Well water and hard water, in general, can wreak havoc on a dishwasher. However, the right dishwasher can withstand this with ease. This is exactly what we are here to help you find today. Let’s get to it and take a look at the top contenders for the best dishwashers for well water.
Best Dishwashers for Well Water: Reviews
Comparison Chart
Kalamera Built in Dishwasher, 24 inch Dishwacher with 12/14 Place Settings, 6 Wash Cycles and 4 Temperature + Sanitized Option, Energy Save with Low Water Consumption and Quiet Operation – White
GE GDT225SGLBB 24″ Dishwasher with Interior Stainless Steel ADA Compliant Top Control Energy Star Certified and Pocket Handle in Black
Bosch SHXM4AY55N 100 Series 24 Inch Built In Fully Integrated Dishwasher with 5 Wash Cycles, in Stainless Steel
Bosch SHV878ZD3N 24″ 800 Series Fully Integrated Dishwasher with 16 Place Settings, Flexible 3rd Rack, InfoLight and CrystalDry in Panel Ready
Kalamera 24” Stainless Steel Tall Tub Dishwasher
Here we have a dishwasher that is perfect for use with well water and it comes in at a reasonable price too. It’s got some really great features that make it ideal for use with all water types, and for many situations.
Review
What stands out about this unit is that it is made with a full stainless steel tub. This stainless steel tub can resist corrosion, high temperatures, and hard water for many years to come. It is also quite easy to clean.
This can also be said for the exterior of this Kalamera dishwasher. It’s also made out of high quality stainless steel, is easy to clean, and it looks very nice too. There is also the added bonus that the exterior is fingerprint-resistant.
Keep in mind that this is a 24-inch dishwasher and it can fit up to 14 place settings. It’s definitely a very spacious unit. It comes complete with a very large lower rack and a large upper rack as well. This upper rack is designed so you can still fit large items inside of it. it also comes complete with a silverware basket located in the lower rack.
Something else that you will appreciate is that this unit is Energy Star certified. This means that you can save a whole lot of money on your monthly and yearly electricity bills. On that same note, this dishwasher is also very quiet. It produces just 45 decibels of noise, thus making it one of the quieter dishwashers out there at this time.
This Kalamera dishwasher comes with a wide variety of wash cycle options. You can choose from auto, delay start, high temperature wash, quick wash, rinse and hold, sanitize, and standard wash. We particularly like the sanitize feature, as it kills 99.99% of germs and loosens stuck on food as well.
Even better is that this dishwasher comes with a so-called power blast cycle. This uses a lot of pressure and high water temperatures, as well as steam, to clean even the most stubborn of messes.
You may also appreciate how this Kalamera dishwasher comes complete with a dual power filtration system. This is a combination of 100% microfiltration with a four blade stainless steel chopper. This means that you don’t have to wash or pre-rinse your dishes, as this dishwasher can deal with a substantial amount of food.
To finish things off, this Kalamera dishwasher also features a heated dry function. Dishes come out perfectly dry after every cycle. The other thing that stands out here is the leak detection system that makes sure that everything is running smoothly at all times.
Pros
- Durable stainless steel
- High quality filtration system
- Plenty of space
- Easy to operate
- Many wash cycles to choose from
- Powerblast and sanitize functions
- Heated dry
- Fingerprint resistant
- Energy efficient
- Fairly silent
Cons
- Has some minor technical issues
GE Stainless Steel Top Control Built-in Dishwasher
Here we have one of the most affordable dishwashers out there that will still works pretty well with well water. It might not be the most expensive unit on the list today, but it still has some really awesome features that you might appreciate.
Review
Right off the bat, although this unit is technically not Energy Star certified, it is still quite energy efficient. On that same note, this particular dishwasher from GE it is also very silent. It produces just 51 decibels of noise. This means that you can easily run it during the nighttime without disturbing the rest of your family.
The exterior of this dishwasher is made with high quality stainless steel. Not only does it look nice, but it’s also fingerprint resistant and easy to clean. Stainless steel is of course also very durable. The interior of this unit does feature a plastic tub, although plastic does perform fairly well as far as well water and hard water are concerned.
This is a fairly high capacity 24-inch dishwasher that can fit at least 14 place settings. This makes it ideal for families of four to six people. It has a very large lower rack that can fit large items with ease. It also features an adjustable upper rack that can be moved up or down as needed. This can fit items as tall as 10.5 inches, which is fairly impressive.
