Buying a used dishwasher...

[M GO BLUE!!!]

I have never owned a dishwasher & finally made the decision to get one. Heading tomorrow to look at a used portable Maytag.

What should I look for to make sure it's good? I already asked the guy if I can run it & he said that's no problem.

[flere-imsaho]

I had a portable dishwasher in a rental unit once. The things I'd look for include the quality of the seals. Are they old/cracked, or do they seem relatively supple? Also, the solidity of the hookup to the water source (probably the kitchen faucet). You want something that's going to give you confidence that it's not going to blow off halfway through the load.

Other than that the usual dishwasher stuff, such as how it fits stuff inside and if the layout will work for you.

[boberot]

That's good advice.

Since you say you've never owned one, I'll give you one other piece of advice.

I also bought a used portable dishwasher many years ago, and it sill runs great today. This may seem like a no-brainer, but to extend the life of your unit dramatically: clean the food off of your plates / bowls before putting them in there.

I'm constantly amazed at what I see go into other people's machines. From both a longevity and sanitary point of view, we rinse everything off pretty well before it goes in the dishwasher.

[flere-imsaho]

That's good advice (the rinsing dishes off stuff). Portable dishwashers don't have the kind of machinery "regular" dishwashers have now to grind up and successfully expel leftover food.

[Mustang]

Make sure the dishwasher doesn't whine, have the potential to leak, take up too much of your space and that you really want it and aren't just going with the flow.

[RomaGoth]

I had a portable dishwasher in a rental unit once. The things I'd look for include the quality of the seals. Are they old/cracked, or do they seem relatively supple? Also, the solidity of the hookup to the water source (probably the kitchen faucet). You want something that's going to give you confidence that it's not going to blow off halfway through the load.

Other than that the usual dishwasher stuff, such as how it fits stuff inside and if the layout will work for you.

Are we still talking about a dishwasher, or something else entirely?

[stevew]

I'd just buy a new one. Unless this is really cheap that the guy is offering.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_02214419000P?keyword=portable+dishwasher

Friends and family sale coming up Oct 3 at Sears, should be the usual 20% off Kenmore retail plus 10% extra. That dishwasher above would be roughly 450 plus tax and delivery if you get it that night.

Portable dishwashers have gone up a ton in price lately. I see some smaller countertop type made by Haier, but have no idea how good they are.

[M GO BLUE!!!]

The one I'm going to look at is $150. Figure another $40 or so for the cab ride home. Also, I don't know of any Sears around (I'm in NYC.)

Haier is a company I would stay away from. Far away. I'm on my second Haier washing machine (they make the smallest portable washer.) The 1st was ok & lasted about 3 years before dying. Their customer service is the worst... My new one (bought in feb) was having trouble spinning, so I opened up the bottom & found the belt is turning to dust. Since there is a 1 year parts & labor warranty I called them on it. After about 1/2 hour combined on hold & talking about it I was told that belts are not considered parts & I would have to buy the belt.

Thanks for the info & laughs.. "blow off halfway through the load" I think I've had that problem!

[Swaggs]

Stupid question (I've heard of and seen portable machines, but never given much thought to this), but the post about manually attaching the water source made me wonder: How does a portable washing machine drain?

[M GO BLUE!!!]

Stupid question (I've heard of and seen portable machines, but never given much thought to this), but the post about manually attaching the water source made me wonder: How does a portable washing machine drain?

Through a hose. It's supposed to use a hook to attach to the sink, which I found inadequate. I took some fishing line & sinkers to hold the drain hose in the shower.

[stevew]

It has a pump that pushes the water outward into the sink.

Just a guess but that's how a dehumidifier(sp) works.

[boberot]

Same mechanism that brings water from the faucet through one hose expels it back into the sink with a second hose.

http://images.buzzillions.com/images_customers/06/62/7460816_63610_full.jpg

[flere-imsaho]

Are we still talking about a dishwasher, or something else entirely?

I'm a married man. So, we're talking about a dishwasher. :p

[RomaGoth]

I'm a married man. So, we're talking about a dishwasher. :p

Touche...;)

[DanGarion]

I have never owned a dishwasher & finally made the decision to get one. Heading tomorrow to look at a used portable Maytag.

What should I look for to make sure it's good? I already asked the guy if I can run it & he said that's no problem.


Wow I'm surprised I haven't seen this answer yet...

Just get a wife!

[M GO BLUE!!!]

So I said to hell with a used one after looking at one that was nasty, then writing a guy about another who "guaranteed" that it worked, but said it would be impossible to hook up and run.

I ordered one from Sears, since the price wasn't bad during their Columbus Day sale. The dishwasher was out of stock at Sears, with a date of its being back in stock 3 weeks later. I ordered it delivered today.

Sears called me each of the last three days to inform me that it would be delivered Sunday, ensure that I would be here, then to inform me of my delivery window. This morning, less than an hour before the delivery window was set to open I received another call from Sears, informing me that the dishwasher was not in stock and that they would call me within 24 hours to reschedule delivery.

I ain't happy at all.

[mauchow]

Classic Sears.

[stevew]

What a bunch of Cunts we are.

[M GO BLUE!!!]

What a bunch of Cunts we are.

I will give Sears credit for actually employing Americans in their customer service.

However after two months I canceled the order & am back on the hunt for a used model. It'll actually be easier.

[sterlingice]

Well, there was this, which was recently posted in the "Thread for Images So Cool They Belong In This Thread" thread:

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/3524/whitedishwashe.jpg

SI