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Home /  Appliance Maintenance / How Long Do Dishwashers Last?
last_updated_date Last updated: March 26, 2024

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How Long Do Dishwashers Last?

Every household invests a fair sum to buy a dishwasher. It always comes in handy to understand for how long they will run. This way, you will be able to gauge whether you are getting your money’s worth or not.

How long do dishwashers last on average?

Dishwashers last for at least 9 years on average. This could vary from nine to twelve depending on how you use it. This depends on whether the dishwasher has been used consistently. The number of loads it runs in a week, the electrical surges in your area, your handling of the appliance – all have a bearing on how long dishwashers last.

As far as the appliance itself is concerned, factors like the cost of the appliance, the manufacturer and year it was manufactured can have a bearing on how long dishwashers last as well. While replacing a dishwasher can be expensive, at times such a decision becomes a necessity. Models that are more recent have been improved considerably. This is where you need to ask how long does a dishwasher last?

Which are the best dishwashers?

The best dishwashers are measured in terms of the noise they make, efficient use of energy and inbuilt systems to handle electrical surges. Even the functions in newer dishwashers are varied and increasingly efficient for different kinds of loads needing specific care.

How Long Do Dishwashers Last?

Another point everyone must remember is that your appliance isn’t entirely self-sufficient. It is up to you, the owner, to take care of your appliance if you want it to serve you as long as possible.

But, you can care only when you know how. Listed below are some of the major do’s and don’ts you should know, which will help you understand how long dishwashers last.

The following instruction is universally true for all dishwashers but there might be additional instructions, apart from these, which will depend on the make, model and the manufacturer of your dishwasher.

It is best to go through your manual once to make sure you are taking all the precautions necessary. Before we get into the Do’s and Don’ts lets review the more common dishwasher maintenance tips.

Important Do’s And Don’ts Every Dishwasher Owner Must Know

dishwashers and home owners

Do’s

  1. Better now than later. Always start the dishwashing as soon as soon as you finish eating. Never wait for the food to dry up on the plates and cutlery.This is an essential step since dried-up food is just more difficult to get rid of even by hand. Plus, food items like coffee and tea, which are acidic in nature, tend to stain ceramic vessels, so it advised to especially take immediate action when dealing with ceramics.
  2. It is always advisable to use the hottest possible waterWhile being helpful in sanitation, it also comes in handy when dealing with dried off food since it simply washes the food particles away. Apart from food particles, it also properly melts the dishwashing detergent.
  3. Sorting the dishes beforehand can save a lot of time and energy later when you decide to load the dishwasher.
  4. Lowering your bill: It is also advised to run the dishwasher at night since it is believed by some that many utility companies charge more at peak hours.
  5. A logical step, more than anything, would be to place the smaller plates in front of the larger ones so that the spray can reach them all—and obviously remember to set the dirty side of the plate facing the jet.
  6. Always remember to leave some space between the items in the dishwasher or drain.
  7. Do use the rinse aid: this function reduces the surface tension of the rinse. A fewer number of droplets are formed, which helps if you are using the Energy Saving Dry cycle or while air-drying the dishes. The rinse aid also relieves the utensils from forming water marks and helps them dry faster.
  8. To dry the dishes, use the lowest temperature since hotter temperatures can leave marks on the glassware.
  9. Always run a full load since a half load is just a waste of time and water. If the load isn’t full, a good option is to run a rinse-hold cycle to get rid of odor-causing foods.

Don’ts

  1. Talking of wasting water—a major unnecessity is pre-rinsing the plates and dishes. Pre-washing only does harm rather than good.

    Not only is this unnecessary, but since the detergent and the force of the water is made to attack the food particles on the dishes, your dishes may chip and crack under the attack if the particles aren’t there.Did you know? Pre-rinsing the dishes can cause a loss of up to 20 gallons of water per load? Also, ensure that you do not DIY these items and try installing your dishwasher.
  2. Keeping the above point in mind, it is better for your pans and knives to not be subjected to the appliance. There’s a good chance the knives can become blunt and the pan’s non-stick coating can chip.If you do decide to put your knives in the dishwasher, place the sharper side down and the handles up. This is just a common practice to ensure that you put safety first.
  3. More is not better when adding detergent to your dishwasher, more than necessary detergents can leave a residue behind. Follow the amount of detergent recommended by your machine. 
  4. Never overload the dishwasher. Overloading only hampers your appliance’s efficiency.  Dishes will never get as clean as they can if there isn’t enough space left between them for the dishwasher to do its job. 
  5. You should refrain from washing the certain kinds of utensils in a dishwasher. Disposable plastics not labeled “dishwasher safe”, acrylic, antiques, and blown glass.Also keep out bronze, cast iron, all aluminum, china with metallic decoration, iron, and tin. Wooden spoons, pewter, rubber tools, and gold-plated flatware are also best avoided.
  6. Don’t neglect cleaning your dishwasher. Keep cleaning your dishwasher regularly. Tiny bits of food, grease or even soap tend to get left behind over a long period.Your dishwasher may develop an unpleasant odor and appearance due to these, so give your dishwasher a nice scrub down every now and then.

Special Care For Silverware And Flatware

  1. Never spill dishwasher detergent directly on the flatware since it may cause dark spots to appear all over it. 
  2. Refrain from mixing sterling or silverware with stainless steel flatware. These are not be mixed even if you are using a rinse-hold cycle.Mixing these may result in a reaction between the two and damage both their finishing.Since most knives, including sterling ones have a stainless-steel blade, they too should be kept away from other silver pieces.
  3. Do not add too many pieces into the silverware basket—the pieces might get scratched.

