The KitchenAid and Fisher Paykel Two Drawer Dishwasher
85KitchenAid Two Drawer Dishwasher
A New Idea in Appliances Always Intrigues Me
The Fisher Paykel: The Drawers Are Identical
KitchenAid Double Drawer Dishwasher on EBay
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NEW KitchenAid Drawer/Door Dishwasher - Stainless Steel
Current Bid: $449.00
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KitchenAid KUDD01DPPA Black dbl drawer dishwasher
Current Bid: $610.00
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NIB KitchenAid Panel Kit for Double Drawer Dishwasher
Current Bid: $129.00
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NIB KITCHENAID KUDKPLSWH Double Drawer Dishwasher White
Current Bid: $99.00
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Fisher Paykel on eBay
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FISHER AND PAYKEL DD24DCX6 Double DishDrawer
Current Bid: $879.99
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Fisher & Paykel Dishdrawer Drain Filter Door 526345 NEW
Current Bid: $6.99
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It Is Two Less-Than-Half-Size Dishwashers
Really what the KitchenAid stacking dishwasher (which is made by Fisher Paykel, and is just about exactly like the Fisher Paykel DishDrawer) is is two separate and stacked small dishwashers. Both drawers, together, do not hold as much as a well designed full size dishwasher. I just spoke to a couple who recently moved into a new multi-million dollar home equipped with the KitchenAid drawer dishwasher. They have had the repair people out twice in a few months. The builder did not do his research, and this couple will probably replace it soon. More aggravating, though, than the need for repairs is the limited height of objects that can be put into the dishwasher. They are very unhappy with it.
I must say that I know another older couple who do little cooking, and, well, do little eating, too, who have the Fisher Paykel. They are satisfied with theirs. They do like the fact that they can wash a half load (something, though, that even lower end dishwashers, like Frigidaire, do now). These are gentle people, and they did not mention if they have had to have it repaired.
Lastly, and this is a bit of an aside, for the builder of the multi million dollar home mentioned above: You created a large home built for entertaining with huge public areas and an abundance of outside space that could easily accommodate two hundred people. The kitchen is spacious and there is a wine cooler, undercounter ice maker, and 48 inch wide professional dual fuel stove. There should have been two dishwashers: A regular high end dishwasher for when just the family is there, and an undercounter commercial dishwasher the help and caterers can use when there is large scale entertaining.
Unfortunately, for most consumers, the KitchenAid drawer dishwasher is not a good choice (This was a little hard for me to write because I like to write about appliances that I like. I did have a request for my thoughts on this dishwasher, so to whoever requested that I write about this, here it is . . . just for you).
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I Want To Know Your Thoughts on Drawer Dishwashers
I agree that the DishDrawer has its limitations (11 1/2 tall items only, small drain tubes that can clog, no heated drying cycle), but it does have some good points too. I would suggest in the future that you should do a litle more research or maybe have a little more personal experience with the product before offering any sort of authoritative review.
Actually, each drawer is about 60% capacity of a regular dishwasher so the 2 together would equal approx 120% capacity. I have found by using mine for several years that we can run both drawers with many more dishes in them than our old regular machine. Water consumption (per drawer) is also considerably less than a regular dishwasher as is overall energy consumption. The flexibility of running a 1/2 load is great for couples that don't fill up a traditional dishwasher very quickly and the convenience of running 2 separate cycles at the same time (one in each drawer) is also a plus.
Brandon,
Although I don't own a two drawer dishwasher, I have spoken to two friends who have them, and they both have been disappointed -- especially by the capacity and by the need for repairs. One friend was initially pleased with it, but then with further experience, her opinion changed. I have also spoken to appliance salemen and repairmen about these machines. The salemen have without exception told me about disappointed customers, and the two repairmen tell me that they needed more repairs than usual.
I had received an email requesting me to write about them. My single door dishwasher has a choice for just one level to be washed as do many current models. Of course, you are right that you can run two loads with different cycles.
I do care about consumer's opinions of appliances, and I am glad that you are pleased with your DishDrawer. I do, however, stand by my review.
