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anoop91

miele dishwasher decision

anoop
4 years ago

I have a miele washer and dryer and happy with it and hence looking at getting a dishwasher.


To me, I'm thinking the $999 model

https://www.mieleusa.com/domestic/dishwashers-2510.htm?mat=10426250&name=G_4228_SCU_AM

should be good enough (replacing the current GE which came with the house because it's very noisy), but as I researched I came across features like sensor dry and auto open. To get both of those, I would have to spend at least $1899.

https://www.mieleusa.com/domestic/dishwashers-2510.htm?mat=10410170&name=G_6745_SCU_AM


I need help deciding if sensor dry and auto open are worth that premium. Currently some dishes do come out with a bit of water, especially those with U-lips around the edge like the rice cooker pot. Would sensor drying help with that?


The auto open seems like it would be useful for me because I run it last thing at night and remove the dishes only in the morning and sometimes even later in the day.


If you have a miele of either type, can you comment on the drying performance, and if you have the $999 model can you say if you'd recommend it?


Thanks.

Comments (133)

  • daimler98
    4 years ago

    Finished Lumen with the front panel??

  • daimler98
    4 years ago

    Oh sorry. With front handle that’s the one with the top controls. My bad

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  • daimler98
    4 years ago

    Any one of these that’s say panel or handle ready get ready to pay for it. The dealer might figure that out while placing the order or shortly thereafter.




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  • daimler98
    4 years ago



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  • daimler98
    4 years ago

    So front controls (Lumen) you must buy a panel 2099$+200$. Top controls, the one not circled above, for 2299$ you get with handle and panel.


    Those other top controlled Lumens with no panel or handle seem to have knock to open. Hence the pricing.

    anoop thanked daimler98
  • anoop
    Original Author
    4 years ago

    In the operating instructions in the manual for auto open we have:

    >>>

     If you have deactivated the automatic door opening function and would like to open the door as soon as the program has finished, make sure that you open the door fully. Otherwise steam from the dishwasher could damage the edge of the counter because the fan is no longer running.

    >>>

    How is it that when it opens partially with auto open, that the escaping steam doesn't damage the edge of the counter?

  • yeh_yeh
    4 years ago

    anoop with the auto open activated, the fan still run for awhile after the door popped open

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  • anoop
    Original Author
    4 years ago

    Came across a post somewhere else where it was mentioned that Miele DWs have a problem where the wash pump impeller freezes/jams if the machine is not used for a while, so much so they sell a tool to break the impeller loose. Any experience with this? Is this something that has been addressed in newer designs?

  • M
    4 years ago

    Our Miele is getting close to 10 years old. I've never had the impeller get stuck spontaneously, but maybe every year or two, some food item or broken glass makes it past the filters and gets stuck in the impeller.

    It's a rare occurrence but easy to fix. Pull out the filter, unhook the backflow valve and spin the impeller by hand. Afterwards you should be good for another few years or until you break more glass.

    The only noteworthy difference was a few months ago, when the unit behaved as if the impeller was stuck, but it clearly wasn't. Turns out the gasket in the backflow valve had worn out over thousand of wash cycles. I ordered a replacement and the DW works like new again

    anoop thanked M
  • nycmom
    4 years ago

    Features I love about my Crystal: express, the pots and pans cycle, the turbo cycle, the timer, the cutlery tray, how quiet the machine is, and how easy it is to clean the filter. After the first dinner party, I wish I had sprung for the 3-D cutlery tray to accommodate bulkier utensils like my ladle and certain spatulas. The LED light inside would have been nice too. Quick Intense Wash didn't exist on my machine when I bought it in 2014 and that's a great improvement, especially if you entertain.

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  • anoop
    Original Author
    4 years ago

    No decision yet. Had a rough health patch and that tabled everything in life for me. Meanwhile, looks like Miele has discontinued the Dimension with the handle and they will be introducing the 7000 series in the Spring.

  • daimler98
    4 years ago

    Hope you are doing better.


    Don’t worry about missing the Dimension. The 7000 series looks pretty cool and maybe there will be introductory promos on them, as well.

    anoop thanked daimler98
  • delray33483
    4 years ago

    The 4xxx series is literally 3 generations old - it is there as a price point. It works well, but it is a basic model


    The G7000 will be what Miele wants to sell since it has the integrated soap disk. That obviously adds downstream profits often lacking in the appliance business. Intro promos would be limited to no charge detergent to start - who would want to discount a brand new machine?

