Dishwasher suggestions and recommendation needed?

Question

I have a new tenant in a town home rental property.

The previous tenants were the absolute best, always paid on the 1st of the month and had very little complaints. The new tenants not so much.

I did some cosmetic work between tenants at the request of the new person, mostly painting but also replaced the kitchen and bathroom outlets with gfci to bring them up to code. Come to find out there was also a water restrictor on the water line severely impacting the water pressure to the house(one faucet could run at a time). I paid to have that removed and things appeared great or so I thought.

A short time afterwards there were additional complaints about debris(mostly sand) in the dishwasher. I cleaned it out and discovered that there was broken glass(looked like shards from a wine glass) as well as the plastic stickers that they put on new plates in the filter. I have cleaned it out several times since then including sucking it out with a small shop vac but the problem still persists.

This dishwasher is old so it's not worth having to pay to get it cleaned out really good so am looking at getting a replacement. I am about 100% convinced that the broken wine glass(previous tenants did not consume alcohol because of religious beliefs) is the current tenants fault but can't prove it. Playing devil's advocate the increased water pressure could have dislodged debris and sediment or maybe it pulled something in from the garbage disposal?

So should I foot the bill for the new dishwasher or split the cost? Sturdy, reliable dishwasher recommendations under $500?
I looked online and they do not seem that difficult to install so will likely do it myself to save the $136. Any gotchas for swapping out a dishwasher that looks to be over 10 years old?

Ana Marie B. · Answer

@Mike McCarthy - Great advice re. new dishwasher.  The dishwasher in one of our properties recently broke down.  That dishwasher was included in the home when we purchased it about a year ago.  We're currently shopping for a new one and found some decently priced and rated dishwashers at Sears for roughly $299.  I think we'll heed your advice and add an addendum to the lease re. this.  I'd be pretty upset if the new one breaks down soon, as I wouldn't constitute that normal wear and tear.

Gail K. · Answer

i was going to suggest the old fashioned ones with a dial (only because two with the usual control boards went belly up in my own house one month after their one year warranty date and replacing the control board was going to cost over $300).  However, the one you posted sounds like a good deal with these Black Friday sales.

And yes, they are easy to install.  If this old lady can do it, anyone can.

Gail

Chris Mcgee · Answer

Indeed, this is my one and only rental property that has a dishwasher. I have heard that Samsung's can be problematic as well.

Due to this being a tenant who complains I was looking for something that would just work and not give me any problems.

I like the idea about adding the lease option because we are going to have to revisit that soon

John Thedford · Answer

BEWARE: stay away from anything LG. We have 3 out of 4 units break before the 1 year warranty expired. The 4th one broke just after the warranty expired. We recently had someone out to fix our washing machine (not LG). He told my wife he believed they are the worst quality units on the market and their company will not work on them.

Chris Mcgee · Answer

I hadn't thought about it being too tall. I thought that was what the adjustable feet were for. Thanks, I will measure and probably get a braided fill hose as well

From looking at Consumers reports and online reviews, Whirlpool and GE are the brands they recommend.

I'm thinking of this one, but the only knock is it has a filter and not a grinder

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Whirlpool-55-Decibel-Built-In-Dishwasher-Monochromatic-Stainless-Steel-Common-24-in-Actual-23-875-in-ENERGY-STAR/50258927

Jim Adrian · Answer

Dishwashers are easy to install.  Plug in or hardwire the electrical,  content the hot water line and content the drain then screw into countertop.   Before you buy measure your opening!  I found they have several different heights.  The width is pretty standard.  Check the flooring to see if its goes under the existing unit.  Its best if it does. Dishwashers last about 10 years.  I wouldn't spend over $500 for a dishwasher because its a rental.  You are paying for quietness at this point.  I might even look at the $400 price range.  I think you are going to have to cover the cost of the unit.  If the tenant wants something better let them pay the different.

Dishwasher suggestions and recommendation needed?

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