Elite is Aptly Named
Written: May 15 '02
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Pros: Large capacity, versatile loading, and very quiet.
Cons: Too many wash cycles
The Bottom Line: I've said it all...a great dishwasher that has lots of great features, and you pay for it!
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| shatz's Full Review: Kenmore 15872 Dishwasher |
My review is on the current Elite Model 665 with the controls on the top edge of the door. This model is made by Bosch,or so I was told, one of the top rated dishwashers by CR. It is similar in construction and features to the Elite model with controls on the front panel. Oddly, the Kenmores have a self-cleaning filter, which the Bosch does not have. Can you imagine having to clean a filter periodically on a $900 dishwasher...I don' think so! It also has a hard food disposal. I really don't think it's been used since I still can't bring myself to stick dishes in without just a quick rinse over. This may be partly a result of the paucity of washes we do in a week (no children in the home anymore), so dirty dishes tend to sit in the dishwasher until it's reasonably filled.
The compartment is large due to the lowered access space below (this makes installation a bit harder, but not bad for nimble fingers and long connection lines). Although I haven't tried, I think a large stockpot could easily fit into the tub. The top tray has adjustable heights and can even be removed. The interior is stainless steel. There are several hold down clips to secure lightweight objects, and there are three flatware/utensil baskets, one large, two small which can be variously placed together or separately. The baskets have individual slots for each flatware piece. Keeps them separated and easy to unload, particularly if you are compulsive about loading like items together! I've had some trouble finding a satisfactory place for oddly-shaped items, but this isn't a real big deal. There are also hold down racks that swing down to secure items, but they're also handy for plastic lids when swung up. There is a large removable cutlery holder, although I wash my good knives by hand. There's also a miscellaneous utensil basket for larger items. But you know your stuff with holes in the handles (measuring cups/spoons)? The won't slip nicely over a tine... they're too fat. Several rows of tines lay flat or at an angle for further flexibility.
Washing cycles are a bit overwhelming and probably unnecessary, in my opinion. (normal, pots and pans, sani-rinse, anti-bacterial wash, gentle china, quick rinse, etc, etc, etc.) So far I haven't gotten away from 'normal and 'pots and pans' at the most. Both do a very good job of cleaning dirty dishes. The panel is an electronic touchpad with a digital readout of the time remaining. One drawback is if you want to stick something in late, who knows where it is in the cycle. Normal cycle is 95 minutes, but since the machine will always heat water to 140 degrees (normal cycle), the cycle will be longer if the water isn't hot when you turn it on. All depends on how close your hot water is to the dishwasher, and what you've been doing in the kitchen. The delay setting is a nice extra (1-9 hours), but this dishwasher is so quiet, there isn't a real impetus for delaying it, unless you get rate breaks for running during the night. I mean, you can't hear water entering the tub, and the wash cycle is quiet enough to hold a normal conversation next to it, including over the phone.
We've had this dishwasher for about three months now and I think it compares very favorably to any other, regardless of price. While I can't comment on its durability, it does come with a two year warranty, and that says something! Sears, I believe, has made a strong effort to make their new appliances very competitive. We've had trouble with Kenmore appliances in the past, but this one is top-notch!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 750
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Epinions.com ID:
shatz
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Reviews written: 14
Trusted by: 0 members
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