I have one of these two drawer models and am now investigating getting a new dishwasher as the F & P version is again on the blink...it has failed before with the hose that connects it to the drain breaking (this is just a plastic hose that is good enough to last till out of warranty but that must move every time each of the drawers is opened and closed and as a result is prone to fatigue and failure...it is very inconvenient to service and was only replaceable with another like it though I requested that they try and find a more durable replacement) Now the lower drawer is making rough sounds if we try to run it ...we have not yet ascertained the exact source of the problem//it has functioned fairly well otherwise and is ~ 6 years old now... not a bad overall record if the servicing was easier and hadn't required three trips by the service guys and that the unit be totally removed from its niche each time to get to the offending hose....we do like the two drawer concept and suspect that if the makers would improve the connector hoses and serviceability that the unit could be a truly good piece of equipment...it seems to wash our dishes just fine for the most part when it is workng
Speaking to the repair person fixing my Fisher Paykel, he says that the Kenmore version has made a lot of improvements in terms of reliability and especially in ease of working on it. Of course, that's not what I have.
But, I still love the dishdrawer. I live by myself, and don't have enough dishes to fill up a regular dishwasher.
I have a DD603 that's 4 years old, never needed any repairs. Being just myself in the house, I rarely use the lower drawer (just when having family or guests over or if I do cooking or baking beyond the norm). I can get a LOT of dishes in one drawer. It's quiet, and efficient with water and electricity. And it looks nice in my kitchen! I agree that the drawer design isn't practical for *everybody*, but for people for whom it does work, the unit is a valid choice.
I am a mum of 6 and am almost completely happy with my nearly 4yo dishdrawer. Yes it's had to be fixed but that's down to user error, like loading the thing too high so the lid doesn't close properly and then it leaks, or not cleaning stuff off properly and then bits get into the rotor motor (which is a piece of cake to replace and cost me £20 for the new part...) The top drawer is used at least twice a day and the bottom one at least once. Our plates are plenty big enough and fit comfortably.
The only reason I'm unhappy *right now* is because the top drawer is leaking rinse-aid and I don't know why, I found this while searching for hints on fixing it myself.
We are building a home - have even purchased the kitchen cabinet which would accompany 2 single drawers - one on each side of the sink.
Are the complaints coming from the single drawer dishwasher as much as the 2 stacking drawer dishwashers?
It seems as if many of the complaints relate to the bottom dishwasher?
Also, I have been reading reviews that complain about the drainage of the Fisher-Paykel - that it doesn't have a disposal. Is that the case?
I have also read the Kitchen Aid does have a built-in disposal. If so, does it have the accomulating filter water problem and the clogging problem the FP does?
I really do not want stagnant water sitting on the bottom of my dishwasher.
Is that problem the same with all drawer models?
Would I have to clean the KA filter like I would in the FP?
Have changes been made in the 08 models?
I have seen Sears has a model as well?
How does the FP, KA, and Sears models compare - are they all high maintenance?
My Sears salesperson suggested Sears is having problems as well?
Do they all have washing 'arms'?
What is the comparison in sound level?
I guess if I had known there were so many problems, I would have just designed my kitchen to accomodate a raised dishwasher rather than the drawers since I have problems bending.
Any suggestions?
p.s. I'm a Calypso Washing machine victim as well - and don't want to make that kind of mistake again.
Bonnie from Kansas - There's no place like home and a working dishwasher.
I
The F.P dishwashers are terrible! first of all,you have to rinse everything off.if you don't , these unlike L.G.and all other dishwashers of the American types,will sour and stink to high Heaven if you do not daily clean their filters.They make the kitchenAid and Sears kenmore Drawer dishwashers as well as the Sears Oasis,Whirlpool Cabrio,and Maytag Epic top loading energy star washing machines.They break down a lot and don't realy get the dishes clean w/out cleaning them first.The idea is great but they need to go back to their drawing board on these.Read last month's issue of Consumer reports and look at who is dead last in frequency of repairs.That in itself would be enough for me to stay away.Way over rated and way over priced.get a GE Triton \tall tub model for just under $500 and do a service for 16 people in one load!Very quiet and great repair record.
