You can read my quest for a good, dependable dishwasher in this review:
http://www.epinions.com/content_221364850308 . To summarize I was after a replacement dishwasher. This would be the 5th unit we've had over 40 years. The last 2 units have been GE, and the most recent only lasted about 8-9 years. It sprang a leak in it's neoprene sump and for some reason would randomly overflow. I thought it was time to switch to another brand and tried a Whirlpool, a big mistake. After I returned the Whirlpool I opted for this unit. My model is the PDW 7800, the non-stainless steel model, the retailer and GE indicate this is the same model except for that.
One of the things I was after was flexibility. In all the previous units I've owned it was difficult or impossible to load large or odd shaped items. The last GE unit did have a few sections of the lower rack that could fold down but not enough for my needs. Another thing that I was after was the basic plastic tub. I really dislike stainless steel, just a personal preference, so that somewhat limited my options. Another thing I was after, albeit lower on the list , was interesting styling. The original replacement unit a Whirlpool Gu 2500 had most of the options I was after except for the styling. However it's performance was lacking. Had I come across this unit when I was looking I would have opted for it. My local Sears store has one higher end model mounted high up on the wall, not the optimum placement for sales. It's obvious they push Kenmore and Whirlpool. the other retailers near by also did not have many of the units on display. They focused on low end models, and a few higher end models from Bosh. After my disappointment in the first unit I hit the web sites again and waded through GE's which has a massive amount of dishwasher models, why I don't know. I did use the filter to narrow down the units available in Bisque, the color I was after and found a much more reasonable number to choose from. The 7800 met all my needs.
Lets look at the features. First, the racks have a great amount of flexibility. The tines in the bottom rack can all be folded down creating a flat unobstructed surface, for me a very good thing. In the upper rack all but the center row of tines can be folded down, again great flexibility. One interesting thing about this unit is the fact that the upper rack has one side that is shaped lower than the other. I have long stemmed wine glasses that I have never been able to get in the washer, with the dropped side this isn't a problem. Also the top rack can be lowered as a unit, or you have the option to lower one side or the other, adding more to the flexibility. Other units I looked at allowed you to raise or lower the rack but both sides had to be adjusted at the same time. The only thing I would like to see is a totally removable upper rack as is available in some upper line models, however this is a very minor point. Also I should mention the silverware basket. That was the downfall of the Whirlpool unit. This unit has a large basket that has removable sections, a large center basket with movable handle and two detachable side baskets. There is also an included utensil basket the can be position anywhere in the unit. The 3 section basket is designed to be placed on the right side, but I find it more useful when one of the side baskets are removed and the remaining basket and a 1/3 is placed in the front. This slightly reduces usable space in the lower rack but I like to toss used forks and spoons in the washer as I use them with out pulling out the rack - just open the door a bit and toss the silverware in. Also most of the baskets have lids that allow small items to be placed in and not go flying around the washer. Alternately they can be used to place silverware and keep it in position for better cleaning, but just tossing them in the basket works very well for me. Let me mention one thing I've done with this washer that I never could before, I was able to get the crisper, meat dish, and snack dish from my side by side refrigerator in the unit to wash, one in the upper rack and one in the lower -- this is something the really surprised me.
The unit has 6 cycles, enough to fit most my needs, and lots of options to be added to these cycles. All the cycles sense the water temperature and the level of soil, and adjust accordingly. I've always used the Normal or Pots and Pans cycle in my older GE unit and have been happy with the results. These cycles in the old unit took over an hour. I find I'm using the Speed Cycle for daily use, this averages 35 minutes, and less water use. The Glass cycle, as well as the China Crystal cycle take about the same amount of time. These are all without heated drying which I find I never need. My water is hot enough that the dishes dry quickly. The Normal and Cookware cycles take over an hour, but that is in line with most units. I haven't used the Anti Bacterial cycle, but I'm sure it would be longer to account for the time to heat the water.
One last thing to talk about is the exterior design. The style is unique to GE. It has a gently rounded front and a full metal door. The door arcs out and down too. The metal frame extends to the top of the door, no plastic top panel, this gives a very nice feel to the door. The controls are touch pad inset in an area near the top with a large display indicating remaining time. One very nice feature is the door has a very well designed counter balance and goes up and down very smoothly. The Whirlpool I had prior to this unit had a very different feel it almost snapped back. Surprisingly this unit matches my Whirlpool refrigerator, (see my review) that has a arced front and also my Whirlpool G3 micro oven which also has a curved design, Whirlpool does not make a unit that matches their other appliances for some reason.
I guess I should mention the downside to this unit and that would be the noise level. It seems to be a function of tall tub units, but they seem to be louder. I think the design requires the pump/motor assembly to be closer to the floor and have less mounting options to reduce noise. My older GE was silent in terms of motor noise, it was hung on a neoprene sump, reducing vibration and noise transfer, all I could hear was the water swishing by the door. As I did with the previous Whirlpool I placed thick rubber under the feet and added additional insulation around the unit. This unit does come with a fairly heavy blanket of insulation, but not as much as my older unit. With the addition of the rubber and the insulation the sound level is very quiet. Most people might not mind the sound level, but after having a very quite unit I did. One other downside, common to all tall tub unit is the fact that they are harder to install. The water inlet should be connected with a long flexible hose covered in braided stainless steel (available at all home stores). Also for my easy of installation I added a plug set rather that hard wire it, again due to the space limitations of the tall tub design.
All in all I am VERY happy with this unit and would recommend it highly.
US Appliance
