If you recently moved into a house with a dishwasher included, it’s not a bad idea to determine what year it’s from. This information will tell you how many years you should have left with that dishwasher. How do you find the age of your dishwasher? We researched this topic to find the answer for you!
To determine what year your dishwasher is from, look at the serial number. The first three numbers of the six digits on the serial number represent the year and production week the dishwasher was manufactured. The first digit denotes the year and the second two reveal the production week.
In this article, we’ll explain in more detail how to ascertain the year of your dishwasher. We’ll also delve into the average lifespan of a dishwasher, how to maintain yours, and if you should fix versus replace it.
How Do You Know What Year Your Dishwasher Is From? Here’s How to be Sure
Going back to the scenario we mentioned in the intro, if your dishwasher was already there when you moved in, you have no idea if the appliance is two years old or 12. The serial number will reveal the information you’re looking for.
Where do you find the serial number on a dishwasher? It’s usually one of the labels on the inside of the door. Look on the right side or the left side, and you should see it.
If it’s not in either of those locations, then the serial number label could be on the inside edge of your dishwasher.
The serial number will have six digits. Most serial numbers are labeled as such, so you can’t confuse them with the other strings of letters or numbers on the dishwasher’s label.
Here is an image of a sample dishwasher label from Asko. The serial number is 72830089.
How do you make sense of that? As you’ll recall from the intro, you need to look at the first three digits of the six-digit serial number to glean the year your dishwasher was made. The first digit of the above serial code is 7, which likely means 2007.
Then the other two digits, 2 and 8, could be combined to represent 28, or the 28th week of the year. That’s in July.
What if the dishwasher serial number is worn away or part of it is missing, or perhaps you can’t make heads or tails of it? That happens. In such a situation, we’d recommend contacting your dishwasher manufacturer.
How Long Should a Dishwasher Last?
You’re happy to know more about your dishwasher, but the information doesn’t mean much without context. What is the average lifespan of a dishwasher?
Dishwashers last between ten and twenty years. That said, the lifespan of a dishwasher is not set in stone. Several factors impact its lifespan, so let’s talk about those now.
Manufacturer
Samsung, Whirlpool, Thermador, Maytag, and KitchenAid dishwashers are known to last about a decade. Compare that to dishwashers from LG, Kenmore, Frigidaire, Electrolux, Blomberg, and Beko. Those dishwashers have about twice the lifespan on average.
Maintenance
This is something we’ll talk more about in the next section, but taking care of your dishwasher when it’s not in use is infinitely important. If you slack off on the maintenance, then gunk buildup and other issues are likelier to happen, shortening the life of your dishwasher.
Frequency of Use
How often you use your dishwasher is also important. If you’re someone who can’t go more than two days without running the dishwasher, then yours won’t last as long as someone who only runs theirs, maybe once a week.
What Maintenance Does a Dishwasher Need?
Speaking of maintenance, what’s required to keep a dishwasher in tip-top shape? Here’s what you should begin prioritizing.
Use It or Lose It
We mentioned before that if you run your dishwasher only weekly that it will last you longer. On that note, make sure you’re not refraining from running your dishwasher just to squeeze more time out of it.
The components in your dishwasher, such as the motor seals, require regular use to work their best. At least weekly, run your dishwasher.
Clean It
Your dishwasher cleans your dishes, but that doesn’t mean the appliance itself is clean. Where do you think all the food messes and gunk goes when it’s removed from your dishes?
To clean the dishwasher, use a damp cloth on the door and the rubber seals that prevent water leaks. If you do this regularly enough, there should be no need for soap or a cleaning product.
That said, for stubborn messes or caked-on grime, a dollop of your favorite dish soap will remove this unwanted residue.
Don’t forget the spray arm, which is one of the most essential parts of your dishwasher. Without it, water can’t spray from the appliance onto your dishes.
To clean the spray arm, you can use a damp, soft towel. Cleaning with a toothpick can get messes out of all the nooks and crannies, but you should only have to do this twice per year. The rest of this cleaning should be done once every few weeks and no more infrequently than monthly.
