FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter X Instagram Tiktok YouTube Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe
Log In
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Restoration
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
Log In
Design

The Dirt on Dishwashers

Manufacturers step up to the plate with models that meet or exceed new guidelines for energy and water usage—and provide a space for every single spoon.

By Sean Groom Issue 207
  • X
  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • pinterest
  • email
  • add to favorites Log in or Sign up to save your favorite articles

Synopsis: If you haven’t shopped for a dishwasher in a while, the number of features to choose from might surprise you—flexible storage racks, steam cleaning, hidden controls, half-load wash options, and dishwasher drawers among them. Even better, rinsing and prewashing before loading is a thing of the past, and improved insulation and motor design have made the best dishwashers nearly silent. Dishwashers are also more efficient: Energy Star models use less electricity and less water. Writer Sean Groom is your guide as you shop for the new dishwasher you know you need.

I’m old enough to remember washing dishes by hand because it was our only option, but young enough to remember the relief when my parents finally bought our first dishwasher. A lot has changed since my green paneled savior arrived. For one, dishwashers are pretty much de rigueur in kitchens today. More people have dishwashers than cable TV. On the performance side, rinsing and prewashing before loading is a thing of the past; improved insulation and motor design have made the best dishwashers nearly silent; and any dishwasher worth its salt uses less energy and water than washing dishes by hand.

If you haven’t shopped for a dishwasher in a while, the number of features to choose from might surprise you. They include flexible storage racks, steam cleaning, hidden controls, half-load wash options, and dishwasher drawers. They’re also more efficient: the Department of energy just upped the ante for Energy Star dishwashers, requiring they use less electricity and for the first time imposing restrictions on water usage. In addition, the required minimum efficiency for all dishwashers will be raised in 2010.

Dishwasher prices run from $200 to $2000. For comparison purposes, this article lists street price, the retail price you’d expect to pay on most models. You can find models that clean fairly well for about $350 but don’t have a lot of bells and whistles. At $500 and above, you’ll find quieter machines, higher efficiency (in some cases), soil sensing wash programs, stainless-steel tubs, and some convenience features. Once you cross the $900 threshold, you’ve entered the bling zone. Here’s where you find the most efficient machines with specialized cycles for everything from plastic containers to crystal, more flexible rack configurations, and a host of aesthetic embellishments.

Bling aside, you don’t want your dishwasher to be a conversation stopper. If quietness is a priority, look for a dishwasher with separate motors for washing and draining and plenty of insulation around the tub and in the door. To compare noise levels, look at the dishwasher’s dBA rating. It’s similar to a decibel rating, but accounts for frequencies having the greatest effect on the human ear. Quiet dishwashers have dBA values from 40 to the low 50s; lower is better. if the dBA rating is not in the product literature, it’s too high to brag about.

Efficient washing takes time and heat

Depending on the age of your dishwasher, the first thing you’ll notice about the latest crop is that wash cycles are much longer. A regular cycle might last over an hour and a half, and some heavy-duty cycles stop the clock at three-and-a-half hours (including drying). It may seem counter-intuitive, but lengthening the cycle dramatically reduces energy and water consumption while improving cleaning.

For more details and photos on dishwashers, click the View PDF button below. 

Sign up for eletters today and get the latest how-to from Fine Homebuilding, plus special offers.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters
×

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters
View PDF

New Feature

Fine Homebuilding Forums

Ask questions, offer advice, and share your work

  • X
  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • pinterest
  • email
  • add to favorites Log in or Sign up to save your favorite articles

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

Up Next

Video Shorts

Featured Story

Installing Prefinished Cabinet Molding

Use these assembly techniques when installing crown risers and molding to minimize visible gaps and nail holes.

Featured Video

Micro-Adjust Deck-Baluster Spacing for an Eye-Deceiving Layout

No math, no measuring—just a simple jig made from an elastic band is all you need to lay out a good-looking deck railing.

Related Stories

  • Beat the Heat: Cool Innovations
  • Restoring Polychromed Light Fixtures
  • Laundry and Pantry in One
  • Period Kitchen for an Arts & Crafts House

Discussion Forum

Recent Posts and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
View More Create Post

Highlights

Fine Homebuilding All Access
Fine Homebuilding Podcast
Tool Tech
Plus, get an extra 20% off with code GIFT20

Video

View All Videos
  • FHB Podcast Segment: Shower Wall and Tub Surround Panels Explained
  • Advantages of a High-Performance Heat-Pump Water Heater
  • Wall-Mounted Fan Coil Unit for an Air-to-Water Heat Pump
  • Podcast Episode 99 — Working with Wood
View All

Kitchens

View All Kitchens Articles
  • What to Know When Buying Kitchen Cabinetry
  • Podcast 623: Condensation on Windows, HVAC Registers, and Water Heating
  • Turn Up the Heat With Induction Cooktops
View All Kitchens Articles

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 331 - June 2025
    • A More Resilient Roof
    • Tool Test: You Need a Drywall Sander
    • Ducted vs. Ductless Heat Pumps
  • Issue 330 - April/May 2025
    • Deck Details for Durability
    • FAQs on HPWHs
    • 10 Tips for a Long-Lasting Paint Job
  • Issue 329 - Feb/Mar 2025
    • Smart Foundation for a Small Addition
    • A Kominka Comes West
    • Making Small Kitchens Work
  • Issue 328 - Dec/Jan 2024
    • How a Pro Replaces Columns
    • Passive House 3.0
    • Tool Test: Compact Line Lasers
  • Issue 327 - November 2024
    • Repairing Damaged Walls and Ceilings
    • Plumbing Protection
    • Talking Shop

Fine Home Building

Newsletter Sign-up

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox.

  • Green Building Advisor

    Building science and energy efficiency advice, plus special offers, in your inbox.

  • Old House Journal

    Repair, renovation, and restoration tips, plus special offers, in your inbox.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters

Follow

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell or share my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2025 Active Interest Media. All rights reserved.

Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

  • Home Group
  • Antique Trader
  • Arts & Crafts Homes
  • Bank Note Reporter
  • Cabin Life
  • Cuisine at Home
  • Fine Gardening
  • Fine Woodworking
  • Green Building Advisor
  • Garden Gate
  • Horticulture
  • Keep Craft Alive
  • Log Home Living
  • Military Trader/Vehicles
  • Numismatic News
  • Numismaster
  • Old Cars Weekly
  • Old House Journal
  • Period Homes
  • Popular Woodworking
  • Script
  • ShopNotes
  • Sports Collectors Digest
  • Threads
  • Timber Home Living
  • Traditional Building
  • Woodsmith
  • World Coin News
  • Writer's Digest
Active Interest Media logo
X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Online Learning

  • Courses
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • FHB House
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • X
  • YouTube
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • pinterest
  • Tiktok

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 81%

Subscribe

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in

Privacy Policy Update

We use cookies, pixels, script and other tracking technologies to analyze and improve our service, to improve and personalize content, and for advertising to you. We also share information about your use of our site with third-party social media, advertising and analytics partners. You can view our Privacy Policy here and our Terms of Use here.

Cookies

Analytics

These cookies help us track site metrics to improve our sites and provide a better user experience.

Advertising/Social Media

These cookies are used to serve advertisements aligned with your interests.

Essential

These cookies are required to provide basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website.

Delete My Data

Delete all cookies and associated data