Wow! Is is actually running?
Written: Apr 24 '01 (Updated Mar 14 '07)
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Pros: Quiet! Cleans almost everything first time.
Cons: "Gold" model on the expensive side.
The Bottom Line: There are certainly much more expensive models out there that probably don't work as well. Cleaning power is great, and there is lots of interior space.
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| pepper99's Full Review: Whirlpool DU920QWD 24 in. Built-in Dishwasher |
[Update March 14'th, 2007.
Our Whirlpool unfortunately has not shown spectacular staying power and is now showing signs of the end of it's lifecycle nearing. The top rack is no longer receiving water to turn the upper spray bar so dishes below (and especially cups above) are frequently still dirty after the wash cycle. Yes, this machine is a few years old and is otherwise in great shape, but the cost of this repair may outweigh the remaining value. I can't say I'm not dissapointed...]
We had our prerequisites for a dishwasher all figured out, and were just looking for a model that fit our requirements, and had good performance and reliability ratings as well. After visiting a few appliance stores, we came across the Whirlpool "Gold" dishwasher that had all the features we wanted, good consumer feedback, and a pretty hefty pricetag when compared to more basic models.. However, in this case, you definately get what you pay for.
Our list of "Must Haves" consisted of the following:
- Food Eater system, no filters, grates, or strainers in the bottom. Yuck!
- No center spray tower. (Eats up *alot* of otherwise usable space)
- Electronic Controls (Fits in with out modernized kitchen)
- Lockable Controls (Keeps our kids from playing with things!)
- In-door cuttlery tray (Again, makes for alot more useable space in the racks)
- Good consumer feedback, good reliability ratings.
- Quiet!
The "Gold" model we found fit all of our requirements, and after a little negotiation the price was still on the "Higher End" scale, but became more affordable.
Hookup was straightforward, and only basic tools were required. All of the lines from our old dishwasher easilly hooked up to the new locations on the Whirlpool with the exception of the 90-Degree brass fitting which has corroded to the old washer so bady that I needed to take a run to the local plumbing store to get a replacement.. Probably a good idea to buy one of these at the same time as picking up the dishwasher, since you _need_ one, and there isn't one included. Don't forget the teflon tape to seal the joints.
Electrical connections were simple, taking less then a minute using Marette's. If you have a regular plug that you are using to plug the dishwasher into, there is no cord included - this model is designed for direct connection to an electrical line. The manual describes a "Cord Option" that can be ordered, but it without doubt costs about 10 times more then simply going to your local hardware store and picking up one yourself if you need it, picking up the required brass fitting at the same time.
After sliding the washer into it's spot, leveling and squaring, and finally screwing it down, the rest was childs play, with the bottom panels screwing back into place with only four screws.
The first wash went flawlessly. The controls are for the most part straightforward, althought the Gold model had a few extra buttons regarding wash cycles that took some reading up in the manual to decipher their true function. The manual seems adequate enough, and includes usefull information.
The Gold model also has an "Intelliwash" system, which apparently customizes the wash times to how much dirt it detects during the wash cycles. If the cleanliness of the dishes afterwards is any indication, all these features work together quite well. There was only a few thing that didn't come out spotless on the first load, and I loaded the machine very heavilly (And not exactly as recommended) just to "Test it out". As well, I used only the Normal wash cycle on a heavy load.
I'm quite impressed. Last night I again loaded (Overloaded, allmost!) the machine with a combination of dishes, glasses, post and pans, set it to run on the "Normal" cycle again, with the "Power Scour" option enabled, and everything came out spotless. Wow.
The last, and major feature, was the quietness of the machine.. Our living room is right adjacent to the kitchen, and there was only one point last night that we even noticed the machine was running. Even standing in the kitchen itself the Whirlpool is amazingly quiet. If sound is a concern, the Whirlpool Gold "Quiet Power" may be your dream machine.
Warranties seemed more then adequate in some areas, and moderate in others. Full parts and labour servicing is covered for only one year, with additional coveraging extending beyond that on certain components, but no longer covering labour costs. The actual Tub itself is covered for 20 years, which should certainly cover the full lifetime of the machine.
Overall, were quite pleased. We would definately recommend the Whirlpool Gold with the Intellisense feature to anyone who asked.
Thank you for reading my review - I would greatly appreciate it if you could take a second to click on a rating button below! This helps me with feedback as to the quality of my reviews.
Thanks!
Regards;
Mark
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 400
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Epinions.com ID:
pepper99
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Member: Mark Morissette
Location: Canada
Reviews written: 55
Trusted by: 8 members
About Me:
30-something married guy with 2 kids.
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