New Dishwashers

A new dishwasher should run quietly, clean a full load in one pass and suit the look of your kitchen. Choose from leading brands in quiet, Energy Star and panel-ready models, and compare the price against open box and refurbished dishwashers. Many can be bought online; others can be reserved and seen at your nearest Econoplus store.

Which New Dishwasher Is Right for Your Kitchen?

Most Canadian kitchens are built around a 24-inch opening, so size is rarely the deciding factor. Noise, capacity and finish are what separate one model from the next.

Noise Level

Noise is rated in decibels (dBA), and a lower number means a quieter machine. If your kitchen opens onto the living room, look for a rating in the low to mid 40s. Behind a closed kitchen door, a rating in the high 40s or 50s won't bother anyone.

Capacity

Capacity is counted in place settings. Twelve covers a couple. Fourteen suits most families, and sixteen is worth it if you entertain or run a load every day.

Finish

Stainless and white match most existing appliances. Black stainless shows fewer fingerprints. A panel-ready dishwasher takes a cabinet door on the front, so it blends into the cabinetry.

When Is It Time for a New Dishwasher?

Standing water after a cycle, dishes that come out gritty or wet even with a clean filter, leaks under the door and rust inside the tub all point to a dishwasher near the end of its life. A common rule of thumb is to replace rather than repair once a repair quote passes half the price of a new model. A standard 24-inch built-in usually swaps straight into the same opening and uses the existing water, drain and power hookups.

Features Worth Comparing

A third rack holds cutlery and utensils flat and frees up the lower basket. A stainless steel tub resists stains and odours and holds heat for better drying. Soil sensors match water use and cycle length to how dirty the load is, and a sanitize cycle uses extra heat for baby bottles and cutting boards.

Control placement is a matter of looks and habit. Front controls show the cycle status at a glance, while top controls hide along the edge of the door for a cleaner front.

Before You Install

Check the water supply line, drain connection and electrical hookup under the sink. Some dishwashers plug into an outlet and others are hardwired, so confirm which your kitchen has. The opening should sit next to the sink, since the drain hose has a maximum length set by the manufacturer.

Dishwasher Brands to Compare

The brands most shoppers compare include Bosch, Whirlpool, KitchenAid, GE, Samsung, LG, Frigidaire, Maytag, Beko and Kenmore. Rather than picking a brand first, compare the specs that change daily use: the dBA rating, the number of place settings, the rack layout and whether the model is Energy Star certified. Two dishwashers from different brands with the same ratings will feel much the same in your kitchen.

New, Open Box or Refurbished

A new dishwasher arrives factory packaged and has never been installed. An open box dishwasher costs less and may have cosmetic marks, which are pointed out when you inspect it. Since the sides of a built-in dishwasher are hidden by the cabinets, a mark there is easy to live with. Refurbished dishwashers are previously used units that have been professionally restored: inspected, repaired where needed and tested before going back on sale, at a lower price than new. To weigh all three side by side, check out the full range of dishwashers available.