Best dishwasher for Rural aka HARD water

[unclebilly]

Dishwashers seem to last us about 18 months. Our well water is really hard on them (see what i did there?).

We have bounced between Samsung, Maytag, Whirlpool and none last better than the others.

Surely we arent the only ones.

I don't want to buy a $3000 dishwasher just to have it 5hit the bed in 18 months like the others seem to.

What has worked for you guys?

[stevej37]

Rural area here also. I have very hard water and if I forget to keep the salt in the water softener....the dishes really show it and the glasses are all cloudy.

With the softener working again, the 20 year old Kenmore Ultra Wash dishwasher works as new.
The softener only uses 8-10 bags a year.

[masraum]

There are a couple/few dishwashers that have built in water softeners (you add salt to the d/w). Bosch makes at least one.
https://www.bosch-home.com/us/productslist/dishwashers?f_bvc_mo=bvc_bvc_bema&f_highlights_ma=water_softener

Also, there's at least one manufacturer that makes detergent for hard water. I don't know if those would help the internals of the d/w.

https://www.finishdishwashing.com/products/detergents/quantum-hard-water-detergent/22-regular/
https://www.finishdishwashing.com/products/booster-agent/14-oz/
https://www.finishdishwashing.com/products/rinse-aids/jet-dry-hard-water/8-45/

[Zeke]

I have had good luck with Kitchen Aid. But, the luck is so good that the model I have is 15 YO. Ao IDK what they make today. All SS inside and I clean it with vinegar. Water is considered hard, but probably not like yours.

[908/930]

Buy a Miele with the built in water softener, they build a really nice dishwasher.

[unclebilly]

Originally Posted by masraum

There are a couple/few dishwashers that have built in water softeners (you add salt to the d/w). Bosch makes at least one.
https://www.bosch-home.com/us/productslist/dishwashers?f_bvc_mo=bvc_bvc_bema&f_highlights_ma=water_softener

Also, there's at least one manufacturer that makes detergent for hard water. I don't know if those would help the internals of the d/w.

https://www.finishdishwashing.com/products/detergents/quantum-hard-water-detergent/22-regular/
https://www.finishdishwashing.com/products/booster-agent/14-oz/
https://www.finishdishwashing.com/products/rinse-aids/jet-dry-hard-water/8-45/

We will give this a try.

[Sooner or later]

A woman..

[mattdavis11]

^^^^Yep, mine is the Brunette model.

Seriously though, our house did not have one, so I put in a Maytag and she doesn't use it.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by Zeke

I have had good luck with Kitchen Aid. But, the luck is so good that the model I have is 15 YO. Ao IDK what they make today. All SS inside and I clean it with vinegar. Water is considered hard, but probably not like yours.

Same here...kitchenaid...bought 2007. Still going strong. Used about 3 times a week.
Willamette Valley well water, probably considered soft.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Same here...kitchenaid...bought 2007. Still going strong. Used about 3 times a week.
Willamette Valley well water, probably considered soft.

We had a kitchenaid. I don't remember when we bought a kitchen full of kitchenaid (probably 2005-2007-ish), but one of the items was a dishwasher and it was still installed and working when the folks that we sold the house to sold the house a few years ago. But we didn't have super hard water.

[Scott Douglas]

We have an old Maytag that just keeps working. It's 20+ years old now.
Get some Lemi Shine, it works great in our hard water.

[john70t]

The best dishwasher is an industrial water filter system with oversized tank.
Every valve and pipe in the house will thank you.

[WPOZZZ]

Originally Posted by unclebilly

Dishwashers seem to last us about 18 months. Our well water is really hard on them (see what i did there?).

We have bounced between Samsung, Maytag, Whirlpool and none last better than the others.

Surely we arent the only ones.

I don't want to buy a $3000 dishwasher just to have it 5hit the bed in 18 months like the others seem to.

What has worked for you guys?

This sounds like the time to get an extended warranty with your new dishwasher.

[stealthn]

We have a Bosch one we put salt into Scott, our second one, first one went about 10 years.

[wdfifteen]

We have a magic counter in our kitchen.
I pile dirty dishes on the counter to the left of the sink and the next morning they are all on the other side, clean and dry in the drying rack.
You should get one of those.

I'll warn you they aren't totally reliable. Vicki went to a quilt show for a week last month. The magic counter broke down while she was gone, but she got it up and running when she got back.

[Dixie]

Have you thought about addressing the root problem, the water? If your water is hard on the dishwasher, it's gotta be hard on everything.

[CalE]

^^^ This.

[Bugsinrugs]

Originally Posted by 908/930

Buy a Miele with the built in water softener, they build a really nice dishwasher.

This. Pricey but a great dishwasher.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by Capt. Carrera

Have you thought about addressing the root problem, the water? If your water is hard on the dishwasher, it's gotta be hard on everything.

That was my point in Post#2 also.
Faucet screens and shower heads get plugged easily with hard water. Brown residue in the shower and toilet are much less with a softener. My water heater is over 20 years old...I attribute that also to the softener.

[unclebilly]

Originally Posted by Capt. Carrera

Have you thought about addressing the root problem, the water? If your water is hard on the dishwasher, it's gotta be hard on everything.

We have a water softener and run all of our water through it to soften it and knock out the iron. We have a RO system for drinking water.

A whole house RO system uses a LOT of water but is not out of the question.

I have thought about it a lot.