Oh I feel for you having your MIL live with you. I would die! As for the drawer dishwasher my MIL actually has a Kenmore drawer dishwasher & I'm not a big fan. She doesn't really like it either, but I don't know how other work compared to the Kenmore. Why are you leaning more towards a drawer? Space? If it's going to be for her I would install it & move on. If it's going to solve your problem of sharing a dishwasher than go for it!

Fisher & Paykel is the only current source in the U.S. Their design has been on the market since 1997 and updated numerous times, currently on series 9. They offer a wide variety of models and panel finishes. Single-drawer 24"-wide and 36"-wide models (takes two rows of plates, have two side-by-side spray arms). Single- and double-drawer 24"-wide models. Some are "Tall" models that have a deeper drawer to take larger-diameter plates and taller items such as pitchers (only the upper drawer on double-drawer units).

Drawer-type units were sold under the KitchenAid, Kenmore, Maytag, and Jenn-Air brands for a few years but no longer. KitchenAid first-generation drawers in 2004 were sourced from Fisher & Paykel. KitchenAid second-generation models, Kenmore, Maytag, and Jenn-Air were a different design that Whirlpool got with the purchase of the Maytag company in 2006.

I have a 3rd-series F&P, 15yo. They are nice for small households, singles and couples, in that one drawer holds the equivalent of 60% of a traditional dishwasher, users can wash smaller loads without waiting to fill up a traditional machine ... and have the capacity of two drawers (if a double-drawer unit) when needed. Obviously drawers can't deal with very tall items such as large serving platters, cookie sheets, stock pots, and such that won't fit in a drawer as they can in a traditional dishwasher.

tcufrog, that's not a fun situation! DH is the dishwasher loader, and he won't unload. If he does, he puts things back in odd places, and like you, I often buy replacements after losing things!

I asked about DW drawers last November, and got quite a few responses. Seems the majority who responded that have them love them. Our situation is not like yours - just the 2 of us, but we wanted to reduce the hand-washing. I cook a lot and I re-use the same pots/pans/utensils daily, so the regular sized DW didn't work as I don't like running it one-third of half full.

If you MIL's DW drawer can be a top drawer (easy for her to load, unload without bending over, it would work for her) or top and bottom drawer (I'd recommend going with one that has a taller top drawer as it will hold higher things and be used more by her). My understanding is that they are a not quite as quiet as the newer ultra silent models. I don't recall anyone who had one on the post saying they were obtrusively loud or noisy, though.

I was told by our appliance guy, and many here on GW, be sure they are installed correctly as that tends to be where issues arise - incorrect installation. A qualified person can do it. We are getting a Fisher Paykel double DW with the tall drawer option.

Can't tell you our experience yet, we're in the midst of remodel. I've done a review after investigating the load capacity of the Fisher Paykel vs. other full size brands at the end of the post. Here's the link which you might find useful - many had them for years: Double Drawer DW Owners: Likes and Dislikes, Practical? Good luck : )

I have a full size Miele DW and a top drawer F&P. I use my F&P all the time it has a great short cycle and I can run it as I am preparing big meals or entertaining and wash one course worth of dishes while we have the next course. I love my Miele and it cleans anything I put in it but it takes forever to run. I put both units in during a kitchen reno in 2005 and they are both going strong.

Lucille, can you comment on the noise level of each? I've read the decibel comparison, but my ears don't measure in decibels, LOL! I wasn't able to test that as they weren't hooked up in the showroom and you are perhaps the only person I recall who has both. Would you say the F&P is significantly louder then your Miele, or just a bit louder? Can you work in the kitchen and have a conversation with the F&P runnning?

I think the answers would apply to the OP also, as I'm sure she would want to be able to have a conversation while her MIL is running a drawer.

Thanks!

The F&P is actually quieter than the Miele, they are both quiet but I need to put my head near the drawer to check that it is running. I have had them both running and can still have a conversation in the kitchen. I do love them both but for different reasons

A few people have commented on the quietness of mine. Noise level varies slightly per the contents of the load ... fuller loads tend to be quieter due to deflecting the water spray from hitting the drawer lid and sides. The pump generates more noise during drain than during recirculation spray. The lower drawer is a bit noisier than the top on double-drawer units.

People making reference to having only a "top drawer" installed are somewhat misleading. There's no such thing as buying a "top drawer" or "bottom drawer." The choice is a single drawer unit which can be installed at any height one wishes, or a double drawer unit which is a one-piece machine with two drawers in it (like a two-drawer filing cabinet) that *cannot* be separated into two. Two single-drawer units likewise *cannot* be physically combined into one two-drawer machine.

dadoes, you're correct in that it'd be a single drawer, my brain is addled today! I was trying to say to tcufrog, if they go this route, have it installed at the higher height so her MIL could easily load it.