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  • akrogirl32
    4 years ago

    The new Miele is not available for purchase yet, but they do have one in the Scottsdale Experience Center at the moment for training purposes.

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  • anoop
    Original Author
    4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    I ended up going with the 4228 (i.e. cheapest model). Let's see how it goes. It was installed today. At first the air gap was leaking and they fixed that before they left. Less than impressed with the installer.


    I also noticed that the detergent cover is a bent and does not sit flush like the rinse aid cover. Since the installer is different from the place I purchased it, I guess my only option for that is to go through Miele's warranty. This is sad. :(


    In the meantime, my Miele washing machine experienced a "waterproof system activated" event. This is after about 4 years of ownership. Fortunately it is still under warranty and someone will be coming out Monday.


    Not a good appliance weekend for me.

  • daimler98
    4 years ago

    Congrats on the new DW. Did you pick up the Miele tabs etc?


    The detergent cover in my Lumen does not sit flush either. It always looks a bit lopsided, depending on the viewing angle. I just always double check it’s latched before starting it up, without forcing it shut of course.

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  • anoop
    Original Author
    4 years ago

    There’s a satisfying click when I shut the rinse aid compartment but no such click when shutting the detergent compartment. Is that the same for you?

    I don‘t have Miele tabs or rinse aid. I just ran a normal cycle with a tab from Sonett and no rinse aid. I was underwhelmed by the drying performance. I will try with Sonett rinse aid today.

  • daimler98
    4 years ago

    Yes. Same ”less satisfying“ click with the detergent compartment. I just make sure the detergent compartment is secure/ closed so it opens at the correct time and not when I close the door.


    I looked up your Sonett tabs. There are some pretty specific directions regarding water hardness. I took the pic but couldn’t rotate it. It says to be used only with machines with the water softener, and to raise the setting by 8 degrees. For my hardness (21 degrees), I’d have to set the Lumen to 29 degrees for these tabs. The salt would need to be replaced too often with it set that high.


    I would think a box of 20 Miele tabs were included with the machine. Try those. Most of us cut the tab in half, but since your unit doesn’t have the softener, I think you might need the full tab. I’m actually very curious if we get away with the half tabs due the built in softener.


    I have tried the following and the Miele tabs perform best after dialing everything in

    -Somat powder

    -Cascade Boil out (2nd best, maybe almost as good)

    -Claro tabs (they make the Miele tabs, rinse aid)

    -Cascade Platinum tab

    -Finish Quantum




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  • daimler98
    4 years ago

    PS- rinse aid is a must for these machines, from my research.

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  • anoop
    Original Author
    4 years ago

    I didn't get any free stuff with my 4228. I will check with Miele about that. Was also surprised that the manuals didn't come in a sealed pack like they did with my washer & dryer.


    Based on my research with my local water company, the hardness of our water equates to about 1.35 German degrees of hardness.

    http://anoopsplace.blogspot.com/2019/12/water-hardness.html


    I will try a cycle with rinse aid today and see how well it dries. I will also look into getting some Miele tabs. I think I read somewhere we don't need rinse aid when using Miele tabs. Is that true?

  • delray33483
    4 years ago

    Still need rinse aid With Miele Tabs

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  • delray33483
    4 years ago

    That is also very soft water. You wouldn’t need the softener.

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  • anoop
    Original Author
    4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    Using Sonett rinse aid didn't help, not even a little bit. (BTW, are you guys able to fill rinse aid without spillage? I find it almost impossible to do.)

    I will try and get some Miele tabs and rinse aid and see if that makes any difference.

    My previous dishwasher had heated dry, even though it was a cheap one, so it got almost everything completely dry (except plastic). But it was too noisy and that's where the Miele came in. The Miele has definitely solved the noise problem.

    I've been rinsing the dishes before putting them in the DW and I hear that's not a good idea. But the idea of gunk building up in the filter is also not very appealing.

    Given how highly rated these machines are, I think there must be some trick to making them work right.

    Fortunately, Miele allows one to return the machine after up to 3 months if one is not happy with performance so I have some time to figure out if it's working.

    https://us.mieleusa.com/pdf/brochures/Satisfaction_Guaranteed_Brochure.pdf

  • delray33483
    4 years ago

    a heated dry will almost always dry everything. New Euro style units use chamber convection to dry


    To make sure that all is dry inside your DW


    make sure that everything is tilted so water drains during the water cycles

    use rinse aid

    use the hottest water that you can for the cycle - normal isn't hot. It is the hot water reacting to the cool air that dries dishes.

