Updated Whirlpool Dishwashers released on website

I completely agree that the methods of using so little water and energy to do work are ingenious. I'm sure that when we voice our doubts and complaints about the way these machines work, our frustration is being directed towards more than just the manufacturers...

The one thing that irks me, however, is this idea that these machines are so efficient with water. Yes, a Normal cycle CAN use around 2-3 gallons of water, but more often than not, that's with barely soiled or even prewashed dishes. When the sensors within these dishwashers pick up soil, like that of what would be normally on mine and most everyone's dishes here, the machines will easily use 5-6 gallons total with added prewashes and rinses. You'll notice with newer machines that the estimated gallon usage is always somehow nestled in the marketing of the dishwasher, yet in the manuals they only show time estimations. That's been the case with WP/Kenmore lately at least.

To me, 5-6 gallons seems a reasonable amount of water to properly flush soils, and then detergent residues, from a full load of normally soiled dishes. Yes it's possible to use less, but the dishes don't always have that beautiful squeaky clean feeling either. The same concept could be applied when you shower: sure, you can use very little water to rinse the last of the soap away, but you just won't feel quite as clean as you do when you can drench and flush the suds off your body. That's how I feel, anyway.

What strikes me as odd is that the PowerClean's would use about 5-6 gallons on a Normal cycle, especially after they were updated to run without an initial prewash. If they could have simply improved upon that design by making the motor more efficient and updating how the machine handled heavy soil and managed its water changes, Whirlpool would still be one of the best dishwasher brands around. I guess you could say the later tall-tub PV design partially fit that description, but it still didn't hold a candle to the PowerClean, and this current generation most certainly can't compare.


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Post# 780545 8/31/2014 at 23:01 (3,518 days old) by murando531 (Augusta, Georgia - US)
Checkrate/Likes It seems the new version of Whirlpool's dishwashers have finally made their debut on the company's website. You guys should check them out and tell what you think about some of the updates. Here's the link to one of their next-to-TOL models, and the one I think has the most cosmetic differences. www.whirlpool.com/-[WDF760SADW]-1... Personally, it's such a confusing tease, because in all honesty the machines are gorgeous. They have a simple but robust look, and I really like some of the sleek detail they put into them. However, with this generation's track record so far on operation and build quality, I know that looks can be deceiving. I'm still not crazy about the new mechanical wash-arm, BUT I do think that the Silverware Spraybar is absolutely brilliant! It took me a second to figure out what it was, because it looks like the adjuster lever that some machines have on the upper rack. I know it isn't a fresh idea, but after Maytag's version which just had four jets that sprayed over the basket, missing half the utensils, this bar design seems like it could actually be very effective. The exterior aesthetics seem awfully familiar. I was surprised at first glance, because I thought they had mistakenly posted a photo of the new Maytags, but it is definitely Whirlpool. Both machines are beautiful designs, so I give kudos to them. If only machines relied purely on their looks to be great products, we wouldn't have so much to complain about...

Post# 780550 , Reply# 1 8/31/2014 at 23:58 (3,518 days old) by appnut (TX)
Checkrate/Likes 2 Andrew thanks. I'm not impressed. I'll take a Maytag over this. 7.5 hours for pots & pans soak cycle? Have these people gone insane? I don't feel comfortable having a dishwasher run while I'm asleep. And unlike the Maytag, heated dry is not an option on the 1-hour wash cycle like it is on the Maytag.

Post# 780553 , Reply# 2 9/1/2014 at 00:16 (3,518 days old) by jakeseacrest (Massachusetts)
Checkrate/Likes There is no need for cycle times that long. My Maytag does a Pots and Pans cycle in less than 90 minutes. Sani rinse on this model could add as much as 1 hour to the running time...completely ridiculous!

Post# 780555 , Reply# 3 9/1/2014 at 00:22 (3,518 days old) by murando531 (Augusta, Georgia - US)
Checkrate/Likes 7.5 hours? I didn't even see that. I knew there was an Overnight cycle that is 7 hours, which apparently spends more time sitting idle than anything else, but for a Pots and Pans cycle that's insane. Overall the Maytag version is a much better design mechanically and cosmetically. I'm a firm believer that every wash arm level should be going all at once. There's just too much opportunity for dead spots that debris can settle on with the lethargic spray of alternating systems, with horrible cycle times on top of that. The whole point of having a dishwasher is to have that hurricane-in-a-box quality that flushes everything clean. I see these new dishwashers and say "Oh what gorgeous new products!", only to immediately go to the kitchen and appreciate the beauty of my WP PowerClean, and even the '13 Maytag awaiting in storage. I hope to one day soon move to a house that has a little more space for custom appliance use. I'd love a house with a room aside from the kitchen that has it's own bar and mini-sink, so I could prepare a place to install the Maytag so that it isn't just sitting in a room. I could at least flip the water on to run a cycle every few weeks just to keep all the parts exercised.