This GE dishwasher comes with a variety of wash cycles including auto, delay start, quick wash, and standard wash. It also features a steam and a sanitizer function, which effectively loosens stuck on food. This steam and water is so hot that it also kills 99.99% of all bacteria and germs.
Another cool feature here is the automatic sense wash cycle. This automatically detects exactly how dirty your dishes are, and then automatically adjusts its output to make sure that the dishes are clean. It uses enough water and a high enough temperature to ensure that your dishes are clean, all without wasting any energy.
What you might also like is that this GE dishwasher comes with so-called dry boost technology. This is said to dry your dishes up to three times faster and three times better than normal heated dry functions. Overall, the washing functions of this unit are extremely powerful.
What is also worth noting is that this GE dishwasher is American made, which should speak to its quality. It features consistent performance and a very durable design overall.
Another awesome feature is the piranha hard food dispenser and removable filter. This means that you never have to pre-wash your dishes ever again. This piranha hard food dispenser can dispose of any solid food that stands in its way.
Pros
- Great price
- High capacity
- Very quiet
- Fairly energy efficient
- Steam and sanitizer options
- Autosense wash
- Adjustable upper rack
- Piranha hard food dispenser
- American made
- Active flood protection
Cons
- Plastic tub is not as durable as stainless steel tub
- Letters wear off the control panel pretty fast
Bosch 100 Series Tall Tub Dishwasher
Here we have a moderately priced dishwasher that comes loaded to the brim with awesome features. It performs really well in well water and hard water conditions, and much more. It’s also one of the quietest dishwashers out there at this time. Bosch is known for producing high quality products and they have not failed to do so here.
Review
This is a 24-inch dishwasher that has plenty of interior space. It has enough room to fit 15 place settings. What is really cool is that this unit comes complete with three racks.
For one, it features a third rack on the top that offers 30% more loading area than comparable units. The middle rack can also be adjusted for height. It features three height levels and nine possible rack positions. You can lower it to fit tall glasses on top or raise it to fit very big pots below.
What we really like about this unit is that the exterior is made out of durable stainless steel. Not only is it very durable and scratch-resistant, but it’s also very good looking. On that same note, it is also fingerprint-resistant. This means that it doesn’t get dirty easily and it’s easy to wash as well.
Let’s not forget that the interior of this Bosch dishwasher is also made with high quality stainless steel. This is something that makes it adept for dealing with well water and is just quite durable overall. It’s also very heat-resistant, as well as corrosion-resistant too.
One of the most impressive aspects about this Bosch dishwasher is the fact that it only produces 48 decibels of noise. This makes it more than silent enough to run during the night without disturbing the whole family. This low noise level is thanks to the eco silence motor system that is installed in this unit.
Moreover, this unit is also Energy Star certified. It doesn’t use much energy, and that means that you can save a lot of money on a yearly basis.
You may also like the precision wash feature. This automatically detects how dirty your dishes are and will then adjust its output accordingly. This means that your dishes come out clean every time, all without wasting energy. This unit also comes complete with a sanitize feature, which effectively kills 99.99% of all germs, and also loosens stuck on food.
In terms of the wash cycles, you can choose from delay start, high temperature, sanitize, sensor wash, heavy wash, standard wash, and more. It definitely comes with all of the wash cycle options that you could ever need. Something to keep in mind here, however, is that this unit does not have a heated dry function.
This dishwasher also features advanced leak protection with sensors that can sense leaks and shut the machine off.
Pros
- Durable design
- Sleek appearance
- Low maintenance
- Energy Star certified
- Silent operation
- Many wash cycles
- Sani wash and sensor wash
- Stainless steel exterior and interior
- Very spacious with 3 racks
Cons
- No heated dry
Bosch 800 Series 24” Stainless Steel Dishwasher
Here we have a very high end dishwasher for you to take a look at. It’s by far the most expensive option on the list today, but it also has the most features. It’s got plenty of space, a durable design, and plenty of options to choose from.
Review
This is a 24-inch dishwasher with a very spacious interior. It has enough room to fit up to 16 place settings at once. It comes complete with three separate racks, all of which are adjustable. The lower rack features tines that can be folded down to fit much larger and bulkier items.