Dishwasher and Home Warranty

There are things you cannot overlook if you have decided to buy a dishwasher, and those supersede how long dishwashers last.

Apart from do’s and don’ts, the second most important thing is to do a quick, basic but thorough research into home warranty policies. You should know what they are and how they include dishwashers. It’s also important to get answers to all the appropriate questions. 

For example, do home warranties cover dishwashers? What are the loopholes one needs to be aware of while reading the policies related to dishwashers in a home warranty? Lastly what kind of damages does a home warranty not cover?

About Home Warranties

It is essential that one clearly knows the demarcations between a home warranty and a home owner’s insurance.

A home insurance acts as an umbrella and covers a home as an entity. It helps the owner against larger damages concerning their home, like natural calamities, fire or a break in. Home warranty (also called home service contracts) differs from home insurances since it focuses on specific parts and components which are a part of the home. Primarily these include appliances, plumbing, electrical system, and basic damage to structure because of age.

Areas To Pay Extra Attention To

Commonly dishwashers are covered in home warranty policies across the country. A step in the right direction would be to read the home warranty guidelines carefully before moving into a home. Home warranties are very specifically worded and there can be several loopholes. Certain situations require extra care.

For example, your dishwasher breaks down and you call your home warranty company for repairs. A representative from the company arrives, inspects your appliance and says that the part which is damaged is no longer available.

Instead of repairing your old machine they would like to cash out and replace the appliance. So far so good, you may think this is a good deal. But as it turns out, the new replaced dishwasher is a cheaper model and overall not as good a product as compared to your older dishwasher.

Suppose the unavailable part costs a 100$, and the replacement dishwasher costs 200$. This deal may sound fair till you realize that your original dishwasher is worth 700$. Make sure to read the fine print of your policy.

Comparison

As seen in the above section, it is always wise to compare as well. For example: a popular American warranty company says their dishwasher warranty covers the following parts: Heating element, pump, thermostat, thermal fuse, washer and spray arms, drain valve, motor assembly, door switch interlock, timer, float switch, inter valve, internal hoses, control panel and related electrical parts. And does not cover Baskets, rollers, racks, or cosmetic issues such as scratches, dents or chipping.

Now try to compare this deal to the one you are getting and gauge the importance of the parts covered and not covered by companies. You can use a Home Maintenance Calculator for this, it should give you a clearer idea.

Being careful about so many things does not print a pretty picture on behalf of the companies providing the warranties. You need to determine which home warranty best suits you.

If a task seems too easy, it usually isn’t and such examples always help us stay cautious. Yet, the recommendation is always to invest in a home warranty policy, wisely but assuredly. The benefits far outweigh the initial effort, research, and expense.

Actionable Tasks From Your Side

Dish washer

  1. Always remember to wait for a response from the company before calling a repairman on your own. If you repair the appliance without consulting or waiting for them to respond, the warranty giving company may not cover your charges.
  2. Warranties cover damages due to normal wear and tear. Damages made by pets will not be covered.
  3. Mechanical failures which existed earlier but were not noticed when you moved in. This too may not be included in your warranty.
  4. A home warranty will not cover the damages if there are visible signs that you have mistreated/manhandled an appliance.
  5. Lastly, homes that are converted to commercial establishments will not be covered by the same warranty.

How Long Do Dishwashers Last?

Dishwashers can expect to last between 7 to 12 years but the average working expectancy can be 9 to 10 years. There are certain factors that affect the life expectancy. These include cost, quality, brand, care, maintenance and frequency of usage.

Should I replace my dishwasher?

A broken lock or latch would require you to replace or repair your dishwasher. This typically is due to fact that you will be unable to run a wash cycle without the door securely latched. You need to determine if you need to explore whether your current appliance can be repaired before you buy a new dishwasher.

How long does a dishwasher take?

The newer dishwasher time seem to run for a longer time. New dishwashers run a lot longer than older machines yet they are advertised as using lesser electricity and water. Normal cycles last nearly two hours versus the one hour of older machines.

How long should appliances last?

Gas ranges last the longest of 15 years, dryers and refrigerators last about 13 years. While some appliances have short lifespan like compactors – 6 years, the average life of a dishwasher – 9 years and microwaves – 9 years.

Which brand of dishwasher is the most reliable?

BoschThermador, and Whirlpool are the best and most reliable dishwashers based on Consumer Reports’ latest member survey. Also, they have got an excellent rating for predicted reliability.

How much does it cost to fix a dishwasher?

The average cost range $100 to $150 would be needed to fix a dishwasher. Slightly bigger appliances would need $100 to $200 per appliance. This would be better than getting dishwasher warranties.

Which are the top ten dishwashers?

  • Bosch – 300 Series 18
  • Thermador Star-Sapphire Series Dishwasher
  • KitchenAid KDTE334GPS Dishwasher
  • SPT SD-2225DS Countertop Dishwasher
  • LG LDP6797BM Smart Dishwasher
  • SPT SD-9241 Portable Dishwasher
  • Samsung StormWash Dishwasher
  • Miele Lumen EcoFlex Dishwasher
  • Maytag MDB4949SHZ Dishwasher
  • Bosch 300 Series Dishwasher
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