I'm on my second set (after moving), both FP. We had a little draining problems with the first one because the loop on the drain wasn't installed high enough, but that's probably not your problem.

Anyway, I've had good luck. Sounds like you just have a lemon. Go for it (but be sure the warranty is updated, just in case heh heh.)!

I don't personally own a FP drawer, but my coworker does. She only used the top drawer and kept having problems. The repairman told her you should always switch between the two drawers and never only use the top one. Once she followed his advice she's been going on 3 years problem free. Something to think about.

We've been using our FP dd's for 4 years. We had a small problem when they were fairly new when the alarm went off indicating a leak but none was found. It was under warranty and hasn't happened since. My guess is we loaded it too high and broke the integrity of a seal. Since then we've had no problems at all.

I've been switching back and forth between upper and lower.

Early on in our planning process one KD told us that based on her experience stacked DW drawers worked best if both were used often. She said that if the configuration was stacked and one was used preferentially then drainage problems resulted. She recommended that dishwasher drawers be placed on each side of a sink with a storage drawer underneath. That way, and I have no way to evaluate what she said because I know nothing about mechanical systems, she said each DW drawer would have its own drainage system and we wouldn't have to worry about preferential usage. We ended up not working with her but based on the comments in this thread so far it seems that what she said has validity. She also felt that DW drawers flanking the sink were better for anyone who might have problems leaning over to load and unload a bottom drawer or the bottom rack of a traditional DW. HTH.

Yes, I've thought to myself that, if we had been using the bottom drawer more often, we might have avoided the whole drainage thing. I would have loved to have a drawer flank each side of the sink when we were in the planning stages, but there was absolutely no room for that.

I would hate to give up my drawers...but if the manufacturer gives me that option, I will definitely consider it.

I appreciate the input from everyone.

We have a FP one on our boat and I haven't had any problems in the past three years.

I guess I'm the only one that doesn't understand why just mostly using one drawer would increase the risk of drainage problem :( Could someone enlighten me please?
Monica

Monica, I share your befuddlement. If two stacked drawers work with only one drain, and if one drawer leaks, then the water won't drain OUT through the pipes where it should go, but instead it goes INTO the other drawer? Why wouldn't the water drain where it's supposed to drain? If we only had one drawer and the one drawer leaked, where would the water go then?

Leaking from the top into the bottom drawer was our only problem -- at first -- just a little bit of water after each cycle found its way to the bottom drawer; we emptied it by using the Rinse cycle. Two repair trips here did not solve the problem. After the third "repair" when the guy literally took the two drawers out and completely apart -- SIX HOURS on my kitchen floor -- then the top drawer didn't pull out all the way, the top drawer cycle was "stuck" on Heavy, and the bottom drawer leaked about a quart of water into the top drawer after a cycle. Oh, and the machine started to hum.

I wonder, too, how much of the ensuing issues might have been repairman-induced? My cabinet edges are scratched from his pulling out the drawers. I'm pretty disgusted with the whole experience and would love to think that we just have a lemon, like Fori suggested. I'm still awaiting KitchenAid's disposition on the matter.

all brands have problems crop up,but it seems the quality of repair people doing the service really reflects the experience of owning the product. I beleive if the product was serviced properly in the firsr place , this discussion wouldn't have taken place ! I feel for you and yes I own dish drawers myself with 18 months of trouble free use

Oofasis, have you asked this question on the appliance forum. As I've said, I don't understand mechanical systems but the people over there are amazing and you might want to post there.

Yes, Flseadog, I posted in Appliances back in December but there was really nothing definitive or relevant to our problem in the responses.