18 inch Dishwashers - Does anyone have one?

[WDWorld2003]

As stated on another thread we are thinking of refacing our cabinets.... One of the biggest problems in our kitchen is we don't have a dishwasher and there is no place to add one except 18 inch size. We could add a 24 inch one if we move a window and change some cabinetry - however, this will add $2,000+ dollars to the project - a very expensive dishwasher!

Does anyone out there use an 18 inch dishwasher. I would be thrilled to have anything at all but, will I regret the smaller size later on? Thanks for any advice! (P.S. - a family of 4 with 1 going to college next year and 1 in 2 years so dishwashing will be going down!)

 

[Chris2597]

OMG!! I didnt even know that they still made the smaller dw....We installed one in our first house....and loved it...We had little room for a dw and this size was the only thing that would work....DH and I were talking about it the other night as we loaded our full size DW, saying we were amazed at how much that little dw could hold....Of course you wont be fitting any huge pots in it but I could fit an entire days worth of dishes, glasses, ect.... including baby bottles in it....I would install one in a minute....

 

[LoraJ]

I have one, but it isn't working now. Something happened to the power going to it. I am going to have my kitchen re-done soon so hopefully I can get it running again.

But I loved it when it worked!

 

[WDWorld2003]

I'm glad to hear they hold a day's dishes - that was my concern.... Do they hold at least 6 dinner plates plus silverware and cups?

 

[tinaluis]

We have one!!!! We moved into our house and it didn't have a DW so we thought we were SOL. We called a contractor out and he gave us an estimate of $3,000 to relocate a heat duct, run the water and electric to accomodate a regular dishwasher. We decided not to do the project. A few years later we were shopping at an Abt Appliance Store and saw an 18 inch dishwasher and couldn't believe our eyes. Didn't know they existed. We purchased it and they came to install it for $49. Can you believe that? $49 was all it cost us (on top of the cost of the dishwasher which was about $325) to run the electric and water to the dishwasher. We've been using it ever since and we've grown to a family of 5. It holds 8 plates, silverware and two fying pans on the bottom as well as glassware and fragile items on the top rack. Best investment we ever made. Good luck to you!

 

[aprilgail2]

I'm glad to hear they hold a day's dishes - that was my concern.... Do they hold at least 6 dinner plates plus silverware and cups?

Yes it will!!! I only run ours every 4 days or so since we don't use many dishes...we try to eat off paper plates and use paper cups whenever possible!

 

[mom2grace]

Fisher-Paykel makes a dishwasher drawer. (it's small, like the size of a large kitchen drawer) I don't know how much they cost, but that might do the trick.

 

[WDWorld2003]

Thanks everyone! You've convinced me an 18 inch is better than no dishwasher and I certainly don't want to pay $3-4,000 to get the 24 inch! I haven't had a dishwasher in over 20 years so when we reface our cabinets this spring this will be one of the additions!!!!!!