We had to replace the dishwasher.
Old - GE Profile (now Haier). Years old and was still working, but got damaged when being pulled out for something else.
New - Whirlpool. BTW, if one randomly picked other brands, very likely, it is still a Whirlpool (Amana, Jenn-Air, KitchenAid, Maytag, Whirlpool, etc etc). This is known in marketing as the P&G soap-trick - pick whatever soap brand, it is likely to be still P&G.
We get appliances with middle-level feature, neither top/bottom of the line.
What surprised us was that in the name of "energy/water efficiency" and "progress":
1. The new "Normal" is 3-5 hour cycle plus 30-45 min added for Heated/Extended Dry.
2. Old "Normal" looks like "Quick Wash" now, 1-hr cycle plus 30-45 min for Heated/Extended Dry.
3. Wife complained about dishes not fully dry after the cycle completion. On web search, I found 2 tricks - (a) Use "Temp Boost" and/or "Extended Dry" (there goes any energy efficiency), (b) Leave door slightly ajar for better air circulation after cycle completion (a definitely low-tech solution; shouldn't its normal circulation vent do this? Also read that some top of the line models now leave the door slightly ajar when the cycle ends and people pay up for that kind of low-tech becoming high-tech).
All dishwasher federal ratings are based on this awful new "Normal", so that forces competitive compliance by all.
We typically don't leave the house for errands if some appliances are running, so we may just use less efficient "Quick Wash". If snowbound at home in Winter (this is Chicago area after all!), we may try the new "Normal" cycle that seeming would take forever.
End of the rant, but hopefully, also some useful info if one is in the market for a new dishwasher.
Comments
But we sort of feel scammed by the "system". We paid more for slower operating dishwasher that ends with wetter-dishes because the Fed's requirements for low power and water use for its efficiency labels. I read lot of new guides for modern dishwashers and they all say that this is for our good, to save energy and water.
One area of complaint I missed. The dishwasher guide/manual was generic and it mention this-if-you have-that-feature without clarifying if my model had those features. I like owner's guides/manuals to be model specific - it's OK to have a guide that covers several models when there is a table of models with distinguishing features. But I had to manually check/test my Whirlpool dishwasher to see if I have some of the features - I had some, but not others.
This push for efficiency is found in other areas too.
Look at cars.
Poor modern cars these days have to warm up at slower idle speeds, and run on overdrive all the time (not just on the highways as in the old days). Many cars (especially Ford's small engines) now have problem of water accumulation (condensation) in the crankcase because the cars don't get fully warmed up in short trips; some times even batteries are not fully charged back in Winters. Well, oil and water don't mix well, and after a while, there are serious engine problems.
The old "Normal" driving mode is now the "Sports" mode in most cars, and the new "Normal" is a sluggish and underpower experience.
Let the poor thing get properly warmed up first - about 5 min in Summer, 15-20 min in Winter.
So, I bypass all this mandated nonsense. My CRV has an overdrive knockout switch with some ignition-timing manipulation for what goes for its Sport-S mode, and my RDX has a Sport-S mode that just doesn't go into the overdrive gears. I use these Sport-S modes for faster warmups and when the coolant temp indicator is normal, I switch back to new "Normal" efficient mode.
Of course, I could pay 3x-5x for real sporty experience, but I like my cars for their transportation utility functions.
I'd say we, the two of us, run the dishwasher every 2 or 3 days.
FWIW, Whirlpool also has several European models that should be competitive for the European markets.
My point is that if your old dishwasher is more than 10 years old, its replacement will surprise you.
The US tastes are definitely different. 2 examples from cars:
When the first Japanese pickup trucks hit the US market decades ago, they were seen as flimsy, not sturdy. The US pickup trucks had the appearance of being bulky, hefty, and the inference drawn was that they had more power and could more load. One can hardly differentiate between the US and Japanese (or other foreign origin) pickup trucks.
When the first European luxury cars hit the US market, the European manufacturers were puzzled that the US showroom visitors cared only for how many cupholders that had (not very many) and didn't bother much with mechanical features. They then did consumer studies/surveys in the US and made adjustments. Now the US and European luxury cars in the US market are almost indistinguishable.
Even Rolls Royce had to make adjustments because its headlights were rules underpowers (not bright enough) for the US market.
In general, rarely a product in one market is sold as-is in another market, especially in the US market that may even account for majority of manufactures' sales.
I am also changing the title of this thread to better reflect contents: Dishwasher & Cars - Overdoing "Efficiency"
Because of all this "Efficiency" I almost dread ever having to replace my 2009 Silverado.
"Because of all this "Efficiency" I almost dread ever having to replace my 2009 Silverado."
I prefer to wash dishes by hand and despite all the ads to the contrary I use far less electricity and water than the dishwasher. Over the years my wife and I have had many heated discussions about exactly this. I've never used the dishwasher; sometimes many of our dishes are missing in action because she has them stacked in the damned thing "waiting for a full load".
Because of all this "Efficiency", and having absolutely no desire to confront an unfriendly array of electronic gadgetry I really do dread ever having to replace my 2009 Toyota Tacoma V6.
Derf
After running some different cycles, it's OK.
Quick 1 hr
Normal 1.5 hrs
Heated Dry adds 45-55 min.
Only to remember wiping some surfaces at the cycle end to assist in drying, AND leaving the door slightly ajar after all done.
Not bad!
Those long times that I indicated in the OP were really for Sensor/Auto-cycle in top of the line Whirlpool models where an optical sensor determines how dirty dishes are and fairly dirty dishes were assumed for 3-5 hr cycle PLUS 30-45 min Heated Dry. BUT none of that applies to my middle-features model.
It's basically a BAD and GENERIC guide/manual that isn't model specific and leaves the user testing all this.
If I get a product survey later, will be sure to respond and mention my experience.
All Martians should be considered part of the interstellar community.
When neutered Martians participate in competitive sports, their opponents often have
similar ages (+/- 30 "Mars years") and body weights (+/- 25 kg*).
Neutered Martians frequently play alongside the unneutered on the same teams and in the same leagues.
* It's a little-known fact that Martians developed the metric system in 1789.
They graciously shared this important advancement with the French several years later.
However, it wasn't until 1875 that the International Bureau of Weights and Measures
was established and The Treaty of the Metre was signed in Paris.
I confess complete ignorance. But now I know, thanks to you both! Yet... "they/them" specifies plural rather than singular, but not a precise number. If a neutered Martian is portraying Richard III in the Shakespeare classic, and he is seeking an animal of the equine variety, would he offer THEIR kingdoms for a horse?
.....And now, back to our regularly scheduled program.