Thanks to both SakisMom and dadoes for commenting on the (lack of) noise level. We've ordered ours, but are a long way from installation.

My mother-in-law is quite short so a good height for her isn't very high.

tcufrog, you would still want the drawer to be countertop height - unless you don't want her to use it. My neighbor is very short also, and she only uses the top part of her standard dishwasher. No one who is elderly should be required to bend down to use a dishwasher drawer when it can be placed at countertop height. You can place a drawer under the dishwasher drawer for her to put casserole dishes in, or whatever. Unless your MIL is a small person with dwarfism...

It should be placed beside the sink as such:

single dishwasher drawer - Google Search · More Info

You should not place it directly under the sink - she most likely would not use it and the it might hurt resale.

single dishwasher drawer on bottom - Google Search · More Info

Placing a single drawer only at the bottom level would be similar to this, with only the one lower drawer...

single dishwasher drawer on bottom - Google Search · More Info

...and would be tantamount to this - no matter any issues you have with her, don't be cruel:

single dishwasher drawer on bottom - Google Search · More Info

Any other placement aside from a single UPPER drawer, beside her sink, would cause future home buyers to consider the DW drawer useless. The only time you'd have one at the bottom is if you also had one at the top (which would be filled first and more often).

Thanks for the feedback. Is there a difference in how well the single drawer and two drawer unit work?

As for my mother-in-law living with us, I hate it but unfortunately we don't have a choice. She's a widow who doesn't drive.

I can't answer your question as we don't have ours installed yet and we'll only install the double drawer unit. The only difference I can think of would be the obvious - the 2-drawer would hold more. You can run both at the same time, or run each separately. From those who responded to my questions some time ago they typically used the top drawer most often (for obvious reasons). I think what you get would depend on how much your MIL washes dishes. She might be reluctant to use it at first - the first time I saw them I walked away completely uninterested - they look small and odd. After I brought my dishes/pots/etc. into the display area and loaded into the various DW's I found with practice the double's worked incredibly well. You have to watch where you load and the spray arms, but otherwise, they are much easier to load IMO than a regular dishwasher. For resale, I think either would work for you.

Sorry about your MIL and I do feel for you - sometimes In-Laws aren't the easiest to get along with (I know from very unpleasant personal experience). Just suck it up and be the best person you can be around her, avoiding her and problems best you can - you'll have no regrets when she's gone someday and your DH will appreciate your efforts (men notice things even when they don't say a word!). Good luck house hunting!

There's no functional difference between a drawer, whether a 24"-wide single-drawer unit or a double-drawer unit. They load and operate exactly the same. The 36" DishDrawer Wide (available only as single-drawer units) are accordingly different in racking and design/mechanism (wider, can take two rows of plates, two spray arms to cover the wider area, etc.) but essentially operate the same as the 24" models.

I had a pair for 13 years. Then they had a minor issue but our appliance repair guy didn't work on them. I found it would cost $125 for a diagnostic service call and decided to replace them with a single normal dishwasher. I miss them terribly! They were great for two people. Once we got used to loading them (nothing too tall) we liked them. I didn't realize how neat they were until I got the replacement. When you tip a coffee cup with a few drops left in it to put it in the regular door dishwasher, you get the floor dirty because the door is so close to the floor. That didn't happen with the dishdrawers. We are planning to move next year, but alas, I'm not getting them again because of the repair problem. So check and make sure there's someone around to service them. Also! Take a plate with you to the showroom to make sure it will fit. My fancy plates that I hardly ever use were too big.

Many repairs can be DIY. There are videos on YouTube and F&P has a channel on Vimeo. Parts can be ordered from several online sources.

My family of 5 has gone through 3 pairs of F & P Dishdrawers over the last 10 years. I loved the cohesive look the integrated panel drawers gave my kitchen, but the love stopped there. The dishes did not dry, the error codes were constant, the repair guys could never diagnose and correct the problem in one visit-- we had 5 repair calls between Thanksgiving and February and the issue was never resolved. All of this may be acceptable given your mil situation, but this morning when they removed the door panel- the mold problem could effect your entire family. I'd strongly encourage you to find a different solution. There are small "European" scale dishwashers that are not F&P that are probably a better option.

Can you just install a smaller 18" DW for her?

Vann Construction's mold situation can be a problem with integrated models (which take custom door panels). The upper drawer panel may obstruct airflow from the upper drawer's drying exhaust vent which is located between the upper and lower drawers. I've never had a mold issue with my prefinished double-drawer model (which included metal front panels, stainless steel on mine) that provide sufficient space for the air/moisture to disperse.