Need all new appliances after 9 year - suggestions and ones to stay away from

[bluezy]

Was just curious if anyone had a Bosch Dishwasher with the top pull out rack for silverware. Was thinking I would love that. Any drawbacks?

I have the 3rd rack on my Bosch 800 series dishwasher and I really like it. I use it for sharp knives and large utensils. I still use the "basket" for the standard flatware -- mostly because that top rack is usually full of sharp knives, serving spoons, etc. I really like that the rack is easily removable and I can just carry it over to the kitchen drawer that holds my utensils -- no walking back and forth to put things away. I do the same thing with the silverware basket. I've had this dishwasher for a year and a half and I haven't found any drawbacks to that 3rd rack or the dishwasher in general.

 

[Cadiewampus]

I have the 3rd rack on my Bosch 800 series dishwasher and I really like it. I use it for sharp knives and large utensils. I still use the "basket" for the standard flatware -- mostly because that top rack is usually full of sharp knives, serving spoons, etc. I really like that the rack is easily removable and I can just carry it over to the kitchen drawer that holds my utensils -- no walking back and forth to put things away. I do the same thing with the silverware basket. I've had this dishwasher for a year and a half and I haven't found any drawbacks to that 3rd rack or the dishwasher in general.

Thanks good to know. I thought though the rack replaced the basket so you would have more room on the bottom rack. Nothing to keep me from taking out the basket though I suppose

 

[bluezy]

Thanks good to know. I thought though the rack replaced the basket so you would have more room on the bottom rack. Nothing to keep me from taking out the basket though I suppose

That's one of the things I *really* like about the dishwasher -- it's very flexible and adjustable to your needs. You can easily take the silverware basket out and only use the top rack for your flatware. I've done that a few times when I had a large pan that I wanted to put on the bottom rack.

 

[Pkltm]

Whirlpool, GE, LG, Samsung, and Maytag all list 1 year parts & labor warranties on their front loading washing machines. I didn't bother to look at any others since it seems like a 1-year warranty is pretty standard.

We bought a Oven, Fridge and Dishwasher at Ikea, they offer 5 year warranties, at no extra cost.

 

[cmarsh31]

Do not. Do not. Do NOT get this dishwasher or anything similar. It is a horrible lemon. I think it physically eats motherboards (my ILs bought one after ours started destroying them - didn't ask us and it still had decent consumer reports reviews at that point - 5 motherboards between two dishwashers in 3 years, and then we got rid of ours).

Also, beware of Home Depot. If you have a garbage disposal they can't install the dishwasher... which they don't tell you until they get to your house with the dishwasher.

I have the worst luck in the universe with appliances, appliance delivery, and appliance repair. Eventually, I gave up, bought whatever it was, from Lowes, with the super-duper extended warranty. Forklift through the oven door while loading on truck? Check. Transmission fire on delivery truck (with oven #2)? Check. Oven #3 set to propane setting at factory (instead of natural gas) and then the repairman not showing up for weeks? Check. Front-loading washing machine pump dies and won't drain (necessitating emptying the washer onto COOKIE SHEETS)? Check. Microwaves recalled for spontaneously starting and catching fire? Check.

 

[tvguy]

Also, beware of Home Depot. If you have a garbage disposal they can't install the dishwasher... which they don't tell you until they get to your house with the dishwasher.

Why on earth can't they install the dishwasher if you have a garbage disposal, assuming your old dishwasher was properly installed?

 

[cmarsh31]

Why on earth can't they install the dishwasher if you have a garbage disposal, assuming your old dishwasher was properly installed?

I guess Lowes has certified electricians or something but Home Depot doesn't. They also can't install your fridge if you have a water line for ice/water.

 

[tvguy]

I guess Lowes has certified electricians or something but Home Depot doesn't. They also can't install your fridge if you have a water line for ice/water.

My wife's nephews manage Lowes stores, they hire independent contractors for installs, they did away with deliveries by staff several years ago in Texas.
Same here. Lowes and Home Depot use the same contractors here.

 

[puffkin]

I guess Lowes has certified electricians or something but Home Depot doesn't. They also can't install your fridge if you have a water line for ice/water.