    Obviously plastic isn't going to dry as it retains no heat

    open the door at the end of the cycle. That blast of cool air helps dry the hot dishes

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  • anoop
    Original Author
    4 years ago

    I was aware of heated dry vs convection dry going into this.

    Is Pots & Pans going to be hotter than normal? I assume SaniWash would be the hottest. Is there a downside to using that all the time?

  • delray33483
    4 years ago

    Usually retained water is loading issues. Cups, mugs and rimmed items pool water and spill when unloading


    Sani is the hottest. It is a longer cycle because it raises the heat. Only downside (besides time) is some potential for glass etching.


    Pots and Pans really isn't "hot", but uses arm and hot at different times to loosen the baked on food and then wash it away


    You should scape off loose debris but not rinse the dish when you load the DW. The detergent does need something to work on

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  • anoop
    Original Author
    4 years ago

    I just discovered that SaniWash is actually the shortest cycle on my machine. Is there something wrong? The longest is Economy. SaniWash is a couple of minutes quicker than Normal.

    Is there some trick to loading the cutlery tray? My knives have been coming out with bits of jam still on them, and the forks come out with food residue.

  • fauguy
    4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    First off, I would suggest that you get the Miele Tabs or Method Smarty Free Tabs:

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002Y26UY2/


    For either the Miele or Method tabs, I cut them in-half and they work just fine in my 6625 model. I also use the Miele rinse aid since it doesn't leave any scent unlike JetDry.

    I like to use either the Pots/Pan or SaniWash cycle.

    The Post/Pan will be the longest, as it has a few pre-rinses, long main wash, and then a few post rinses.

    The SaniWash is basically the same as Normal Wash except the final rinse get to about 140 degrees to kill any bacteria.

    There is a special programming menu that you can go into (would need to call Miele for them to instruct you how to do it - or have them send out a tech). In this menu I had added "extra pre wash" so it will do 2 pre-washes instead of 1, "extra rinse" so it will do 2 clean water rinses before the final rinse, "extra dry" that has the dry cycle on 15 minutes longer. There was also an option of "added heat" but that wasn't needed.

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  • daimler98
    4 years ago

    SaniWash and Normal do not look to basically be the same. I would like to use the SaniWash because I think it might help with a greasy smell that comes and goes when using Normal, despite using the Miele tabs, RA, plus the freshener. But I think SaniWash might damage certain items, as well as etch glassware.





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  • anoop
    Original Author
    4 years ago

    I did a SaniWash cycle last night and it worked so much better in terms of cleaning, especially with getting oil/butter off of the utensils.

  • anoop
    Original Author
    4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    Between my dishwasher and washing machine (experienced a leak which turned out to be due to a hole in the gasket/boot, still waiting for part/fix), this week has been some serious appliance karma for me.

    Just noticed a small leak from my dishwasher this evening. Normally, I would leave it to run and check in the morning and the leak would be dry. But today just happened to get hungry and went to the kitchen for a snack and saw this leak by the dishwasher. Now have to figure out if it's a unit problem or an install problem. What a bummer!

    I guess I'm getting my gifts from Mercury retrograde a few days early.



  • fauguy
    4 years ago

    Has it been leaking since the install? I'd have a Miele tech come out, or have the place take it back and install a new one.

  • anoop
    Original Author
    4 years ago

    I don't know. First time I have noticed it. Like I said, all prior runs I have started the machine and returned only hours later, so if it leaked, it would have dried by then.

    Problem with this is the place that sold the unit uses a contractor (supposedly Miele certified) to do the install. So calling them won't help. I think at this point it's between the installer and Miele.

    The installer wasn't very confidence-inspiring. After they completed the job, they were about to start cleaning up when I requested they run the machine. Immediately the drain under the sink started leaking. They basically didn't do a good job of hooking the pipes together (sorry my terminology is very imprecise, I'm not an expert on this stuff). So they fixed that problem before they left.

  • HKO HKO
    4 years ago

    It’s almost certainly an install issue. Not something with the unit

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  • anoop
    Original Author
    4 years ago

    Miele is having the same guy coming in to fix the washing machine take a look at this tomorrow. Let us see.

  • daimler98
    4 years ago

    Ask him where your starter box is at. (20 tabs). If he’s a Miele tech arriving in the red van, then he will have the supplies in the van. Amazon has decent prices for the RA. Seems to range from 10.99 to 13.99, although have seen it at 17.99 a few times.

