How to Buy an Integrated Dishwasher

Integrated dishwashers are the best buy for your home if you like to machine wash most or all of your dishes and want to get the most functionality out of your dishwasher. Integrated dishwashers can wash large loads of dishes, as well as clean and dispose of food particles and dry dishes after washing. New integrated dishwashers also offer variable cleaning options for the different racks of dishes.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Decide if you want your dishwasher to be fully integrated or semi-integrated. Semi-integrated dishwashers are typically less expensive, but the definition of semi-integrated may vary by brand, depending on the integrated features they have chosen to include. You can expect to pay about $1,000 for a semi-integrated dishwasher, and between $1,500 and $2,000 for a fully-integrated dishwasher.

2. Shop for an integrated dishwasher from big name brands of home appliances, like LG and General Electric. A wide range of integrated dishwashers are available from these and other brands at most home appliance and department retailers.

3. Look for the specific features you want to buy. Integrated dishwashers offer a wide range of options, which may vary. Some options to look out for are variable settings for the top and bottom racks of dishes, special lighting systems to indicate dishwasher activity and extra quiet operation.

4. Shop for an integrated dishwasher that it EnergyStar compliant. Energy ratings help ensure that you won't be spending more than you should on power and water to run your dishwasher, and some integrated dishwashers even have mechanisms to detect how much energy is needed to clean the dishes and power down when they are clean.

Tips & Warnings

• Get a dishwasher exterior to match the rest of your kitchen decor. Like refrigerators and other appliances, dishwashers come in a wide range of exteriors, so you can find one to match your kitchen aesthetic.