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Tuesday, March 19th
Remember the old commercial about the Maytag man getting bored while waiting for someone to call for repairs? Their point is that Maytag is so good at what it does that their appliances won't ever need a repair person. Customer feedback indicates, however, that the complaints might not actually get to the repair person, or the parts might not be covered under the warranty. That said, there are very nice features that can be included in your Maytag model. Maytag "s dishwashers may not offer the fancy features that many brands will carry, but they don't carry their price tag, either.
Dual-power filtration
Stainless steel blades coupled with micro filtration grind up and dispose of hard food so that it's out of the tub and won't stick to other dishes. It also allows for cleaner water to splash against your dishware and glassware. Maytag's site shows a video where they put this feature to the test. They inserted a frozen pizza, chocolate cake, and peanut butter sandwiches in the appliance and ran it. By the end of the cycle, all had disintegrated and there was nothing left (don't try this at home, kids).
PowerBlast cycle + dry
PowerBlast is a heavy-duty cycle to scour off the toughest, stuck-on food. Plus, with PowerDry, you can get your dishes up to 60% more dry with this option, where there's heating drying coupled with a powerful fan. Need your dishes even cleaner? Some of the models have steam sanitizing to offer you not only clean, but sanitized dishware, glassware, and of course, eating utensils.
Third rack
Some of the models come with an additional rack at the top of the tub to hold silverware, especially sharp knives that might poke you in a traditional basket; thin plastic lids that might otherwise fall through a space in the rack; and oddly-shaped utensils that would otherwise get in the way on a different rack or silverware basket.
Keep it simple
Maytag's focus is on functionality, not how many bells and whistles they can add on and charge you for. Therefore, there are about ten models to choose from, which keeps the choosing process from being overwhelming. Another added benefit is that with fewer choices in this brand with mid-range dishwashers, there's not a wide span between lower-price models and higher-price models.
Noisy
Maytag's noise level isn't the quietest. The average, standard dishwasher's noise level is 52 decibels (dBA), and Maytag can be quieter than average, hovering near 47 decibels, but never hitting the level of what the industry considers quiet at 44 decibels or less. You'll hear it, but it shouldn't compete with your conversations in the kitchen. There are dishwashers from other brands that have a noise level of the high 30 dBA range, and they offer more features, but you'll also pay for that. Check out our other reviews for better noise levels, if sound level is important to you.
Cost
Our favorite Maytag
Model MDB4949SKZ may be noisy at 50 decibels, but we like the cleaning/drying features. The Dual Power Filtration does the pre-scrubbing for you, the PowerBlast cycle scours away the stuck-on food, Heated Dry really does dry the dishes, the high upper rack fits tall pots and pans below it, Leak Detect helps identify and contain possible leaks, the stainless steel tub is quiet and rust-resistant, and the front panel is fingerprint-resistant.
Warranty
The Maytag dishwashers have a 10-year warranty on the steel tub, nylon racks, and the chopper. We've read that many users have complained about the machine not working - leaking, the motor pump going out, wheels on the rack not working. We find it curious that the warranty doesn't cover the motor or the actual workings of the appliance. It seems that if the appliance is going to go bad, it may happen within the first few months. Those who have had the appliance for several years seem to have no complaints.
Customer service issues
Users have said that the manual doesn't include Contact Us information, thus making the user take more time to find and reach customer service. Others have said that once you contact customer service, they may not get back to you. In addition, if the parts and labor aren't covered in the warranty, there's another stumbling block. Perhaps the commercials about the Maytag repairman having no work might not be because the dishwasher runs perfectly, but because what does break, the warranty doesn't cover.
Affordable but disappointing warranty
Maytag has been known for its dependability and its fair price point. They may not have as many super-chic features as most other brands you might encounter, and they may not be whisper quiet, but maybe you're not looking to pay for that, either. If you want a long-standing household name and don't need many fancy features or a long list of models that will just confuse you, Maytag might be your choice. Remember to take the very limited warranty into consideration before your purchase.
Most of us don't think too much about our dishwasher. We load the dishes, it cleans, we empty. But when the dishes aren't coming out as clean as they should, it's taking more rinsing to get all the food off, you're drying your dishes by hand because the machine doesn't, or if the coating on the tines is chipping off, you might start thinking about replacing your appliance for one that holds up and maybe has some nice features that you deserve.
Did you know there are three types of dishwashers? There's built-in, countertop, and drawer. Built-in dishwashers are the traditional dishwashers most of us have had in our homes. They are full-sized or even narrow and apartment-sized, and are slid in below the counter. Counter-top dishwashers can be found in Europe and are just that - they are small and fit on the counter. The drawer models are shallow and fit below the counter. Because they are the most common type, we will look at only the built-in models.
Think about what you want in your new appliance. You'll obviously want a dishwasher that does a good job of washing your dishes. There are a lot of fun features you can have, such as a third rack, lights, and smart capabilities, but if the machine doesn't do a good job of actually washing your dishes, what's the point of any of the bells and whistles?
So once you choose a brand that you like, you can select your wish list features such as the third, top rack; a quick-wash cycle; a delay start; self-cleaning filters - yes, you should know if you need to clean your filters for maintenance, which is typical; food pulverizers; interior components made of stainless steel to promote longevity; child locks; sanitizer settings; sustainable materials; special jets under the silverware caddy; and smart capabilities, so you can control the dishwasher from your phone or smart home system.
And that's just the beginning. Here are several other criteria to keep in mind as you shop for your new kitchen appliance:
To help you make this important purchasing decision, Top Consumer Reviews has evaluated today's most popular dishwasher brands. If you're done spending too much time pre-washing your dishes, continually re-arranging them because the rack and tine design is poor, drying them after the dishwasher supposedly dried them, or re-washing after the clumps of old food just don't come off after a full cycle, do consider a new dishwasher. You can save a lot of time by not pre-washing, post-washing, and drying. And with all that extra time, you could relax reading a book or watching your favorite show while a super quiet dishwasher does all the work while making virtually no noise.
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