Tuesday, December 10, 2024

Kenmore Elite 12793

Kenmore Elite 12793 Review

Dishwashers

Product Grade
Report Card Grade
0 Reviews
Best Feature:
So quiet you might not even realize it is running
Worst Feature:
Some people may find cleaning manual filter inconvenient
Best Uses:
Open kitchens or households that need to keep noise down
Pricing:
$1299.99 (warranty sold separately)
Manufacturer:

Where to Buy

Store Name
Price
$1,199.99
$1,199.99

Overview

We give the Kenmore Elite 12793 an A-. We like that it is an ENERGY STAR® qualified dishwasher that does a great job cleaning your dishes while hardly making any noise at all. While some people might find a manual filter somewhat inconvenient, we think it is well worth the extra effort to have such a quiet machine. It has almost all of the features you could ever need on a dishwasher, but we had to deduct some points because we were surprised that such an expensive model only came in a stainless steel finish and couldn't be fitted with a custom panel. The bottom line, however, is that it is an excellent machine and we would highly recommend it, especially to any household concerned with noise that can afford it.

You can see how the Kenmore Elite 12793 dishwasher compares to other dishwashers in our Dishwasher Review.

Photos

The Kenmore Elite 12793 is a quiet, ENERGY STAR® qualified dishwasher with a concealed control panel.
The Kenmore Elite 12793's cleaning technology includes the UltraWash® HE Filter, 360° PowerWash™ Plus and TurboZone® Rotating Spray Jets.
Wash cycle options on the Kenmore Elite 12793.
The top rack can be easily adjusted up or down with just one hand.
The detergent and rinse aid dispenser on the Kenmore Elite 12793.
The door on the Kenmore Elite 12793 will stay in place even when partially open.
The lower rack has three separate silverware baskets, a special knife holder and foldable tines.
The upper rack has foldable tines, a cup holder and two stemware holders.
As a brand, Kenmore Elite scored the highest in overall customer satisfaction in a 2013 J.D. Power & Associates dishwasher study.

