Dishwasher Dilemma

So we have to decide whether or not to replace our seventeen year old appliance. We had a technician come by and do a diagnostic on our Maytag. He says the touch panel needs to be replaced, which is an expense you don't want with an appliance of this age. Some of the lights don't come on and function as they should during the wash cycle. The dishwasher still works and washes the dishes fine. Friends have just replaced theirs, only to match a new stove. They have offered to give us their old one, which is 12 years old but working fine and looking good. I want to replace our kitchen floor this year, so I am wondering maybe I just need to keep using the one I have since it will wash the dishes. I would have to pay someone to install the ones from friends and then pay again when we replace the floor to have a new one installed. What would you do?

If you're sure it's just lights not working, well, I suppose you could keep it. But after having three electrical panels melt down in dishwashers (and knowing now that any one of the three incidents could have caused a fire), I'm leery. That's just me; I'm a little on the paranoid side.

And 12 years old is a long time for appliances these days. I'd be leery of that, too. Money is money.

If you can afford to do both, new floor and new dishwasher, I'd do both. Start looking now and keep your eyes open for some good sales, particularly around the holidays (Memorial Day, for example).

We replaced our ancient (17-year-old) dishwasher last year, after one expensive repair that kept it working for just about a year. We should have replaced it right away rather than getting it repaired.

The first dishwasher we had in this house caught on fire while I made a quick run to the bakery. Hubby was at work. My parents had flown in the day before and were sleeping off their jetlag. That could have ended in a real tragedy, so I'm with Winchester

One thing to keep in mind while trying to decide: The newer the device, the less water and electricity it'll use.

I had been turning off the breaker because of being nervous about the panel not working. We had a technician come by and run a diagnostic check on the old one. Part of the lights work and part don't. He told us it is not dangerous to use it. So for now, I am still turning off the breaker and using this dishwasher. I have never ever left the dishwasher, clothes dryer or washing machine going unless one or the other of us is here in the house.

I would definitely not replace one older dishwasher with a another used one. I would hang in there and keep doing what you have been doing until you can get the floor done and then replace the dishwasher at the same time.

susanm9006 said:

I would definitely not replace one older dishwasher with a another used one. I would hang in there and keep doing what you have been doing until you can get the floor done and then replace the dishwasher at the same time.

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I completely agree, you took the words right out of my mouth.

That's a tough one...maybe if you could find a 3 to 5 year old one that wasn't used much? Mine is still new practically.(1996) ... If you were local I'd give it to you..I rather make some hideaway for Honeybee.


We never have alot of dishes..because we don'teat together and we wash dishes after meal so basically he eats first then I wash it then use the dishes....besides Jon's weird he prefers to hand wash everything . We have a local used appliance store that has some decent sales. If it was me i would buy a used one just for now until you get the money saved to replace the floor. Also the electrician should be able to use a volt meter on your dishwasher to make sure it's not grounding out somewhere inside...but it can be a pain to do this due to pulling it out if the electrical stuff is in the back or top of machine.

Yes we never let anything run when gone either...

foxxycat said:

Mine is still new practically.(1996)

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1996 was 23 years ago .

susanm9006 said:

I would definitely not replace one older dishwasher with a another used one. I would hang in there and keep doing what you have been doing until you can get the floor done and then replace the dishwasher at the same time.

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Yes, this is what I would do, too, if it's still running.

Willowy said:

1996 was 23 years ago .

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Yes that's true. Bought the house in 2005 and the prior owner never used the dishwasher...home built in 1996. I still have original stove and dishwasher that came with the house when they set this place up in 1997? Thats why I said it's practically new still. Ive probably used it 3 times.

I wouldn't replace it with another used one, either. I also have a Maytag, and while it still washes the dishes after nearly 30 years, it's the noisiest thing you can imagine. The new Bosch ones are so quiet you hardly know they're running. I would hold out for that.

And also, I had a new floor put in without removing the dishwasher. They moved the fridge but not the stove or dishwasher. I guess it depends on the kind of floor you get.

DreamerRose said:

I

And also, I had a new floor put in without removing the dishwasher. They moved the fridge but not the stove or dishwasher. I guess it depends on the kind of floor you get.

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I have had that done as well in the past. Problem is that it can create a ridge right at the appliance. Hard to wash and keep clean where the edges meet and hard to pull an appliance out for cleaning or repair without damaging new floor.

Money is not the problem. The contractors where I live are still overwhelmed with work to do because of Hurricane Florence. Our roof still has to be replaced also. But, we told our friends this morning we are not going to take his dishwasher. Since ours is only used maybe twice a week and we are here every time it is turned on, we can pay attention to it, then flip off the breaker again. When we do the floor, I will look at the Bosch dishwashers as I know they are quiet. I am going to replace the countertops and the sink. We will see about the refrigerator and the stove.