How long do dishwashers last? There are at least 10 factors that affect the life of your appliance. Jump to the table of contents below.
Based on my observations as an appliance repair tech, I would estimate about 10 years as the industry standard. Keep reading for those important factors that influence this appliance’s life.
The dishwasher was first invented back in the late 1800s when a woman named Josephine Cochrane was looking for a way to get her fine china dishes clean without the nasty chips.
The early dishwashers were very rudimentary. As time went by, they became much more advanced. These many advancements included things that helped them to run more efficiently and last longer.
In most homes these days, the dishwasher is one of the most overlooked of all the kitchen appliances, that is until it stops working. No one wants to hand wash all of their household dishes daily.
According to the industry standard, a dishwasher should last up to 10 years of normal use, longer if you don’t use it too often.
But there is a catch… Different brands vary in quality.
Like any major appliance in your home, the dishwasher is only going to last as long as it can if you take care of it. Preventive maintenance is always best.
Top 10 factors that affect how long a dishwasher will last
How long do dishwashers last? As part of our research for this article, we came across a number of things that can affect the length of time each dishwasher brand will last.
#1 The brand
Not all brands are equal. Just like with many other products, the manufacturer plays a leading role in how long you can expect your new dishwasher will last.
Much of this centers around the quality of the parts that they use to manufacture all of their products.
Also, the longer a company is in business, they normally build a reputation for their craftsmanship and experience of its employees.
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Not Recommended Brands To Buy:
- Samsung dishwashers – known to have issues with control board glitch. Not able to power up dishwasher.
- LG dishwashers – known to have an issue with diverter motor.
- Whirlpool dishwashers (cheaper models) – known to have an issues with the circulation pump. Dishwasher fills with water and then stay silent, due to pump failure. The high cost of repair.
Recommended Brands To Buy:
- Miele dishwashers – known for their reliability, but sometimes having issues with Heater Pressue Switch or Drain Pump. But in overall dishwashers can last longer then 10-12 years if you will take care of it.
- Asko dishwashers – known for their simplicity and reliability.
- Maytag dishwashers – still doing good to compare with other brands. Not too many issues. But sometimes having issues with electronics.
- GE dishwashers – good brand to consider.
#2 Cost of the dishwasher
The amount of money that you paid for the dishwasher originally is often very telling when it comes to the quality of the product that you receive.
The higher quality appliances will frequently cost a lot more money than those from lesser-known brands.
It is a good rule of thumb that the higher quality dishwasher, the longer you can expect it to last. If you have a limited budget, it helps to watch for sales and discounts on higher end models. Occasionally, you can get a deep discount on floor models or dishwashers with minor cosmetic damage in shipping.
#3 Care taken of the dishwasher
The better care that you take of your dishwasher the longer you can expect it to last.
This includes not overloading the upper and lower dish racks with your dishes.
Be sure to read through your owners manual thoroughly after you have it installed to be sure that you do not miss any important recommendations from the manufacturer that could affect the operation of your dishwasher.
#4 Regular maintenance is performed
The manufacturer of your dishwasher will likely include a section of the owners manual that describes any maintenance that needs to be completed in order to ensure that your dishwasher will continue to perform optimally.
Most of the time these maintenance tasks are easily performed by the homeowner. Most maintenance is infrequent with proper use. How long do dishwashers last?
#5 Frequency of usage
This goes without saying but limited use of a dishwasher will lengthen its life. The opposite is also true. Frequent use will shorten its life and incur more maintenance requirements.
Obviously, you purchased the dishwasher to use it. So, don’t feel like you need to limit use to extend its life. Hand washing dishes will raise your water bill, and paper plates are also expensive over time. Use the dishwasher as much as you need to!
To reduce the frequency of use, analyze how efficiently you load the washer and be sure to run it only when full. Rinsing the dishes (see below) will extend how long the dirty dishes can sit there before running the machine.
#6 Avoid putting dishes with caked-on food in the dishwasher
Excessive amounts of debris inside the tub of the dishwasher can cause a number of problems. These can include damage to filters, screens, and food grinder.
By ensuring that you thoroughly rinse all of the pots, pans, and dishes (including the utensils) you should be able to avoid unexpected damage. See the image below to get an idea of the type of damage caused by chunks of food. You can clog the filters and damage the various motor and propeller parts.
By rinsing the dishes before loading, you’ll also find that you are happier with the result of your load and cleaner dishes.
#7 Putting oversized pops and pans in the dishwasher
In order for the dishwasher to effectively wash all of the dishes, there are a number of moving parts inside.
If you inadvertently put too many large pots and pans in the dishwasher you could easily damage these moving parts that can easily reduce the length of time that your dishwasher will last and it can also lead to some very expensive repair bills.
Spread pots and pans appropriately through the dishwasher, and do not wash them with fine china or heavily soiled dishes. Use the pots and pans cycle when appropriate.
#8 Only putting dishwasher-safe items in the dishwasher
Putting things in the dishwasher that were not designed to be placed inside a dishwasher can actually do harm to the dishwasher. If the item says that it should be hand washed only, there is usually a very good reason for it.
Placing thin plastic ware on the bottom rack (usually only safe on the top), can cause the plastic to melt during the wash. Plastic fragments can get stuck to heating elements, propellers, filters and more. This is a recipe for disaster.
Hand wash any items that are not marked as dishwasher safe. All plastic should be on the top rack only… and don’t use high temp wash.
#9 Not putting sharp knives in the utensil basket
With the number of moving parts at the bottom of the dishwasher, it is imperative that you keep any items from falling down inside the dishwasher tub.
One way to prevent this is not to put really sharp knives inside the utensil basket (usually located somewhere in the lower rack).
Not only can these items damage the tub basin, but can damage filters, hoses, and propellers. The potential damage caused by items falling into the bottom of the tub can be extensive and costly. How long do dishwashers last?
#10 Eliminating possible hard water concern
Since the dishwasher is normally connected directly to the household water service, any hard water concerns will usually become evident in the dishwasher first.
If you continue to use the dishwasher with a known hard water problem in your home you could be doing irreversible damage to all of the internal parts of the dishwasher and could possibly require a replacement.
Read in detail: 4 Common Dishwasher Problems caused by Hard Water
Summary: how long do dishwashers last?
Just like with any major purchase, you’ve got to weigh the benefits of each appliance with your budget and needs. Nothing will last forever and will eventually need repair/replacement. Proper care and maintenance will extend the life of any appliance. Early response to error codes and unusual noises can prevent extensive damage. Follow the repair guides on this website to get you the maximum return on your investment.
What you can do to extend the life of your dishwasher.
– Don’t use all the options if not needed. This includes extended wash cycles . High temperature wash or sanitizing rinse. If your dishwasher includes “smart wash” use it every time or choose the right cycle for the load.
– Don’t bend the spokes on the rack. Many times the rack will rust away before the dishwasher does. If one spike is broken off, rust will follow throughout the rack.
– Leave the lid cracked open when not in use. This will keep smells from developing and help the seals around the door frame to reform.
– Don’t use vinegar as a drying agent. Vinegar can damage the rinse aid dispenser.
– Install a water softener when needed. Hard water will take a toll on a dishwasher. It will reduce longevity of any appliance that uses water.
– Give the dishwasher a head start by performing a “hot start” Run cold water out of the faucet before starting the dishwasher. This won’t clean dishes better but it will help the dishwasher to complete the cycle a few minutes early.