 
This Product
Best Budget Dishwasher
Overall Score
76%
71%
64%
Our Awards
Best Budget Dishwasher
Date Reviewed
June 2014
September 2014
March 2013
Pros
Exceptionally quiet; ENERGY STAR® certified; good cleaning performance; well-respected brand
Relatively quiet; ENERGY STAR® certified; good cleaning performance; child lock; well-respected brand
Relatively affordable; ENERGY STAR® certified; good cleaning performance; optional heated dry is convenient when drying plastic items; American made
Cons
Somewhat expensive; warranty sold separately
Some complaints about dry cycle; complaints about lower rack falling off hinges and being poorly designed; stainless steel finish not smudge-proof
Some issues with control panel breaking after the 1st year; dishrack system doesn't offer much loading flexibility; some complaints about the wash cycles being long; control panel doesn't display time remaining countdown
Type
Standard Built-In (24" wide)
Standard Built-In (24" wide)
Standard Built-In (24" wide)
Capacity (place settings)
12
14
14
Price (MSRP)
$1,132
$535 - $739
$535 - $739
Warranty
5-Year In-Home Master Protection Agreement ($349.99) or 3-Year In-Home Master Protection Agreement ($219.99)
1-year limited warranty on parts & labor for the entire unit and a 10-year limited warranty on parts for certain components including the racks, stainless steel tub, and chopper (+ 30-day 100% satisfaction guarantee)
1-year limited warranty on parts & labor for the entire unit and a 10-year limited warranty on parts for certain components including the racks, stainless steel tub, and chopper (+ 30-day 100% satisfaction guarantee)
Overall Width x Depth x Height (Range)
24" x 24.9" x 33.5" - 35"
23.75" x 24.63" x 33.5"
23.88" x 24.5" x 33.88" - 34.5"
Depth with Door Open at 90°
49"
unknown
49.5"
Weight (est.)
88 lbs
90.8 lbs
92 lbs
Cleaning Technology
It features UltraWash® (a triple filtration system), 360° PowerWash™ Plus and TurboZone® (6 pressurized, rotating spray jets).
It has a dual filtration system, 2 spray arms and a 5-level wash system.
It features a 5-level direct wash system, 2 spray arms and a self-cleaning filter with 4 stainless steel blades.
Wash Cycles / Options
It has 6 wash cycles - "SmartWash™", "Pots & Pans", "Normal Wash", "China Gentle", "1 Hour Wash" and "Quick Rinse". It also has 5 options - "TurboZone®", "High Temp", "Sani Rinse", "Smart Dry" and "Top Rack Only".
It has 5 cycles including "Power Scrub", "Normal", "Delicate", "Quick" and "Upper Only". It also has 3 options including "Sanitary", "Extra Rinse" and "Extra Dry".
It has 6 wash cycles - "JetClean® Plus Steam", "Auto Clean", "Normal", "Light", "Quick Wash" and "Rinse Only". It also has 3 options - "ToughScrub™", "Hi Temp Wash" and "Steam Sanitize".
Dry Cycles
"Heated Dry" is the default, but you can also select "Smart Dry", which automatically adjusts the dry cycle based on internal moisture readings.
It only features an air dry option.
"Heated Dry" is the default, but it is optional.
Cycle Times (est.)
Cycle times vary, but Kenmore estimates a "Normal" cycle will range from about 150 - 190 minutes.
A normal cycle should run around 141 minutes.
Cycle times vary, but Maytag estimates a "Normal" cycle will range from about 90 to 250 minutes
Delayed Start
Yes, between 1 and 12 hours (1-hour intervals).
Yes, you can delay the start of a cycle by up to 19 hours.
Yes, you are able to delay the start of the wash cycle by 2, 4 or 8 hours.
Rack System
It features a Smooth Motion Rack™ system with two nylon racks.
It has a 2-tier rack system with nylon coated racks and features LG's EasyRack Plus system.
It has 2 Duraguard® nylon racks with 1 Split & Fit™ silverware basket in the lower rack.
Control Panel
Concealed
Exposed
Exposed
Power
It uses 260 kWh/year. Kenmore estimates that it will cost about $31 a year to run.
It uses 279 kWh/year and LG estimates that it will cost around $27/year to run.
It uses 294 kWh/year. Maytag estimates it could cost about $31 a year to run.
Noise
39 dB
48 dB
53 dB
Exterior/Finishes
Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel (MDB7749SAM)
Black (MDB7749SAB)
Bisque (MDB7749SAQ)
White (MDB7749SAW)
Stainless Steel (MDB7749SAM)
Black (MDB7749SAB)
Bisque (MDB7749SAQ)
White (MDB7749SAW)

ProductReportCard Editors' In-Depth Review


Specifications

Cleaning Technology

The Kenmore Elite 12793 is a built-in, standard size dishwasher. It is ENERGY STAR® qualified and one of the quietest dishwashers Kenmore has ever made at only 39 decibels. It features the UltraWash® HE Filter, which is a triple filtration system that traps food particles and keeps them from re-depositing on clean dishes. The upper and lower filters will need to be cleaned out at least once a month, but the efficient design helps to reduce noise levels and conserve water and energy while still providing a superior cleaning performance. The 12793 dishwasher is also designed with 360° PowerWash™ Plus technology, in which the spray arm rotates in both directions allowing the dishwasher to clean all areas of the interior. Lastly, it also features TurboZone® Rotating Spray Jets, which are 6 pressurized spray nozzles that can wash away even the toughest food/residue.

The Kenmore Elite 12793's cleaning technology includes the UltraWash® HE Filter, 360° PowerWash™ Plus and TurboZone® Rotating Spray Jets.
The Kenmore Elite 12793's cleaning technology includes the UltraWash® HE Filter, 360° PowerWash™ Plus and TurboZone® Rotating Spray Jets.
Credit: Mary Griffin

In terms of wash cycles, the Kenmore Elite 12793 features 6 wash cycles including "SmartWash™", "Pots & Pans", "Normal Wash", "China Gentle", "1 Hour Wash" and "Quick Rinse". "SmartWash™" is a high efficiency cycle that uses smart sensors to automatically adjust the water and energy use based on the load size and soil level. The dishwasher also offers 5 options including "TurboZone®", "High Temp", "Sani Rinse", "Smart Dry" and "Top Rack Only". Adding the "TurboZone®" option will concentrate the cleaning power on the back on the lower dish rack to better clean dishes with stuck-on food residue. "Sani Rinse", the sanitizing rinse cycle, is NSF® certified and will remove 99.99% of common household bacteria. "TurboZone®", "High Temp" and "Sani Rinse" are only available on "SmartWash™", "Pots & Pans" and "Normal Wash" cycles. The "Smart Dry" option is available on any cycle except "Quick Rinse", and the "Top Rack Only" option is available on any cycle.