Wash the Filter
Some dishwashers use a filter. If that’s true of yours as well, then you have to take it out about weekly and wash it in your sink. Grime and food messes that become trapped in the filter inhibit your dishwasher’s performance.
Is It Worth Fixing a Dishwasher?
One day, your dishwasher just stops working. It’s not that old, but you wonder if you’re better off paying for repairs or just biting the bullet and upgrading your dishwasher.
That depends, so let’s assess when it’s better to repair versus replace.
The average cost of dishwasher repair is between $50 and $600.
If your filter is faulty, that costs $50 to $100 to replace. A new sprayer arm is between $75 and $100. Maybe your water inlet valve is damaged, in which case, you’d pay $80 to $125 for a new one.
Does your dishwasher door not stay locked once you close it? Then you’ll pay $150 to $250 for a fresh lock. Pump issues are the costliest, priced at $150 to $600.
Then you have to factor in labor costs, which can ratchet up the repair costs to around $400 or $600.
A new dishwasher can retail for up to $1,500. If yours is built-in, the price range is $300 to $1,000. A drawer dishwasher costs $270 to $1,380. Countertop dishwashers are among the least expensive, with a price range of $200 to $400.
Again, labor costs must be accounted for, with the installation tacking on $110 to $270 in addition to what you paid for the new dishwasher.
So, repair or replace, which will it be? If your dishwasher is still covered under its warranty, then fix it. You might not have to pay for all the parts, which is especially great if your dishwasher needs costlier repairs.
For a dishwasher that is close to a decade old and is no longer under warranty, you’re better off replacing it. Some dishwasher repairs are so expensive that it’s not worth turning around in a few years and spending more money on a new dishwasher. Just buy one now.
How Do You Know When to Replace Your Dishwasher?
Besides the dishwasher outright breaking, how else do you know when you need a new one? Here are some signs that indicate that it’s time to put your dishwasher out to pasture.
Lots of Noises When Cleaning
No dishwasher is perfectly quiet when washing dishes, but there’s a difference between the normal chugging and whirring sounds and what you’re hearing now. These sounds concern you.
They should! The dishwasher sounds are likely the motor straining to work. It’s only a matter of time before it pushes itself to the point where it dies.
Exterior Damage
Has your dishwasher seen better days? Perhaps there’s rust on the metal exterior, or the body of the dishwasher is cracked. Neither are good signs. If your dishwasher is cracked, it’s likely to leak.
Rusting isn’t only a sign of age but of misdirected water too.
Dirty Dishes After a Wash or Several
Listen, sometimes your dishwasher misses a dish or two. It happens. More and more, though, half the dishes on the rack are still dirty. Even if you wash them twice, they still don’t come out perfectly clean.
This indicates that it’s time to call it a day with your dishwasher.
Water Leaks
Your dishwasher should not leave a puddle on your kitchen floor. When leaks occur, more than likely, the problem with your dishwasher is severe enough that you’ll want to shell out for a new one rather than pay to repair it.
The Door Doesn’t Stay Closed
Most dishwashers don’t even work if the door isn’t sealed. If your dishwasher does run with an open door, then watch out, as it’s going to get messy soon with all that splashing water.
Read more: "Can You Stop a Dishwasher Mid-Cycle?"
Which Brand of Dishwasher Is the Most Reliable?
You’re going to buy a new dishwasher for the first time in quite a while. If possible, you want a dishwasher brand that will hold up well to regular wear and tear and last for upwards of twenty years. Which brand is that?
According to several polls, including The New York Times, Bosch is at the top of the pile when it comes to dishwashers.
Bosch is a home appliance brand that produces large-scale dishwashers. Some of the models have three racks rather than the standard two. You can also select from several wash cycles for quickly cleaning dishes or giving them a deep cleaning.
The Bosch 300 is among the most esteemed dishwashers from the manufacturer. This built-in dishwasher measures 32 inches by 24 inches by 24 inches. It features a sturdy stainless steel frame, three drying racks, 16 place settings, and six wash options.
Read more: “How to Reset a Bosch Dishwasher.”
In Closing
Finding the year that your dishwasher was made is as easy as reviewing the first few digits of its serial number. If your dishwasher is heading on ten years old, you might want to think about upgrading it!