How Long Do Dishwashers Last? Repair or Replace

Most dishwashers last about 8 to 10 years. HomeAdvisor reports that range and notes some units run 15 years or more, and Fixr puts mid-range models at 8 to 10 years with well-maintained premium models reaching 15 to 20. Whether yours is worth repairing comes down to its age, the part that failed, and what that repair costs next to a new machine.

What affects how long a dishwasher lasts

Two dishwashers of the same age can be in very different shape. The things that matter most:

• Build level. Fixr's numbers show a clear gap between mid-range and well-maintained premium machines.
• Filter care. Most current dishwashers use a filter the owner removes and rinses. KitchenAid recommends cleaning it every three to six months on average, more often for heavy loads that aren't pre-rinsed. A neglected filter strains the pump and leaves food on dishes.
• Hard water. Mineral buildup clogs spray arm jets and coats the tub. GE suggests running an empty hot cycle with a dishwasher cleaner to remove grease and lime scale from filters, spray arms and internal piping, and Maytag suggests a water softener where water is very hard.
• Installation. A kinked drain hose or a missing high loop makes the drain pump work harder on every cycle. GE's installation instructions call for a high loop or an air gap so dirty water can't siphon back into the tub.
• The right detergent. Whirlpool warns that hand soap or laundry detergent causes over-sudsing and spills water onto the floor.

Signs your dishwasher is wearing out

• Dishes come out dirty even after you clean the filter and spray arms.
• Standing water in the tub after a cycle keeps coming back.
• Water on the floor, rust inside the tub, or a door that no longer latches firmly.
• Error codes that return after a power reset.
• Repeat repair visits within the same year.

Some of these are simple fixes. A unit that won't drain is often a clogged filter or a kinked hose, so read our guide on a dishwasher not draining before you assume the worst. Poor cleaning is often a loading, detergent or water temperature problem; see dishwasher not cleaning dishes.

What to check yourself first, safely

Before making a repair-or-replace decision, rule out the easy causes. Unplug the dishwasher or switch off its circuit breaker first, as Whirlpool advises before any inspection. If you will be looking under the tub or behind the kick panel, also close the water supply valve. GE says it is usually under the kitchen sink on the line feeding the dishwasher and closes clockwise; if there is no working valve, shut off the main water supply to the house.

• Remove and rinse the filter, and clear anything in the sump.
• Check that the spray arms spin and their holes are open. GE suggests clearing blocked jets with a paper clip or tweezers.
• Run hot water at the sink before starting a cycle. KitchenAid, GE and Frigidaire all point to water at about 120°F so detergent dissolves.
• Look at the drain hose under the sink for kinks.

Stop there. Testing pumps, valves, heating elements and control boards involves live electrical parts and water connections, and that is a job for a technician.

The repair-or-replace rules of thumb

Published cost guides give a few simple tests:

1. The 50 percent rule. Fixr says that if a repair would cost more than about half the price of a new dishwasher, replacing it is usually the better value.
2. The 10-year mark. Fixr also says that once a dishwasher is around 10 years old, replacement generally makes more sense than repair.
3. Repeat repairs. Fixr flags a unit that needed repairs more than once or twice within a year as a replacement candidate.
4. No manufacturer coverage plus major repairs. HomeAdvisor says an aging dishwasher that no longer has manufacturer coverage and needs frequent or major repairs is a sign to start planning for a replacement.

What repair and replacement cost

HomeAdvisor reports most homeowners pay $160 to $300 for a dishwasher repair. On the replacement side, Fixr puts a new dishwasher at $400 to $700, plus $100 to $300 to install, for a total of $700 to $1,970 depending on the model.

The full breakdown by part is in our dishwasher repair cost guide.

Putting it together

Usually repair

A dishwasher well short of the 10-year mark with a single failed part, such as a pump, inlet valve, gasket or heating element. These repairs are well under half the cost of a new machine.

Think it over

A unit approaching 10 years that needs a control board, or a younger unit that has already needed one repair this year. Get a firm quote and compare it to the price of the model you would buy instead.

Usually replace

A dishwasher at or past 10 years that needs a wash motor, has a rusted or leaking tub, or keeps breaking down. Spending $400 or more on a machine near the end of its life rarely pays off.

If you replace it

A new dishwasher can cut running costs. ENERGY STAR says certified dishwashers use less than half the energy of washing the same dishes by hand, helped by soil sensors, better filtration and more efficient jets. It also notes a dishwasher uses about the same water and energy whether it is full or not, so running full loads saves both, and that pre-rinsing dishes increases total water and energy use. Scrape plates instead.

Make sure the old unit is handled safely. Whirlpool's user instructions say to take the door off an old dishwasher before it is discarded or taken out of service, so a child can't get trapped inside.

Getting a second opinion

A technician can tell you which part failed and what the rest of the machine looks like, which is the information you need for this decision. Ask for the diagnosis and a written price before approving work. Find local companies through our dishwasher repair directory, browse by state, or start with your brand on our brands page, such as Bosch, KitchenAid or Whirlpool.