Whirlpool

Buying a Whirlpool Dishwasher

Whirlpool as a Manufacturer

Whirlpool is one of the world's major suppliers of domestic appliances, with annual sales of around £7 billion, 68,000 employees, and almost 50 manufacturing and research centers globally. With boldly innovative dishwashers and other domestic goods, customers in around 170 countries around the world now use Whirlpool technology to make their lives easier.

Whirlpool Manufacturers Warranties

All manufacturers provide a twelve month parts and labour guarantee. Many also provide an additional parts guarantee for a number of years, but this is usually dependent on you using their own team of service engineers, for which you are likely to have to pay a higher call-out and hourly labour rate. Extended guarantees are also available for most brands, and the details of these are usually included in the paperwork that comes with the dishwasher.  You can always opt to buy an extended guarantee after you have bought the machine, so it is not really necessary to buy it at the point of sale unless you are absolutely convinced that it is needed and that what is being offered is better than the manufacturers own offer - both scenarios are unlikely.

Other Key Features and Things to Consider

Energy Efficiency

With the current emphasis on environmental matters, it is hardly surprising that dishwashers have evolved to consume less energy than hand-washing the dishes! Whatever type of dishwasher you choose, you can reduce running costs by: not rinsing dishes under the hot tap before loading; fully loading the dishwasher before running it; using 'off-peak' electricity if available; using the economy cycle unless dishes are heavily soiled and connecting the machine to the cold water supply, not the hot.

Half Load

A 'half load' function is now commonplace, allowing you to tell the dishwasher to wash a reduced load in the top tray only. Energy-wise it remains best to fully load the dishwasher as some elements operate fully whether or not a half load has been requested.

Noise Levels

Whirlpool machines are quiet. As a rule of thumb, some 50 db or lower is generally held to be an appropriate noise level.

Programmes and Temperature

All dishwashers have a regular cycle with most including a rinse-only cycle and a optional cycle for delicates using lower temperatures. Temperature should be a maximum of 55°C (although the drying cycle will exceed 55°C on some machines). A reduction in temperature from 65°C to 55°C lowers energy consumption by around a quarter. It is also worth avoiding using the drying cycle when washing delicate items.

Reliability and Longevity

Whirlpool has worked long and hard to establish an excellent reputation for reliability. When looking at purchase costs, it is worth remembering that although cheaper brands may seem to cost less to buy they may result in more engineer call-outs and not have Whirlpool's durability, therefore actually costing more in the end.

Timer Function

If you are able to use 'off-peak' power at reduced rates (usually overnight), consider a dishwasher with a delay or timer function that allows you to ask the machine to wait until a particular time before starting. This reduces energy consumption and thus your costs.

Water Supply

Water and heating are both key cost factors which is why a dishwasher that consumes less water is better. Nearly all dishwashers can be connected to either the cold or the hot water supply. Connecting to the cold supply is better because this way the water is only heated in the machine during the cleaning final rinse - although this does lengthen the cycle. In contrast, when you connect to the hot water supply, the dishwasher asks for hot water with all sequences including rinsing and pre-washing.

Water Softener

Buyers in hard water areas will be only too familiar with calcium stains. Most current dishwashers have a built-in water softener, using iodine-free salt. More advanced models may also offer an electronically controlled softener which is activated when needed (determined by a threshold that you choose).

Other Features and Functions

These vary enormously depending upon the manufacturer and model range. Examples include movable upper trays; special glass / bottle / vase holders; and various safety options.