Post# 780560 , Reply# 4 9/1/2014 at 02:07 (3,518 days old) by chris74 ()
Checkrate/Likes 1 *Is there no close-up...* ...of the panel?

Post# 780563 , Reply# 5 9/1/2014 at 04:15 (3,517 days old) by imperial70 (MA USA)
Checkrate/Likes Whirlpool is finally going very European (not that there is anything wrong with that) with the aesthetics. Very handsome dishwasher. My Ultrawash (aka PowerClean) dishwasher did a full load last night. I believe the wash and dry is around 1. hours. Very happy with it.

Post# 780564 , Reply# 6 9/1/2014 at 04:16 (3,517 days old) by imperial70 (MA USA)
*This post has been removed by the member who posted it.*

Post# 780604 , Reply# 7 9/1/2014 at 10:06 (3,517 days old) by jerrod6 (Southeastern Pennsylvania)
Checkrate/Likes It looks like the normal wash temperature us 105F. Target clean seems to raise it to 120F, and high temp raises it to 135F so with temperatures like these you are going to get 7 hour cycles for tough dirt, and I guess over 3 hours for heavy soil. This is Energy Star rated.

Post# 780617 , Reply# 8 9/1/2014 at 10:46 (3,517 days old) by Mich (Hells Kitchen - New York)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *"American" Junk* Is more like it. A Bosch can use even less water, get dishes cleaner, in even less time. It also heats water, to temperatures actually possible of killing bacteria. Not a Wimpy 105* :P

Post# 780703 , Reply# 11 9/1/2014 at 16:12 (3,517 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There�s a Lady on Stage)
Checkrate/Likes *Have No Idea How Many Gallons Per Cycle My Mobile Maid Uses* But dishes are clean and yibble free in < one hour. Really less since one does not use the heated drying portion of the cycle and that is all one cares about. Do not like leaving any appliance besides say heating or cooling (fan, AC, etc...) running whilst the household is out or asleep so the merits of a seven hour cycle are lost.

Post# 780641 , Reply# 9 9/1/2014 at 12:51 (3,517 days old) by imperial70 (MA USA)
Checkrate/Likes I haven't reviewed the 7 hour cycle but I am guessing it is a way of putting in heavily soiled pans and dishes and using steam/moisture to release debris. It the same principle you would use when cleaning a baked on casserole by hand. Soaks followed by wiping of the debris followed by rinsing. We really should note that there is some ingenuity being done here to use programming to do more work with less resources. The cup is 1/2 full. Remember: "Making your life a little easier: Whirlpool."

Post# 780702 , Reply# 10 9/1/2014 at 16:08 (3,517 days old) by murando531 (Augusta, Georgia - US)
Checkrate/Likes I completely agree that the methods of using so little water and energy to do work are ingenious. I'm sure that when we voice our doubts and complaints about the way these machines work, our frustration is being directed towards more than just the manufacturers... The one thing that irks me, however, is this idea that these machines are so efficient with water. Yes, a Normal cycle CAN use around 2-3 gallons of water, but more often than not, that's with barely soiled or even prewashed dishes. When the sensors within these dishwashers pick up soil, like that of what would be normally on mine and most everyone's dishes here, the machines will easily use 5-6 gallons total with added prewashes and rinses. You'll notice with newer machines that the estimated gallon usage is always somehow nestled in the marketing of the dishwasher, yet in the manuals they only show time estimations. That's been the case with WP/Kenmore lately at least. To me, 5-6 gallons seems a reasonable amount of water to properly flush soils, and then detergent residues, from a full load of normally soiled dishes. Yes it's possible to use less, but the dishes don't always have that beautiful squeaky clean feeling either. The same concept could be applied when you shower: sure, you can use very little water to rinse the last of the soap away, but you just won't feel quite as clean as you do when you can drench and flush the suds off your body. That's how I feel, anyway. What strikes me as odd is that the PowerClean's would use about 5-6 gallons on a Normal cycle, especially after they were updated to run without an initial prewash. If they could have simply improved upon that design by making the motor more efficient and updating how the machine handled heavy soil and managed its water changes, Whirlpool would still be one of the best dishwasher brands around. I guess you could say the later tall-tub PV design partially fit that description, but it still didn't hold a candle to the PowerClean, and this current generation most certainly can't compare.