place to put a dishwasher--but that is changing.
Dishwashers are often at the top of the wish list for those remodeling an old kitchen. When the first models appeared, they produced spotted glasses, and dishes needed to be prewashed. New models are quiet, energy efficient, able to dispose of residue, and powerful enough to clean pots and pans. Although portable dishwashers can answer the need in some small kitchens, choices and features are far more limited than those offered with under-counter models.
The standard dishwasher is 24" wide, 24" deep, and 34" high. Compact models, usually 18" wide, are also available. Dishwashers can run from a couple of thousand dollars down to a couple of hundred dollars, with the difference in price reflected in the number of features a given model offers.
Because competition is heated among manufacturers, most offer several models, each designed to address a different segment of the market. First-time buyers are lured by low-priced units with basic features. Move-up buyers are enticed with stylish, upscale machines loaded with plenty of bells and whistles. Because price and features are intimately linked, it can be difficult to know just where to draw the line when you shop. The big question: What features are worth paying for?
Setting the standard at the high end are the European makers. ASKO, Bosch, Miele and others make striking dishwashers loaded with features. You'll find compact, ultra-quiet units with sophisticated controls, high-efficiency design, stainless-steel interiors...even built-in water softeners. They are truly amazing and, at from about $800 to $1800, they are priced accordingly. Though these machines are sold to a niche market, American manufacturers have followed suit by including some of the more popular options and introduced a few tricks of their own.
Quiet - We Americans want the sounds of silence, particularly in the kitchen now that it has become the open, central hub of the house. Nearly silent machines are now available because of improved sound insulation, sound-absorbing washtubs, vibration absorbers, and low-noise pumps. Top-of-the-line models have all these plus a stainless-steel tub, which is quieter than the usual plastic. With many brands, these are optional and will boost the price. For example, KitchenAid offers four different levels of quiet, depending upon how much you want to spend.
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