I have the single dish drawer here in our small home and it washes the dishes for my family of 4 every night, and has been doing so for the 2.5 years since I installed it, and it has worked perfectly. Because of the limited space here the drawer design is a winner. The typical drop down door wouldn't work in our little kitchen.
You do have to be careful when loading it so that items don't fall into the bottom and jam the agitator.
Of course it's NOT suitable for entertaining big groups. It's been completely reliable and quiet here and our dishes come out clean. It cost a bit more then a standard full sized would have, but for this installation it has been worth every cent.
I have a large kitchen with two dishwashers. Both KitchenaAid. Although the traditional style one door is great, the two drawer model is a huge pain. Not only does it do a very marginal job on dishes, it has required professional repair five times in two years. While there was no cost, I spent about 20 hours waiting for the repair man. Each repair man blamed the last for poor work. I will soon replace the two drawer model with a new one door model.
I've had the Fisher-Paykel double dishdrawers for 5 years. I love the process, even when the whole family comes to visit (total 12 people). And, I love to cook. Put the dishes from food-prep in one of the drawers and run it while we are eating. then, when the meal is done, empty that drawer and load both drawers. If it's just me and my husband, we might get along with just loading one. I tried out my dishes in the dishwasher first before buying (I would do that with any dishwasher). That's the GOOD side. the BAD side is that I have probably paid for them at least twice, with all the repairs, which is an annoyance and expensive.
I have KitchenAid Single Drawer dishwasher. Actually I have 2, one on each side of the sink. You cannot beat these if you have back problems, which is why I bought mine. The kitchenaid does not have a disposal in it, there is a screen compartment you need to empty food out of...however, I wipe all my dishes with paper towels before washing, to eliminate grease from getting into my septic lines, so rarely need to clean it.
These dishwashers are not as good as a regular dishwasher for one very obvious reason. They only have one washing arm, not 2 or 3 as regular dishwashers would have. I almost always wash on heavy, as normal is good only for loads that are pretty clean to start with. The cycles are very long...about 2 hours, so that is inconvenient.
Another drawback is you cannot fit very large items in them. They have less room than a regular dishwasher. This really is only a problem for large baking sheets, and very large bowls. Overall, the size of the dishwsher is a problem in this way.
Right now I am having trouble with the control panel getting "stuck" every now and then...in fact that is how I found this forum...I was looking to see if others have the same problem. The Sears repairman told me Whirlpool (the maker) reports a lot of other common problems, but not the problem I am having.
Overall, these dishwashers are NOT as good as regular dishwashers, but if you are a very small family, or have back problems as I do, I would still recommend them. They get dishes nice and clean on the heavy setting. One important thing is to run the water at your sink though, until it is very hot. If you don't do that, the water is not hot enough to do a good job cleaning. I think they use very little water, but they cycles are very long, so I don't know how energy efficient they are. I remodeled my whole kitchen when i put these in, so cannot tell from electric bills.
They ARE very attractive, so that is nice if you have an upscale kitchen as I do. It is very nice to be able to wash small loads. It is great not to have to bend to empty them...and this is the biggest benefit in my opinion. Yes, I miss my standard dishwasher in some respects, but my back is SO much better with these, i am willing to take the trade off.
I had a KitchenAid single dishdrawer installed and I am very happy with it. My kitchen is unique in that the only good place for a dishwasher is under the sink. The dishdrawer is perfect for this installation.
I had the dishdrawer installed by a professional and it has been totally trouble free and perfect for about 6 months now. It looks great too.
A two drawer stackable dishwasher was the only solution available to us when we had to replace an older Bosch dishwasher, as the size of the refrigerator blocks a normal or tub-sized dishwasher door from fully opening.
We were quite pleased with the two door concept for efficiency and meeting our current needs: only my wife and I at home now, so the smaller draw more closely accommodates our usage; for entertaining, we love that we can clean the cooking utensils, plates, etc. during dinner, and then fill both drawers when dinner is finished.
