The Bosch Evolution 500: Another Keeper Dishwasher!

I originally had reviewed the Kenmore Elite dishwasher that was manufactured by Bosch. My customers gave rave reviews on this product after purchasing, and the return rate was less than 1%. This was the original appliance that caused me to fall in love with all Bosch products.

For whatever reason, Kenmore has decided not to renew their contract with Bosch. So I started researching their other dishwashers. I was looking for one that gave the same features and was in the same price range as the original Kenmore Elite version.

The one that I ordered for my store was the Evolution 500 series (Sears item number 17132). The price point for the white and black is $ 879, and the stainless runs at $ 1029. Understandably, this is out of their price range for some customers. For those who are looking for a dishwasher in the $ 500-600 range, once they learn the benefits and savings, they find it very easy to make the jump into this price range. Also, if you purchase it during a special promotion, you will find that you might be able to afford this dishwasher a lot easier then you thought.

As described in my other article, Bosch uses a tripod-leveling system, which makes it much less aggravating to place the dishwasher in position. The front kick plate is removed and the dishwasher is slid into place. Next, the installer will spin down the front legs, and turn the leveling screw. The average time to do this is less than a minute!

It is important to make sure that the opening this dishwasher is being placed into is 34 inches from the finished floor to the under-edge of the cabinet. Unlike other dishwashers, you are not able to cut off the wheels if you need that little bit extra. So, measurements are critical.

All Bosch dishwashers have stainless steel racks that are coated with nylon. Nylon is more durable than a rubber coating, which eliminates rust forming at places where the coating has worn thin. The stainless steel rack eliminates the chance of rust developing on a broken tine. Racks can cost $100 -$400, so this is a major money saver.

This model also has four sets of flip-down tines on the upper and lower rack. The upper rack can be raised or lowered, using the levers located on the outside of the rack. This allows for greater flexibility when faced with different sized items. I recommend purchasing a model with the levers, because the other models either do not move or have to be manually raised and lowered, which makes it a little more difficult if needing to adjust the rack while loaded with dishes.

The interior of the tub is made of stainless steel. This helps with the sound control as well as the drying of your dishes. It is more durable than the plastic tubs. Also, if you are planning installing under granite countertops, dishwashers with stainless steel interiors are the ones that are recommended. The reason for this is because plastic dishwashers can only be installed at the top, and stainless can be installed at the top or sides. Unfortunately, some contractors will shim or glue your plastic dishwasher into place and this makes it difficult to repair.

Quietness is a major requirement when purchasing most appliances. This particular Bosch dishwasher is rated at 48 dBa. Raindrops have a dBa of 40. Imagine a dishwasher that is almost as quiet as a raindrop!

Because Bosch uses two pumps to wash and drain the water, instead of one large pump, the noise caused by vibration is greatly reduced. The motor is also suspended in rubber hammocks, which helps to absorb any vibration. Customers that have another room connected directly to the kitchen will be able to enjoy their activities even if the dishwasher is running. The dishwasher is so quiet you will have to look at the display to see if you have started your dishwasher. Some models actually have a light that shines on the floor to show when the dishwasher is on.

The tub is covered with three layers of insulation, consisting of metal, cotton fiber, and heavy-duty bitumen sheets. The best way to really understand the quietness of this dishwasher is doing the "tin-man test". After removing the lower rack, rap as hard as you can on the back of the dishwasher. You may be surprised at the solid thud that you hear, compared to the empty tin sound that you hear on other brands.

Most dishwashers allow the steam to escape into the room or is released under the countertop edge. Both of these can cause damage or burns from the steam. Because Bosch places their steam escape drain within the dishwasher, the danger of burns or damage is eliminated, as well as a place for noise to escape.

The solid-molded base is both a sound control feature as well as a safety feature. This helps contain the sound, and also is the "catch basin" for water leaks.

The Bosch brand has an AquaSTOP leak protection system. A sensor registers when there is a leak. The dishwasher's cycle is halted, and the water is drained out. This keeps water away from your floor, protecting your family from falls. It also eliminates the possibility of damage to your floor or the ceiling below.

Because of this molded base, it is necessary to use a steel-braided line when connecting the water supply to the dishwasher. Also, you do not want to reuse an old line, because you will not be able to get as good a connection due to lime or calcium build-up on the threads.