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  • anoop
    Original Author
    4 years ago

    Not a Miele tech, just a certified shop. Miele tech was at least a week out.

  • daimler98
    4 years ago

    If this is the guy that seemed kinda shaky, you can request an official Miele tech, but appointment will probably be a few weeks out.

    anoop thanked daimler98
  • anoop
    Original Author
    4 years ago

    The shaky guy was the guy that installed the DW. Don't know about this guy in particular. His father diagnosed the problem for the leaking washing machine and they had to order the part. The son is coming to install the part in the washing machine and take a look at the DW. They are certified Miele repair shop.

  • daimler98
    4 years ago

    Oh ok. Things will be ok. Don’t worry about all this. I had an issue with my washer and some concerns with the DW and, all in all, it has worked out well, and I love the machines. The fact Miele never hassled me about getting things just right meant a lot, as well. It caused me a lot of stress, but, like I told you a while ago, I’m an incessant worrier. So I completely empathize with your situation. Keep us posted.


    Mike

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  • anoop
    Original Author
    4 years ago

    The repair guy came and took a look yesterday. I just ran it like I normally do, and while there was no leakage while he was there, he said he could hear the pump struggling because of over-sudsing. So he suggested using 1/2 tab of the above detergent (Sonett). So far no leakage.


    On the other hand, he did say that the installation wasn't done very nicely. The clamp was overly tight and the pieces used to hook things together didn't fit right. Over time he said it can cause the hose to snap. So he re-did that connection.


    So far so good, I have not had any leakage. Drying is still a problem, though, but I will either have to learn to live with it or return the machine. It's not too bad, though, just a few drops.

  • delray33483
    4 years ago

    Leakage may be coming from the oversudsing. Only way to grt dishes completely dry us with a heater element.

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  • Kim G
    4 years ago

    Sorry defray - I disagree with your drying conclusion. I have a Miele with the open air drying system and my dishes including plastics are drier than any other dishwasher I have ever used. I have used alot of different brands in my 60+ years. I have also heard good things about the Bosch new crystal dry. Heating elements still do not do a good and consistent job with plastics IMHO and current experience.

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  • delray33483
    4 years ago

    plates, cups and mugs are usually flat sided pieces with minimal nooks and crannies. Plastic items are Tupperware type - plenty places for water to hide and pool in the mold areas and snap lids. Placement in the DW is critical so there are no places for water to collect. You can't pile anything on top of something else and generally everything has to be angled to allow drainage


    the Open Air system on the Miele allows the steam to vent at the right temp so natural convection helps the water evaporate. No matter how good that system is, it won't evaporate pooled water. Also, Rinse aid is super important

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  • Kim G
    4 years ago

    No dishwasher will evaporate pooled water that I have found. I have very little water remaining on the few plastic items I wash. Much less than any other dishwasher I have used and I have used a lot of different brands and price points Including Bosch. I do stack stack stuff and to my amazement they are clean and dry. A little water in the lips doesn’t bother me. Having to leave out all my plastics out to dry does and I don’t have to do that with the Miele open air.. My dishwasher has a water softener and I have very hard water. I have been lowering the rinse and am now at the lowest level and still everything is clean and dry. I may try and turn it off and see how that works.

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  • anoop
    Original Author
    4 years ago

    My ceramic and stone plates have been coming out completely dry, and on occasion even stainless steel pots and cutlery. Everything else -- drinking glasses, glass bowls, plastic lids come out with a little bit of water on them, anywhere from a few drops to a good bit (usually in something with a curled lip like my rice cooker pot). I think I can get used to it, let me see.

    I think between the sensor dry feature and auto open, the higher end models probably do a much better job with drying.

  • delray33483
    4 years ago

    you can replicate the auto open feature by opening the door immediately at the end of the cycle. The flash of cool room air over theft dishes is what speeds up the drying. Th hotter the dishes the more effective it will be

    anoop thanked delray33483
  • anoop
    Original Author
    4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    I don't think it quite works the same because of the internal fans. Opening it will help with drying for sure, but it will take long to get completely dry.

  • M
    4 years ago

    Opening and pulling all the baskets out actually works wonderfully with any dishwasher. I have been doing that for years -- if I happen to be in the kitchen at the right time. With the Miele, it just saves time. With other dishwashers, it saves energy as you don't have to wait for the heated dry cycle to complete.

  • anoop
    Original Author
    4 years ago

    Spot the Miele dishwasher in this skit.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyssj7GCuQs