The upper rack be adjusted to nine different positions. You can raise it to create more room for bulky items below, or lower it for big glasses above. It also comes complete with a third rack on top, which can easily fit fairly large items. This unit also comes complete with a silverware basket on the lower rack.
Something that really stands out here is the precision engineered and laser cut spray arms. They produce a whole lot of pressure and aim water directly at the dishes for the best possible cleaning experience. It also comes complete with a precision engineered detergent tray with a dedicated spray jet. This dedicated spray jet directly dissolves your detergent tabs to prevent buildup from occurring.
One of the best features of this unit is the precision wash system. This uses intelligence sensors to scan and check the progress of your dishes throughout the cycle. It knows exactly how dirty your dishes are, and will then adjust its output accordingly to help save you energy. It also comes with a sanitize function which is awesome for loosening stuck on food. This sanitize function can also kill 99.99% of all germs.
In terms of wash cycles, you can choose from auto, delay start, half load, high temperature wash, pots and pans, quick wash, rinse and hold, sanitize, and sensor wash. It has more than enough options to choose from. You may also like the fact that it comes complete with a plastic safe heated dry function. It can efficiently dry your dishes, but it won’t melt your plastics.
Both the interior and the exterior of this dishwasher are made with stainless steel. As far as the interior is concerned, it can easily deal with well water, corrosion, and more. The exterior is fingerprint-resistant and very easy to clean, not to mention very durable.
The other thing that stands out about this dishwasher is that it is extremely silent. It has 18 different sound reducing technologies that result in this unit producing just 50 decibels of noise. This is of course very silent. Moreover, this unit is also Energy Star certified, so you know that it won’t waste energy or your money.
Pros
- Superior durability and longevity
- Tons of wash cycles to choose from
- Sensor washing
- Sanitize mode
- Plastic safe drying
- Full stainless steel interior and exterior
- Energy start certified
- Extremely silent
- Super spacious with 3 adjustable racks
Cons
- Not budget friendly
Buyers Guide
Before you go out and buy a dishwasher that can deal with well water, there are some things that you should keep in mind. Here are the most important considerations to understand before you make your purchase.
1. A Water Softener System
OK, so right off the bat, what you need to realize is that the vast majority of dishwashers don’t actually come with water softeners built into them. There are only a select few out there that do have water softeners built-in.
That said, if you can find one that has a built-in water softener, then you are on the right track. This is the number one way to combat hard water issues occurring with your dishwasher. Do keep in mind that any dishwasher with a hard water softener system is going to cost quite a bit more.
2. The Interior
Another important thing to keep an eye on here is what the interior of the dishwasher in question is made out of. Generally speaking, stainless steel is your best option, especially because of the fact that it can easily deal with hard water. Stainless steel is also corrosion-resistant and high temperature-resistant.
3. Temperature
Something else to keep an eye on here is how hot the dishwasher in question gets. Specifically, what you are looking for here is a sanitize function.
High temperatures have the ability to dissolve minerals, which means that they will get washed right back out of your machine without leaving deposits. The hotter the dishwasher in question can be set at, the better it can deal with well water and hard water.
4. Filtration System
Although filtration systems are generally designed for food more than anything else, a decent filter can also help stop hard water buildups from occurring. A really high-quality filtration system may be able to catch some of the deposits before they run down through the pipes. A good filtration system, combined with a food dispenser, will also help prevent clogs from occurring due to food waste.
5. Sensor Washing
The other thing that you might want to look for is a sensor wash system. This generally means that the dishwasher in question well sense how dirty dishes are, and will then automatically adjust its output accordingly. At the very least, this means that your dishes will always be clean without wasting energy.
FAQ
1. Why is well water a problem?
Well water can be problematic for dishwashing machines because it is generally hard water. This means that it contains a lot of dissolved minerals and those can leave deposits in your dishwasher.
2. How to deal with hard water in my home?
The best way to deal with hard water in your home is to install a whole home hard water softener system.
3. Do dishwashers come with water softeners built into them?
The unfortunate reality is that the vast majority of dishwashers out there don’t come with this feature built into them. Only a select few do.
Conclusion
Due to the fact that it comes complete with a dedicated water softener, the number one choice on our list has to be the Bosch 800 Series 24″ Stainless Steel Dishwasher. That said, all dishwashers that we review today are ideal for dealing with all sorts of water conditions.