I regularly recommend this format to all, and I think it can apply to folks like us (both kids in college, but returning now and then; skipping meals at home now and then[working late or dinner at friends' homes]; regularly entertaining) as well as to young families, where kids are always using glasses, bowls, etc.
Our problem has been with the Kitchen Aid model (which is made by FP). Overall, it ran very well, very quietly, for about a year, although there were some times where it did not fully clean, and a second wash was required. We had one repair visit due to clogged drain - this seems to be a common problem, according to the repair folks. Then it started leaking a bluish liquid. We mistakenly identified this as leaking drying fluid, or leaking detergent. Turns out it was an oil lubricant leak. The leak then further damaged some of the electrical. We waited about six weeks while the repair service tried to find a replacement part. Finally, the company that owns the repair contract called to say that they can't repair it, and they don't have an equivalent dishwasher in stock, and are going to refund us the purchase price.
We will purchase another two drawer - as I mentioned, it is the only style that will fit into our space, and we do like the format. However, we will do a better search for quality. Hopefully, in the intervening two years that these appliances have been available, quality improvements have been implemented.
FP is horrible. I have the overpriced two drawer model. Ran great for about 2 months. Then all kind of problems occured. The warranty covered most but not all the expense. Problem was, warranty ran out before dishwaher was working properly. The only service person in my area, and I live in a large motroplex, did not have a clue how to fix. He would just order a part and hope that would be the problem. Needless to say I have spent many hours and a lot of money and still do not have a properly working machine. My bottom unit will only work on the quick wash cycle. Nobody can tell me why! Don't waste your money.
I have a small 1 bdrm unit which in turn has a very small kitchen, I am fixing it up to sell and was wondering if I purchased one of the dual drawer dishwashers could I install one drawer in this small kitchen and then other drawer into my mum's kitchen? Does anyone know if you can install these unit completely separate to one another? .
You may install them separately.
help what is a good two drawer dishwasher???
Look at the pictures at the top of this hub.
Look at the pictures at the top of this hub.
We are looking at buying the two drawer F&P dishwasher simply for the ease of drawers and not doors. From your reply to a comment are you saying the Kitchen Aid 2 drawer is better than the F&P? If so is the Kitchen Aid available in Australia?
No, no one is saying the KitchenAid 2 drawer is better than the FP. The KitchenAid is, in fact, a rebranded FP (that means it is made by Fisher Paykal, and then the KichenAid name is put on it.
One of a very important aspects the article missed is an ADA compliant houses - single drawer dishwashers certainly better accomodates for a tall toekick on the bottom, ease of loading (height of the drawer and controls access). Plus, it allows to have a smartly laid out kitchen with "greener" aspect - less energy and water consumption (1/2 loads). We are building the "universal" house now and decided in favor of FP drawer dishwasher. They will be side by side though, so that you don't need to bend. For full size dishwashers there are a lot out there - Bosch, Miele, Asko (all energy star compliant, economical on water and exteremely quiet). With drawer dishwashers not that many choices - FP is the only one.
Palisandr:
You are certianly right in that the top single drawer dishwasher allows use with no, or very little, bending. Putting two drawer dishwashers, both in the top position, would take away some prime space for regular drawers or base cabinets shelves.
I bought the Kitchen Aid 2-drawer 2 months ago. I love the convenience. However, it doesn't clean to my expectations. It does not dry the dishes and water stands in the bottom of the tub. Repairman arrived and stated he had never worked on one. After second visit he recommended use of a cheap dish cleaner and a turbo dry agent. The dishwasher was expensive compared to standard dishwashers and it was not worth the money. I didn't read all of the negative comments before buying.
I really wanted to get the FP drawers for our new kitchen- I like the idea of energy-wise half loads, and also the ergonomics (with our dishwasher located beside and slightly behind the link, I am worried that someone standing at the sink could step back and trip over an opened dishwasher). But, I have read several discussions regarding the dish drawers and generally the negative comments far exceed the good ones. It also rated towards the bottom of the heap in Consumer Reports. So I am hesitant to get one. It sounds like the Kitchenaid and Kenmore models are also made by FP, so are there ANY that are not FP, and might be worth considering? Or any other designs that might be worth considering?