Wash cycle options on the Kenmore Elite 12793.
Wash cycle options on the Kenmore Elite 12793.
Credit: Mary Griffin

Rack System

The Kenmore Elite 12793 features a Smooth Motion Rack™ system with two nylon racks. The upper rack can be removed completely or easily adjusted up or down with just one hand. The upper rack also features a foldable cup rack and 2 stemware clips, as well as foldable tines. The lower rack has foldable tines and features three separate silverware holders with slotted covers that can be moved around to accommodate oversized or odd-shaped items. The dishwasher also comes with a knife holder, but, if you have nice kitchen knives that you care about, we would obviously never recommend putting them into the dishwasher. With that said, the lower and upper racks both feature highly flexible storage spaces, which are ideal in a dishwasher, because they allow you to optimize the useable capacity of your machine.

The top rack can be easily adjusted up or down with just one hand.
The top rack can be easily adjusted up or down with just one hand.
Credit: Mary Griffin

Features

The Kenmore Elite 12793 has all of the features you could need in a dishwasher. First, it has a stainless steel tub, which enhances its energy efficiency because stainless steel conducts heat energy significantly better than plastic. While you might see some hard water marks, stainless steel is also superior to plastic in that it doesn't retain stains or odors. If you don't want to start the dishwasher right away, the 12793 also has a delayed start option that allows you to commence the wash cycle between 1 - 12 hours in the future (1-hour intervals). The dishwasher is also designed with a Control Lock Option that prevents unintended use of the dishwasher between cycles and is a helpful feature for households with small children. From the control panel, you can also see where the dishwasher is within the cycle and whether you are still able to add a dish.

The detergent and rinse aid dispensers on the Kenmore Elite 12793.
The detergent and rinse aid dispensers on the Kenmore Elite 12793.
Credit: Mary Griffin

Exterior Style

The Kenmore Elite 12793 only comes in a Stainless Steel finish, and, unfortunately, it cannot be fitted with a custom panel. It isn't ADA-compliant, but its door is designed to stay in place at any angle it is left open. Lastly, it has a concealed control panel, which gives the dishwasher a sleeker exterior.

The Kenmore Elite 12793 is a quiet, ENERGY STAR® qualified dishwasher with a concealed control panel. The door on the Kenmore Elite 12793 will stay in place even when partially open.
The Kenmore Elite 12793 is a quiet, ENERGY STAR® qualified dishwasher with a concealed control panel. The door on the Kenmore Elite 12793 will stay in place even when partially open.
Credit: Mary Griffin

Brand Reputation

The Kenmore Elite 12793 received an 85/100 in a Consumer Reports study on dishwashers making it the highest rated model of the 168 models tested. It received excellent ratings when it came to cleaning performance, energy efficiency and noise levels, and it received very good ratings when it came to ease of use. In terms of overall brand reliability, Kenmore Elite wasn't the least repair prone (Bosch was), but it scored very well in comparison to other brands. In a 2013 J.D Power & Associates study on dishwasher brands, Kenmore Elite also scored the highest in overall customer satisfaction. As for its warranty, the 12793 won't be covered unless you purchase coverage separately. You can opt for the 5-Year In-Home Master Protection Agreement for $349.99 or the 3-Year In-Home Master Protection Agreement for $219.99.

As a brand, Kenmore Elite scored the highest in overall customer satisfaction in a 2013 J.D. Power & Associates dishwasher study.
As a brand, Kenmore Elite scored the highest in overall customer satisfaction in a 2013 J.D. Power & Associates dishwasher study.
Credit: Mary Griffin

User Feedback

The Kenmore Elite 1279 Built-In Dishwasher has received very good reviews from customers online including a 4/5 on Sears.com (46 reviews). While a few reviewers felt the cleaning power was lacking, the majority were impressed with the overall cleaning performance. What everyone did rave about was the noise level. It is so quiet that some people didn't even realize when it was running. If you have small children or your home has a kitchen that opens into a living area, this is a great dishwasher to have. One thing to note, however, is that apparently the steam vents are located to the side (instead of the front), which could be an issue depending on what kind of cabinets you have.


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