All our appliances came from Home Depot in October. We have a garbage disposal and water line to our fridge and they installed all the appliances. I just had to buy the "kits" with the new tubing when I bought the appliances for the install. They won't use the old lines. They also installed our over the range microwave even though we hadn't paid for that (DH was just going to do it himself).

 

[kniquy]

Kenmore is horrible!!!! My in laws re-did their kitchen and bought all kenmore -- 2 years ago - the fridge has died on them twice - even after being repaired. Microwave has always acted funny, the stove had some sort of split rack and nearly burned my MIL after the rack gave way and everything came crashing down. My brother in law also bought a kenmore fridge (not knowing the issues his mom had) and after a couple years has also had issues. My brother has samsung and so far loves it, after a couple years. We have good ole whirlpool fridge that is 15 years old and still works great along with a whirlpool dishwasher that has to be around 10 years old. Good luck!!

 

[cmarsh31]

All our appliances came from Home Depot in October. We have a garbage disposal and water line to our fridge and they installed all the appliances. I just had to buy the "kits" with the new tubing when I bought the appliances for the install. They won't use the old lines. They also installed our over the range microwave even though we hadn't paid for that (DH was just going to do it himself).

Just want people to check carefully! It was a bit of a shock when they arrived to install the dishwasher and said, Nope, sorry, we can't do that. If the dishwasher hadn't been damaged anyway, I would have been totally screwed.

 

[tvguy]

Just want people to check carefully! It was a bit of a shock when they arrived to install the dishwasher and said, Nope, sorry, we can't do that. If the dishwasher hadn't been damaged anyway, I would have been totally screwed.

I think I would have called the store and ask about that....while the installer was there. I do recall now my mom having an issue with a dishwasher and Home Depot. Her old one was hard wired and the new ones have standard electric plugs. Installer said she needed to call an electrician and have a plug put in. Store asked to talk to him. He ended up leaving and they send someone else out who installed an electrical outlet and the dishwasher. And he mentioned that the previous installer was no longer being used by HOme Depot because they expected him to put in the outlet too.

 

[CaterFamily]

That's the biggie, the motor.

The motor consists of only 2 parts - a rotor and stator. Each costing around $75-150 (yes even appliance parts go on sale!). That 10 year warranty covers a total of three things:

Drum - best part of the 10 year warranty is right here
Rotor
Stator

FWIW: I own and operate an appliance & TV repair shop in Washington State. I do all sort of warranty work and extended warranty work for several of the "big name" manufacturers.

EDIT: I get this question a lot: what would you buy? My answer is always, I will tell you WHERE to buy not WHAT to buy. I wouldn't necessarily buy from box stores that sell more than appliances. Their prices tend to be higher than stores that sell only appliances. Plus the sales associates at the multipurpose stores often (not always) come from other departments and learn on the fly. Speciality stores tend (not always) to train their associates in the specific category of appliances they're selling. Eg: Washers and Dryers, Dishwashers, Refrigerators, Ranges...etc.

Another question I often get is: What do I repair the most? Everything. All appliances break eventually. Even ones running for 25+ years eventually need a tune-up at some point. Newer appliances tend to have a higher fix rate because of circuit boards running the show.

 

[cmarsh31]

I think I would have called the store and ask about that....while the installer was there. I do recall now my mom having an issue with a dishwasher and Home Depot. Her old one was hard wired and the new ones have standard electric plugs. Installer said she needed to call an electrician and have a plug put in. Store asked to talk to him. He ended up leaving and they send someone else out who installed an electrical outlet and the dishwasher. And he mentioned that the previous installer was no longer being used by HOme Depot because they expected him to put in the outlet too.

Home Depot's website says dishwasher installation isn't part of the basic included installation and may be available, for an extra charge, in some areas. Our area is apparently not one, but they don't tell you that until they get there and say nope, we can deliver it, but you have to hire someone else to install it. Lucky for me, it was damaged anyway so I refused delivery (actually, they never took it off the truck because the front was basically bashed in) and canceled my order. I think they'll plug it in but since ours involved connecting to the garbage disposal they weren't qualified to do that. Seems like "Do you have a garbage disposal? If so, we can't install it for you." should be part of the ordering process in those specific areas.