I BOUGHT A FP DUAL DISHDRAWER WHEN THEY FIRST CAME OUT. AFTER TWO YEARS OF REPAIRS, THEY REPLACED THE UNIT WITHA NEW 603. I AM VERY HANDY AND MAINTAIN EQUIPMENT BETTER THAN REQUIRED. I COULD NOT AFFORD TO HAVE THESE UNITS IF I DIDN'T REPAIR THEM MYSELF. LEAKING HOSES, MOTHER BOARD BURNOUT, WATER POOLING, 3 MOTORS, RED LIGHT IN DISPENSER PERMANENTLY ON, PLASTIC LATCHES 2 HAVE BROKEN AT BACK OF UNITS, THE PLASTIC SYNTHETIC MATERIAL BOTH INSIDE AND ON THE FRONT BEGINS TO FADE AND ERODE. THERE'S MORE. PLEASE, PLEASE DON'T MAKE THE MISTAKE THAT I MADE. THE UNITS ARE A GREAT IDEA, BUT THE MATERIALS AND ENGINEERING ARE ABSOLUTELY NONEXISTANT. SOME BLOGGERS WITH NEW UNITS ARE HAPPY ( I WAS TOO ) BUT THEY ARE IN FOR A LONG RIDE. WHEN I NEED A REPAIRMAN, THE NEW BOSCH WILL ARRIVE. I PLAN TO LEAVE MY UNIT AT THE FRONT DOORSTEP OF FISHER AND PAYKELS' REGIONAL OFFICE IN ATLANTA. WHY KITCHENAID WOULD SELL THESE UNITS IS BEYOND ME. I HAVE NEVER BLOGGED BEFORE TODAY.
I love my double integrated dishdrawer - have an old fashioned look in the kitchen and love that it doesn't look like a dishwasher. Also I like the option of running one drawer rather than waiting til a regular washer is full.
But, wow, installing it wasn't easy and no-one knows how to work on them.
For those concerned about the size of the drawers, F&P recently released a 'tall' version that accomodates the larger US dining plates.
I have a single dishdrawer and love it. The only thing is that while the load may have indicated it has finished it will continue to dry the dishes long after that, which I presume is done on some sort of humidity sensor and is therefore a variable runtime,
I just went out and purchased a Miele. I have to replace my entire kitchen floor because of a leak from my FP. I had the repair man out at least 4 times in 5 years to repair it. I have the 2 draw model. The draws kept getting stuck, the machine sounds loud, and I now have another leak. I was happy with the way the machine cleaned and dried dishes. But the repairs and the noise are just not worth it.
I wish I had my old dishwasher back!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We bought all Kitchenaid appliances when we remodeled our kitchen. Everything is fine EXCEPT the double drawer KITCHENAID dishwasher. We have to wash the dishes before loading into the dishwasher and dry when they come out! Where is the AUTOMATIC part? It does NOT clean the dishes without being cleaned before loading. When it finishes the cycle, we have to dry them. There are always beads of water on the inside of the dishwasher when it is finished - thus on the dishes. I have had the unit for eight months and had two separate repair services check it out. First one said he needed to set the rinse aid adjustment (which was set on installation) - it didn't change the outcome. Second time they sent out another repair service and he said we need to run the water in the sink until it gets very hot! - that didn't change things either. I have called Kitchenaid and explained my problem; they gave me the number to another authorized repair service.
I purchased the Kitchenaid double drawer model on June 6, It was installed and worked fine. I began to notice the pergo flooring warping last week and when investigating, the top drawer leaks water when you open it (as well as the bottom) The water collects on the lid of the drawer that lift off when you pull the drawer open. The water pools on the floor of the cabinet under the bottom drawer and then permiates under the pergo flooring. I can not see any repair for this as the water on the lid when the drawer is open, has to drip somewhere! The repairman is due here on Friday and i will suggest he take the unit with him and hope Whirlpool/Kitchenaid will stand behind the flooring repair that is scheduled to cost about $3000. I would not feel safe having this unit repaired or replaced, as I have to replace the floor and would not feel comfortable risking this again.....Want my old one back, it didnt leak!