This model contains a child-lock feature, keeping youngsters from turning on your dishwasher. The door also has a safety feature that keeps the door from falling open. When the door is opened past 10 degrees, the door will stay open in any position.

The other safety feature is no exposed heating element. This eliminates the chance of anyone burning themselves on a hot element, as well as the chance of melting plastic containers, which can lead to a fire. This feature also makes it possible to load any type of dish in the bottom rack.

Standard dishwashers use this heating element to warm the water. Since a lot of the water never comes in contact with this element, the water takes longer to heat, and is not very efficient. Bosch channels the water through coils that are in a confined heating chamber, which heats the water faster and hotter.

Because of the hotter temperatures, Bosch does not have a heated drying system. Bosch uses a condensation drying system. It is a combination of the stainless steel interior, the hotter wash and rinse temperatures, and the use of a rinse agent.

Stainless steel is cooler than the dishes. It acts just as your bathroom mirror does during a shower. It attracts the moisture and pulls it away from the dishes. The hotter water temperatures and the rinse agent cause the water to sheet off.

For those of you worried about using a lot of rinse agent, such as Jet Dry, you should not be concerned. Based on five loads a week, it generally takes up to two months to use up one bottle of rinse agent. Also, you will find that all Energy-Star dishwashers perform better with a rinse agent.

The OptiDry feature actually tracks the amount of rinse agent and adjusts the temperature of the final cycle so that you have the best possible results. The LED display also lets you know when it is time to refill the dispenser.

It is suggested that the door remain closed during the last fifteen minutes of the cycle. That way, you do not release the heat needed for drying. The steam will be removed by the drain that is located inside the dishwasher.

Two new features are ECOACTION and ECOSENCE. The first feature will reduce energy usage up to 20%. This is a sensor system that constantly scans the water and will eliminate the introduction of fresh water if it is not needed. This saves you both time and money.

The second feature, ECOACTION, when combined with the basic wash options, will continually scan the water and dishes, and will adjust the cycle and temperature to match the results. Six minutes into the cycle, the sensors scan the water, and adjustments will be made. You may notice the time suddenly is reduced by ten minutes even though the time has not been that long, or it may lengthen the cycle. This can save you up to 25% water and energy usage.

The feature that comes in handy is the Half Wash Load, which can be used when the dishes fill up less than half of the top and bottom racks. This greatly increases the water and energy savings and can be used with the power scrub, regular, and auto wash cycle.

The Auto Wash cycle takes the guesswork out of trying to decide the best cycle. If you use this cycle, the sensors will continually monitor the water and will pick the cycle that matches the soil level of the dishes.

Another great feature if the Quick cycle. This allows you to wash six place settings in thirty minutes. The other cycle is the Delicate cycle, which is meant for fine china.

If you need to sanitize or have heavily soiled items, the Power Scrub Plus cycle is a wonderful option. The water temperature heats to 160 degrees, which is what is necessary for killing E-coli. When used with the ECO option, the cycle will be adjusted, if needed, after the first six minutes.

There are some nifty accessories that are available. An extra-large knife rack makes it possible to load a knife horizontally, and keeps the knife out of reach of little fingers. A glass rack insert can be placed in the bottom for additional glasses, giving you more room in the upper rack for glasses or other items. An anti-tarnish silverware cassette gives you the best wash results and more protection for your finer silverware. If these items are not available through your local retailer, they can be purchased from the Bosch web site.

You may discover that Whirlpool, Bosch's main competitor, is trying to copy several features found in Bosch's dishwashers. You should ask yourself why. The answer is easy: because Bosch has taken care of all the issues people have with their dishwasher, which is why it makes sense to purchase one of their models. The different styles of the consoles give you many options when redesigning your kitchen.

It does take some time getting used to the no-heat drying system. Plastics and Teflon will have some dampness to them, because of the material they are made of. But my customers quickly realize that the benefits of their new dishwasher greatly outweigh the little bit of moisture on certain items. Since most people are looking for a way to save money in today's economy, they will appreciate all the energy saving features that Bosch has implemented in all of their dishwashers, as well as their solid construction. This dishwasher is meant to last.