 

[kid-at-heart]

I wish new appliances were as reliable as older style appliances. Our stove was built in 1950 and it works great, it is a Tappan gas range and came with a house we bought in the 80s. We moved the range with us when we moved into a "newer" (1900) house in the 2000s (we like old houses ) . We have had our washer and dryer seventeen years. Have no intention of replacing them ever if possible. The dishwasher in our "newer house" sucks! We had an old Whirlpool before we moved to this house but left it in the old house (17 years ago). The house we moved into had a newer (at that time) dishwasher that we had to replace within three years, the replacement and its replacement "suck". We need a another replacement. I am glad I read about Bosch here on this forum. That may be our next dishwasher.

If I could find an estate sale with old appliances for sell, I would buy them. Old appliances last, new ones do not.

Heads up from professional chefs and others, knives should never go in the dishwasher if you want them to stay sharp. Heat destroys the edge.

http://www.thekitchn.com/3-ways-you-may-be-ruining-your-knives-189296

 

[bluezy]

Heads up from professional chefs and others, knives should never go in the dishwasher if you want them to stay sharp. Heat destroys the edge.

http://www.thekitchn.com/3-ways-you-may-be-ruining-your-knives-189296

Yeah, I've read/heard that many times. My current set of knives has been going in the dishwasher for 13 years. They're still extremely sharp and work as well as the day I started using them. If they start to get dull, I'll sharpen them. I still have 2 brand new sets of Henckels knives that haven't even been opened, so I'm willing to take my chances by putting the current ones in the dishwasher because I've got plenty of back-ups.

 

[tvguy]

Home Depot's website says dishwasher installation isn't part of the basic included installation and may be available, for an extra charge, in some areas. Our area is apparently not one, but they don't tell you that until they get there and say nope, we can deliver it, but you have to hire someone else to install it. Lucky for me, it was damaged anyway so I refused delivery (actually, they never took it off the truck because the front was basically bashed in) and canceled my order. I think they'll plug it in but since ours involved connecting to the garbage disposal they weren't qualified to do that. Seems like "Do you have a garbage disposal? If so, we can't install it for you." should be part of the ordering process in those specific areas.

Sounds like they were offering delivery only, not installation. Competition between Home Depot, Lowes, RC Willey and a local family run applance store is pretty stiff here. They would never get away with that here. When we remodeled 2 years ago, the Appliance store delivered it, that guy installed it, and yes we have a garbage disposal, and then demonstrated how to use it.

 

[tvguy]

The motor consists of only 2 parts - a rotor and stator. Each costing around $75-150 (yes even appliance parts go on sale!). That 10 year warranty covers a total of three things:

Drum - best part of the 10 year warranty is right here
Rotor
Stator

FWIW: I own and operate an appliance & TV repair shop in Washington State. I do all sort of warranty work and extended warranty work for several of the "big name" manufacturers.

EDIT: I get this question a lot: what would you buy? My answer is always, I will tell you WHERE to buy not WHAT to buy. I wouldn't necessarily buy from box stores that sell more than appliances. Their prices tend to be higher than stores that sell only appliances. Plus the sales associates at the multipurpose stores often (not always) come from other departments and learn on the fly. Speciality stores tend (not always) to train their associates in the specific category of appliances they're selling. Eg: Washers and Dryers, Dishwashers, Refrigerators, Ranges...etc.

Another question I often get is: What do I repair the most? Everything. All appliances break eventually. Even ones running for 25+ years eventually need a tune-up at some point. Newer appliances tend to have a higher fix rate because of circuit boards running the show.

Are parts easy to get? My brother ran a TV repair business for decades and his biggest issue was manufacturers ignored California law that required them to make parts available for a certain number of years.

 

[CaterFamily]

Are parts easy to get? My brother ran a TV repair business for decades and his biggest issue was manufacturers ignored California law that required them to make parts available for a certain number of years.

Parts are simple to get for the most part. Especially under warranty and extended warranty.