Doug A,
Man, that is a shame. I would be surprised if KitchenAid paid for your flooring. You may try your homeowner's insurance about water damage. Please keep us apprised here of yoru progress,
We are seriously considering a single-drawer Kenmore Elite (because of back problems), but some of the negative comments about drawer type dishwashers are worrying us. Does anyone know anything specific, positive or negative, about the Sears Kenmore?
I've had mine for 4 years with one problem early on and FP sent a factory rep right out and took care of it.
People either love or hate these units,not many in the middle. that was explained to me when I was shopping for a new dishwasher.
You don't need to rinse the dishes just periodically CLEAN the strainer (easy to do), be proficient in space relations and if you're not then buy the old style.
I'm hooked on the drawers
We have had our FP drawers since 2001 and have had two repairs in that time which is pretty good compared to the experiences others have had. I am wanting to remodel the kitchen and thinking about putting one on either side of the sink rather than stacked as they are now. However, I will have to buy new ones as the lower one is smaller than the top and would look weird if I use the current ones. If FP makes the kitchen aid is it the same quality? And it sounds like people are having a lot of problems with all the manufacturers of the drawers so it makes me feel like our good luck with FP is just a fluke! I love the ease on the back using them and the ability to do small loads (we are empty nesters, too). I like the ease of opening a drawer vs typical dishwashers. Tho whenever I am helping someone else load their standard dishwasher I am amazed at how much they can fit in vs what we can usually manage. Decisions, decisions!
I'm going to buy a single dishdrawer - my sister has had these since 2001 and loves them - but I have a silly question.
How do you buy cabinetry that fits a single drawer? ie we're thinking of buying diy kitchen from ikea and want to know what sort of cabinet you'd need to buy to fit one
Thanks!
Am purchasing the FP new tall drawer 7/2009 as had a FP in my last house and it was quiet, efficient and was tired of bending down to the low door of the single door washers. Some water should be in the bottom of the machine to keep the seals wet and from drying out and this is true of other machines. A leak or lower dragging door problem would be an installation problem and that would be your installers problem. FP are no more expensive from my experience then my old Kitchenaid single door or less available service. I am told by several industry personal that the newer models are not a problem (althought my older one never was). If you want plastic to dry you must put in a drying agent. Most repairs the FP rep. told
me are from user error, such as opening the drawer before the cycle is done without putting it on pause and breaking the seal. The units hold almost as much as a single door and I like the sturdyness of the upper drawer over the flimsy top racks of the single door. Hope this helps someone making a decision on the great new drawer concept.
I am considering the Maytag MDD8000AWS 2 Drawer Dishwasher. Does anyone have any experience with this model or information about its performance?
I have the DCS version of the dual drawer F&P dishdrawers and must say that I love it. It cleans dishes extremely well, never really need to rinse them first. Although height is certainly a limitation, I've always been able to get around it by how I load it. It really does have great capacity per drawer and I've been able to wash fairly large loads in a single drawer. My only gripe is that the touch sensitive control panel on the drawer top seems to go dead from humidity. Sometimes you have stand there pressing those cycle buttons for 5-10 minutes. Had a service guy look at it and he said that it's from humidity and is worse is hot & humid summer weather. Said that it really can't be fixed but that it shouldn't really pose a long term problem. Other than that, I do like this machine and hope to have it a long time.
FP Double Drawer was installed 5/2005. We are empty nesters but often have groups of 10-12 people. We also have a wine cellar and thus many chard, bordeaux, and burgundy glasses to wash. The double drawer concept is exactly what we needed. Unfortunately there has been a lot of maintenance. If one of the fold up shelves is in the up position and slightly dislodged from its stanchion it will prevent the washer lid from sealing thus generating a water leak that will flood the floor of the unit. This is discovered by the water detector which generates an error code and then prevents the unit from operating. The first time this happened, the repairman needlessly replaced the motherboard. It happened again before we realized how the leak was occurring. A more knowledgeable repairwoman simply dried the unit with towels and a hair dryer which solved the problem. Another problem is the slow leakage of rince agent from the top drawer. The resulting inspissated fluid drips slowly onto the face of the lower unit and leaves a sticky mess you will first note on your fingers when opening the bottom drawer. Replacing the dispenser with labor (A&E Service )was nearly 250.00. Now 15 mos later the problem has recurred! We brush wash our dishes prior to loading the dishwasher so clean dishes have not been a problem.
