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Dishwasher Replacement
Jun. 2nd, 2023 11:26 amWe replaced the parts in the old dishwasher that initially appeared to be the issue, but unfortunately, it did not fix the problem. It briefly seemed to fix it, but then after running for part of one cycle, it stopped again. After poking around for a while, Lisa concluded that it might be several things, but the most likely one was actually the time dial: the mechanical time switch that triggers the various cycles of the dishwasher. It might also be the main pump. But this means that we had reached the point where the repairs were going to get so complicated and the parts sufficiently expensive that it was looking less expensive to buy a new dishwasher.
After some online research, we began to move toward the point where we wanted to look at specific models. An initial review of Lowe's website seemed to say that they had the ones we might want to buy in stock, so we went to the Fernley Lowe's. There we learned that not only did they not actually have any of those models in stock, but the did not have display models. This is important. We were not interested in the high-end models that require wi-fi or Bluetooth connections, as it seems silly to use to put our dishwasher on the internet. Also, a display model lets you test the feel of the controls. Neither Lisa nor I like "soft buttons" or touch pads. We want mechanical switches. None of the models on display in Fernley were even close to what we wanted. So if we wanted to look at the actual controls, we were going to need to go look elsewhere, and on Monday, that appeared to be the Reno Lowe's.
( Memorial Day Shopping After All )
After two days of mulling it over, we decided that we would be better off going and getting one ourselves. Checking the measurements, we could see that it would fit inside the minivan. So on Wednesday afternoon, it was back to Reno Lowe's, without the massive cloudburst this time. These are non-trivial trips. It's 75 miles round trip from our house.
What we decided to buy was the lowest-end model available, with the least amount of features: a Bosch Model 100, black finish. The retail price: $549 plus tax, which brought the net cost to $594. Reno's sales tax is slightly higher than Fernley's, and Lyon County doesn't get its cut, but that's Lowe's fault for the way their online system behaved. I decided to not order it online (which would have included free delivery), because I couldn't figure out how to activate the twelve month no interest financing. Normally I would have just taken the 5% discount I get with the Lowe's credit card and then paid it off immediately; however, the car repairs have left me a little stretched, and paying at least 1/12 of the base cost off each month with no interest is an easier deal for me. (If you don't pay off the total within a year, they retroactively add interest from the date of purchase; however, I don't foresee this being an issue.) They were able to activate the offer when we bought it in person at the store.
( Bringing Home the Dishwasher )
The next day, I put rinse aid and soap into the dishwasher and did a small run of dishes (stuff that I'd previously hand washed and that were sitting in the drain rack). Things seem to work okay.
I had hoped that there was an energy saver feature that would not activate a heated drying element. I later discovered that the machine does not have a heated dry feature anyway, which is okay with me because in our dry environment, evaporation will work just fine.
Thanks to Lisa's mechanical aptitude and the WM disposal coupon, we saved $264 in installation and disposal fees. Once Lisa finishes stripping anything reusable, we will haul the remainder to the transfer station.
This new machine will work. I hope it lasts a few years. I suspect that hoping it lasts as long as its predecessor (25 years) is unlikely to pan out, but if we get 10 years out of it, that will be good. Lisa did some research later and says that it seems like most or all new dishwashers are like this one, and that mechanical switches that are easier to use by the blind don't seem to be made anymore. Not that we're blind, of course, but we would have been happier with a straight replacement of our older machine. Still, if this one works, we should be okay.
After some online research, we began to move toward the point where we wanted to look at specific models. An initial review of Lowe's website seemed to say that they had the ones we might want to buy in stock, so we went to the Fernley Lowe's. There we learned that not only did they not actually have any of those models in stock, but the did not have display models. This is important. We were not interested in the high-end models that require wi-fi or Bluetooth connections, as it seems silly to use to put our dishwasher on the internet. Also, a display model lets you test the feel of the controls. Neither Lisa nor I like "soft buttons" or touch pads. We want mechanical switches. None of the models on display in Fernley were even close to what we wanted. So if we wanted to look at the actual controls, we were going to need to go look elsewhere, and on Monday, that appeared to be the Reno Lowe's.
( Memorial Day Shopping After All )
After two days of mulling it over, we decided that we would be better off going and getting one ourselves. Checking the measurements, we could see that it would fit inside the minivan. So on Wednesday afternoon, it was back to Reno Lowe's, without the massive cloudburst this time. These are non-trivial trips. It's 75 miles round trip from our house.
What we decided to buy was the lowest-end model available, with the least amount of features: a Bosch Model 100, black finish. The retail price: $549 plus tax, which brought the net cost to $594. Reno's sales tax is slightly higher than Fernley's, and Lyon County doesn't get its cut, but that's Lowe's fault for the way their online system behaved. I decided to not order it online (which would have included free delivery), because I couldn't figure out how to activate the twelve month no interest financing. Normally I would have just taken the 5% discount I get with the Lowe's credit card and then paid it off immediately; however, the car repairs have left me a little stretched, and paying at least 1/12 of the base cost off each month with no interest is an easier deal for me. (If you don't pay off the total within a year, they retroactively add interest from the date of purchase; however, I don't foresee this being an issue.) They were able to activate the offer when we bought it in person at the store.
( Bringing Home the Dishwasher )
The next day, I put rinse aid and soap into the dishwasher and did a small run of dishes (stuff that I'd previously hand washed and that were sitting in the drain rack). Things seem to work okay.
I had hoped that there was an energy saver feature that would not activate a heated drying element. I later discovered that the machine does not have a heated dry feature anyway, which is okay with me because in our dry environment, evaporation will work just fine.
Thanks to Lisa's mechanical aptitude and the WM disposal coupon, we saved $264 in installation and disposal fees. Once Lisa finishes stripping anything reusable, we will haul the remainder to the transfer station.
This new machine will work. I hope it lasts a few years. I suspect that hoping it lasts as long as its predecessor (25 years) is unlikely to pan out, but if we get 10 years out of it, that will be good. Lisa did some research later and says that it seems like most or all new dishwashers are like this one, and that mechanical switches that are easier to use by the blind don't seem to be made anymore. Not that we're blind, of course, but we would have been happier with a straight replacement of our older machine. Still, if this one works, we should be okay.
