By Richard Baguley, Reviewed.com

Buying a new dishwasher can be puzzling, because there are so many models to choose from. But asking a few questions can help you narrow the field. Here are five things to consider when buying a dishwasher:

1. How much do you want to spend?

Dishwashers range in price from about $270 up to $1,500. The cheaper models are basic ones that offer limited features and are often of lower build quality. The more expensive models offer more features and enhanced cleaning, with a wider range of washing cycles and add-on options to get stubborn stains off dishes and pans.

2. Will it fit?

Most modern kitchens are built with space for a dishwasher under the cabinets. Usually, this space is about 24 inches wide, 24 inches deep, and 34 inches tall, which is the standard size for a built-in dishwasher.
If the space you have is thinner, 18-inch-wide built-in models are also available.

If you don’t have any under-counter space, consider a model that sits on your counter, or a portable one on wheels.

Both types connect to the faucet and drain into the sink, so you can’t use the sink while using the dishwasher.

3. How much are you washing?

The capacity of washers is measured in place settings, where one place setting is the typical number of dishes that a single person would use during a single meal.

Built-in and portable dishwashers usually hold 10 to 14 place settings, while the smaller countertop models hold no more than four or five. The place-setting number is rather arbitrary, though, so consider the type and number of dishes you will typically wash.

A large-capacity model may give you more days between washes.

Also consider how versatile the dishwasher is. Some offer flexible features, such as allowing you to move the dish-holding tines to make room for large pots and pans or use a half-load setting if you want to wash only a few dishes.

4. How much will it cost to run?

The EnergyGuide label on all dishwashers gives some indication of how much each would cost to run over a year, based on energy and water usage.

However, the number is based only on the normal cycle of the washer and doesn’t take other cycles into consideration. This means that a washer could have a low EnergyGuide running cost but could cost a lot more to run in the heavy-duty or pots-and-pans cycles.

5. How well does it clean?

It’s frustrating to run a dishwasher, then open it to find bits of food still on the plates.

This can happen if the dishwasher can’t handle the job or if the chosen cycle is too quick to allow the detergent to work. You want the dishwasher to get it right the first time.

To find out which ones can and can’t, Reviewed.com tested four dishwashers, looking at the effectiveness of their quick wash, normal wash, and heavy-duty wash cycles on a variety of jobs.

Although the washers offer quick wash cycles (with most taking about an hour), they needed the extra time and water of the longer cycles to clean heavily soiled dishes.

Find out more about dishwashers from Reviewed.com at DishwashersInfo.com. Reviewed.com is a division of USA TODAY.

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