I've had my F&P dish drawers for going on two years, and haven't had any problems whatsoever. I'm wondering if the people with all these problems bothered to read the instruction manual? The drawers are different from a regular dishwasher, but if you use them as recommended, they work as well or better.
My drawers hold my extra large plates just fine if I place them in the recommended location. I also have an extra large mixing bowl that would not fit in my previous dishwasher at all but fits in my F&P just fine. The only thing that doesn't completely dry in mine is plastic, but that was true of my last dishwasher, as well.
The statement about each drawer holding less than half of a regular dishwasher is completely false. Each drawer holds at least 60% as much. Together, the two drawers hold much more than a conventional dishwasher. Loading the drawers takes some getting used to, but after awhile, you figure out all sorts of ways to fit more and more in there.
I'm on a kitchen forum where many people have the drawers and the problems cited here simply aren't an issue for most users. The design is ingenious, and it makes me wonder why it took so long for someone to come up with. I love the ease of loading and unloading. I will never own a conventional, shin-banging single-door dishwasher again!
We designed and built a high-end kitchen in a beach house where we entertain guests on the weekends and during the summer, but cook for only two or three during the week. Although we wanted a great kitchen, we were determined not to install appliances that looked impressive but were rarely used. (Considered but omitted: trash compactor, dedicated ice-maker, warming drawers) We installed a full sized traditional dishwasher, and, one Fisher Paykel next to a small bar sink in the kitchen island. When we have guests, we can use both dishwashers at the same time. Usually we load the F-P first with all or most of the glassware. The full-sized dishwasher is then free for all of the plates, bowls and pans. When there are only two or three of us, the one drawer is perfect for a day's worth of dishes, and for the dishes that need washing before we leave at the end of the weekend. This 1-1/2 dishwasher has worked perfectly for us so far, and we have not experienced problems with the Fisher - Paykel drawer. One should consider their own needs and how they use their kitchens before purchasing appliances.
I have a fisher and paykel dishdrawer, we are a family of three and have a small home. I have to say I love my diswasher. NO it is not a full size dish washer and when you purchase it I think it is very obvious. However, we needed it because I didn't have enough room for a drop down, so the drawer works perfect I can stand at the sink and open as much drawer that I need. It washes the dishes great, you just have to remember that the water comes from below. We are currently redoing our kitchen and I will definitly purchase another, so they will stack one for pots and one for glasses and plates. I also have to say I have alot of friends that have to wait a few days to run their dishwashers because they don't want to run it half full. With this dish drawer Its so much easier. I would recommend this to someone who has limited space and a small family.
I have a FP two drawer dishwasher. I will call the repair guy for the second time in three months. We had to turn the breaker off because the dishwasher will not stop. I had to pay $87 last time to get it fixed and will have to do so again....turned out to be a very expensive dishwasher. I got on the blogs and this seems to be a common problem.
My parents have bought several high-end KitchenAid appliances, and each and every one of them has had multiple repairs. Stainless double convection oven...multiple repairs. The glass cooktop? At least SIX repairs, and one involving the bottom cooking unit separating from the glass top and falling on my mother's beloved Calphalon pan collection. The KitchenAid microwave that was given to them by KitchenAid as an "I'm sorry your experience has been so horrible" gift actually rusted under the rotating platter in less than a year...and they live nowhere near salty conditions (middle of Texas). The regular KitchenAid dishwasher (high-end) that they own has also had multiple problems.
I was also intrigued by the idea of a two-drawer dishwasher, but when I learned it was KitchenAid, and after seeing these reviews, there's no way on God's green earth I would buy one. Kitchen products are nice-looking and have great features, but are unreliable and not well-built. About the only thing that's worth the money is the good ol' stand mixer.
