Kenmore 2214599 Dishwasher Review

The washing hardware is a strong part of the machine. UltraWash runs two spray arms and keeps filtering the wash water through a 3-stage filter that traps particles as small as a grain of sand, so loosened food does not settle back on the load. SmartWash adds a soil sensor that adjusts water temperature, water amount and cycle length to how dirty the dishes are, which means a light load does not run on the settings of a roasting-pan day.

At 51 dBA the Kenmore 2214599 is a machine. That is fine for an open-plan kitchen where conversation carries on, but it is not whisper-class, so a dishwasher next to a TV room will still be audible on the long cycles.

Room inside and how the racks move

The tub holds 14 place settings, a standard family load. The MoreSpace upper rack adjusts between two heights and lifts out entirely, which buys room for tall items below, and the box includes a cutlery basket. The tub and inner door panel are stainless steel, so they resist food stains and hold heat, which helps the drying stage.

Drying, sanitizing and the convenience options

SmartDry Plus uses the hot final rinse to drive condensation off the load, and the Extra Dry option boosts heat and drying time for plastics and other hard-to-dry items. Sani Rinse is UL-certified. Half Load lets you run only the upper or only the lower rack, Delay Start pushes a cycle 1 to 24 hours out, and High Temp and Extra Rinse round out the options.

Speed, leak protection and efficiency

The Express cycle cleans a full load in 50 minutes. Leak Detect monitors water flow at several points and, if it senses a problem, drains the tub and alerts you. The machine is ENERGY STAR certified, and the warranty runs one year on the appliance with lifetime coverage on the stainless steel tub and inner door panel. That combination of a stainless tub, sensor washing, leak detection and a fast cycle is what justifies the machine's standing as a mid-market full-size dishwasher.

Drying is condensation-based, not heated-air. Short cycles do not include drying, and slightly opening the door after a cycle helps. Racks and the cutlery basket can hold water, so dishes may need the door left ajar for a while. Wet dishes at the end of a cycle are a design trait rather than a fault.

There is no third rack. The upper rack adjusts and comes out, but there is no separate shallow tray at the top for cutlery and small tools. The 3-stage filter is also cleaned by hand: it has to be removed and rinsed regularly, and some rival designs avoid that chore with a self-cleaning filter.

Long cycles and option restrictions

Normal runs 122 to 145 minutes and SmartWash 110 to 155 minutes depending on soil. Only Express (50 minutes) and Quick Rinse (15 minutes) are short, and neither dries. Delicate and Quick Rinse cannot take Sani Rinse or High Temp, and Quick Rinse also cannot take Extra Dry, so the gentlest and fastest programs come with the fewest extras.

Racks, controls and what buyers report

Buyers on Amazon are divided on quality, reliability and ease of use, while they most often praise the adjustable racks, the design and the noise level.

Warranty and installation realities

The appliance warranty is one year, and the lifetime coverage applies only to rust-through of the stainless tub and inner door panel. The machine draws 12 A on a dedicated 15 A circuit at 120 V, needs a minimum supply pressure of 4.35 psi, and the unit has to be laid down during installation to reach the water connection.

In practice, 51 dBA sits close to the hum of a normal conversation, so you can run the machine while people are in the room. Fourteen place settings is a standard family load, and the 24.61-inch depth is the figure to check against your cabinet run before ordering. The 12 A draw means the dishwasher needs its own circuit, not a shared outlet.

Most of the day-to-day complaints have a plain answer in the manual, and a few of them are worth knowing before the first cycle.

Dishes still wet at the end

Raise the rinse-aid dosage, since the factory setting is 4 of 5, and select Extra Dry. Short cycles do not dry at all, so a wet load after Express or Quick Rinse is expected.

The FF code and the other fault codes

FF means a water inlet system failure. F1 signals an overflow, F2 a discharge problem, F3 continuous water input, F5 a pressure system fault, F6 the heater sensor, F7 overheating, F8 the heater, F9 the diverter position and HI high voltage. Each of those means a service call.

Water left in the tub and other odd behavior

Some residual water below the filters is normal, according to the manual. If spots appear on glasses, adjust the rinse-aid dosage.

Routine care and the number to quote

Clean the filter and spray arms monthly, and scrape rather than rinse heavily soiled dishes before loading. The model number on the plate reads 263.1459#, which is what to quote when you order service or look up the manual.

The Kenmore 2214679 is the second version of this 24-inch built-in dishwasher, and it differs from the 2214599 in capacity, noise and rack layout. It holds 15 place settings against 14, runs at 45 dBA against 51 dBA, and adds an EasyFlex third rack plus a MoreSpace Plus adjustable rack. Its cycle list includes Accela Wash and TurboDry in place of the 2214599's Extra Rinse, and it offers seven cycle options. Choose the 2214679 if you want the extra place setting, the quieter rating and a third rack; choose the 2214599 if a 14-setting tub with a two-height upper rack covers your loads.

Amazon's summary of its customer reviews reports that buyers appreciate the sleek design, the adjustable racks and the quiet operation. Cleaning performance and value draw mixed feedback: some say dishes come out sparkling clean, while others find the machine does not dry them completely, and some consider it better than cheaper alternatives while others would not recommend it. Reliability and ease of use split the same way, with some buyers calling it reliable and very easy to use and others finding it unreliable and hard to operate.

The topics buyers raise most are adjustability, design and noise level, all leaning positive. Quality, reliability, value for money, cleaning performance and ease of use come up as divided opinion. The large majority of ratings are four or five stars, with a smaller share at the bottom of the scale.