Buying a new undercounter dishwasher
When buying a new undercounter dishwasher, there are a number of things to keep in mind. That’s because it depends on your personal needs and preferences which undercounter dishwasher suits you best.
To make it a little easier for you to find the right dishwasher, we’ve listed some key features. In a small household, a small undercounter dishwasher that holds up to 10 place settings can be more than enough for you.
A undercounter dishwasher for a large household
If you have a lot of dishes, you need a dishwasher with space for at least 12 to 14 place settings.
Efficient dishwasher
For those concerned about the environment, undercounter dishwashers are also available that are energy class c and energy class e.
Economical undercounter dishwasher
These are the undercounter dishwashers that offer the best value for money.
Quiet undercounter dishwashers
These undercounter dishwashers are easy to run when you are busy in the kitchen.
Dishwashers with extra-clean programs
These dishwashers even get pots and pans and other dirty dishes completely clean!
What to look for when buying an undercounter dishwasher?
A undercounter dishwasher is slightly different from a built-in dishwasher or freestanding dishwashers. So there are a number of features to consider when buying a new undercounter model.
Depth of niche
A built-in dishwasher is always placed in a niche, which means you have to pay very close attention to the dimensions. A built-in dishwasher isn’t exactly recessed, but it’s nice when the appliance doesn’t protrude beyond your cabinets. So always measure how deep your countertop is from the back. The control panel on a built-in dishwasher, like that of a freestanding dishwasher, is often on the outside of the unit. This makes it easy to turn on and check the program time and temperature while it is running. The control panel can also be on the inside. A dishwasher can hold cutlery in two places, in a cutlery drawer on the top. The other option is in a cutlery basket on the bottom drawer. There are those who claim cutlery gets cleaner in the cutlery drawer, but there are also those who prefer the cutlery basket. One thing that is for sure is that you don’t have to bend down as much to fit cutlery into the top drawer. Most undercounter models have an energy class of C, D or E. An extra-efficient dishwasher has an energy label of A, but these are harder to come by.
The programs
What programs your ideal undercounter dishwasher has depends on the type of dishes you have. If you often wash glasses, for example, there are models with a gentle program that is extra careful with your dirty dishes. For dishes that are not as dirty, it may be better to choose a short program, and if you want to use as little water as possible, an eco-program is very useful.
Extra features
The dishwasher that is best suited to your needs will have useful extra features. For example, if you have an adjustable upper basket, you can remove it to make more room for pans. It can also be nice to choose a model with a delayed start, so you can be sure the dishwasher will be ready when you get home. There are also options for extra dry dishes, such as zeolite drying technology. This is useful for plastic containers that may not dry quickly in other dishwashers.
Many questions about undercounter dishwashers
As you look for the best undercounter dishwasher, you may also want to consider the questions that other buyers often ask.
Why buy an undercounter dishwasher?
An undercounter dishwasher is particularly well suited to flexible cooking, as it can be easily installed under the sink. Undercounter dishwashers do not need their own front panel either, you can easily fit them into your kitchen. The door is often available in white or silver, so there is always a model to suit your kitchen.
What is the difference between a built-in dishwasher and a undercounter dishwasher?
Firstly, built-in dishwashers are a little trickier to fit than undercounter dishwashers, as a built-in model has to fit very precisely into the niche. Depending on which type of built-in dishwasher you have, you will also need to cut the front panel of your kitchen to size, otherwise you will be facing a stainless steel front. There is only one way the dishwasher can be slid straight into the recess, and it has to be level too.
What is the difference between a freestanding dishwasher and a built-in dishwasher?
A built-in dishwasher is slightly different to a freestanding model because a built-in model has no panels on the side or top. So it doesn’t look as nice to place it freestanding in your kitchen. A freestanding dishwasher looks covered from all angles, so you can easily place it separately in your kitchen.