Here's the model and model #

SEA SEA thank you so much for your always helpful advice! The house that we are in now, we do plan to sell within the next 2-3 years but I want to be sure that we replace our current (and badly dated) stove and dishwasher before we do. I often hear a lot of great things about Boschs dishwashers. I will definitely look into them. Thanks again, my friend.

• CR Dishwasher Buying Guide
• CR Dishwasher Ratings ($10/month digital)

Note: if you are using detergent pods, you might consider switching to powder (e.g., Cascade Complete Powder) so you can put detergent in both cups. Otherwise, no detergent is used during the pre-wash as the detergent dispenser doesn't open until the main wash.

(My 2005 Whirlpool dishwasher is still running.)

That's really helpful. Thank you so much.

The newest KitchenAid dishwashers have been redesigned and are quite impressive in terms of washing ability and quietness levels. Also, I find their dishwasher racks much easier to load. I have friends with Bosch dishwashers and they are very quiet and pretty reliable but the racks drive me crazy as well. The latest kitchenaids have proven to be as or more reliable than the latest Bosch models per the data collected by Yale appliance and their service department.

The serial number indicates production in November of 1992 or 2002 or 2012. Frigidaire repeats serial coding on a 10-yr cycle. I found a user manual with an apparent 2012 printing date on a search for the model. Do you have a printed copy to check for a date on it? How long have you been in the townhouse? If after 2012 then perhaps the original dishwasher was replaced between 2005 and your arrival.

I’m happy with my KA, 2 years old. Does a good job. Very quiet too.

My former 15+ year old KA started smoking and fire dept came and pulled it out, ripping the floor. It's good to replace old appliances before disaster strikes.

Depending on where you live, make certain that there is repair service available for your brand. My town isnt that small but I cannot get Miele factory authorized service here, so could’t even consider that brand (altho they are available for purchase here). I think the same may be true of Bosch, but I cannot remember for certain. I’m very happy with my Kitchenaid. I wanted one with a 3rd rack but had to remove it because I kept snappping off the stems of my wine glasses!

I just had to replace an 8 yo Bosch 500 and wanted to replace with another Bosch, also with a recessed handle. None were available for months and months, so on the advice of my independent dealer I purchased a KitchenAid 204 which is very similar in appearance to the Bosch 500 I had. This machine is stellar, it washes beautifully and dries as well as the Bosch if not better, it loads so much easier and its third rack is actually useful where the Bosch’s was not. The cycles are everything I could possibly want. I’ve now had it one full month and I couldn’t be happier.

I also hope mine never breaks. It is a older Kenmore. I was going to replace it 8 yrs ago when we moved in, but it is the best dang dishwasher we have owned in a long time. It washes the dishes well without taking FOREVER like the newer water saver/energy saver/bells and whistle ones. The plastic comes out completely dry.

If I ever have to buy a new one I will definitely find out the time for a cycle and if it has a good heating element to dry the dishes.

Also will never buy another he washing machine. Hopefully mine breaks soon and I'm going back to the old agitator style where I can adjust my own water level.

There are very few, if any, toploader agitator washers nowadays that have water level controls for multiple load sizes. They auto-sense the fill level by default, with a Deep Wash or Deep Fill option that fills to maximum. Nothing between. Two models often recommended to people who want an "old style" toploader both fill either halfway or full.

To add to the Consumer Reports linked above, here are The Wire Cutter recommendations: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/the-best-dishwasher/ They have good explanations of why they chose the models.

To the original question, what to look for in a dishwasher, these are my insights, two features I have and one I'd specifically get next time:

Features I use:

- Auto Open at the end of the cycle.

- Timed start, you pick the start time. Seemed somewhat gimmicky at first but I do use it a lot

- One feature I don't have now but will get next time:

Interior lighting, the brighter the better.