In fact, my best dishwasher was a Frigidaire that I bought at Lowe's for $239. The best part was no center section that had to be "clear;" I could put 3 large pots in it and not block the washing mechanism...
Dee, did you find anything out about the Maytag?
I've had bad luck with Maytag...as an owner of the dreaded Neptunes with motor control board problems. Dealing with Maytag is awful. I finally picked up a $30 kit on eBay to fix my $2100 washer because I was tired of paying over $500 each time to fix it.
My experience with Whirlpool is good, and I know Whirlpool bought Maytag. I'm wondering if WP has had any influence over Maytag's products? Unfortunately the "bored" Maytag repairman is a thing of the past...I think he's been a lot busier over the past few years with Maytag's crummy products!
$1500 plus tax, 14 service calls, destroyed Home Theatre (room below) which gallons and gallons of water poured on plus the kitchen cabinetry and tile floor in a little over 2 years? If you buy this because you think it is a cute diswasher, fine, you will endure the hell of FP the service, the waits at home, the bids, the paperwork, the insurance companies, the New Zealand rudeness, the California rudness. Finally, it was too much stress, I did not allow it to be repaired, even replaced, I said I want that brand out of my house. The brand will soon be out of the states, go look at their financials on their website, they are sinking, the dishdrawer plant for the USA, scrapped, just like my ECO machine who now fills a landfill.
AH, my blood pressure just went down 20 points. If someone is positive it is one of three reasons. 1) A worker or appliance dealer wrote it (they make a fortune on the repairs). 2)Some has one, loves the look, but doesn't use it much. 3) It's new, the parts that are designed to fail, have not yet. Sure I was taken, but read all the reviews you can, see how many dealers dropped it and now they are trying to rebadge for the Fisher Paykel name was ruined by this unit.
This machine is a nightmare. We bought a Fisher & Paykel single drawer model 4 years ago because it was the only model that would fit under our old cast-iron sink. For those four years, the machine has been functional maybe half the time. We've spent hundreds in repair bills and replacement parts on it, in addition to countless hours of my own time spent analyzing fault codes, shutting off breakers, and cleaning up floods. On those rare and brief occasions when it does operate properly, it can't accommodate our full-size dinner plates.
My wife was ecstatic that KitchenAid makes an alternative to the F&P until I explained to her that its the same machine. She's concluded she would rather replace our antique (and quite valuable) sink than be stuck with another DishDrawer.
Has anyone fixed the problem of dishes still being wet after a complete drying cycle in the Kitchen Aid dishwasher drawer AND standing water in the bottom of the tub? I'm having a FIT with this piece of junk and have had the repair guy out twice in one month. No help from KitchenAid either. I would NOT recommend this dishwasher even if it was given to me. I'd rather stick with the Miele or Bosch of which I've had both and highly recommend.
I have the two drawer KitchenAid dishwasher for 4 years now. I have not had one problem or repair.
The dishes come out clean and I have never had "wet" dishes when I use the cycles properly and don't open the drawers before the cyle is finished.
I like the versatility of two drawers and that I don't need to bend over and reach into to old one door type dishwashers - always hated that!
My sister has owned the FP two drawer model for about 8 years and other than one repair during warranty, she has had no problems. Her husband is disabled and the two drawer model makes loading and unloading the diswasher easy for him.
I don't know about other folks but I always take time to learn about my appliances - their idisyncracies etc (they do have their own personality! lol) and have found that if I understand how they work, I get better results.
Frank Williams says:
3 years ago
I agree totally with what you've said about drawer dishwashers. We bought a newly-remodeled house with a Fisher and Paykel dishdrawer and it's a piece of crap (the dish drawer, not the house). It won't hold anything of any size (even our dinner plates are too tall for it). Running a meal's worth of dirty dishes means running both of the units where one conventional dishwasher would handle the job. That means I'm paying for twice the water and twice the electricity. And the frosting on the cake is the top unit is stuck open because of a broken part and the repairman tells me they have to order the part out of AUSTRALIA! I'm hoping my home warrantly company will agree to replacing this thing with a conventional dishwasher.