We give the KitchenAid Architect® Series II KDTM354D dishwasher an A-. We were impressed that this Energy Star® qualified dishwasher had such impressive cleaning power. It is also exceptionally quiet with great useable capacity for a more reasonable price than the Miele. However, it did lose a few points because, as a brand, KitchenAid has only received average scores when it comes to reliability and overall customer satisfaction. With that said, this model has received excellent feedback from customers online and is similar in features to the newer KitchenAid KDTM354DSS model, which is currently ranked #1 by Consumer Reports.
You can see how the KitchenAid Architect® Series II KDTM354D compares to other dishwashers in our Dishwasher Review.
Energy Star® qualified, the KitchenAid Architect® Series II KDTE334D is a standard size, built-in dishwasher. It will use about 260 kWh/year and KitchenAid estimates that it will cost around $31/year to run (estimate based on an electric water heater, four loads/week and average electricity prices from 2007). It features a triple filtration system with self-cleaning capabilities that helps to maintain clean dishwater thus improving the overall cleaning performance of the machine. It also has two spray arms with pressurized spray nozzles and ProScrub® technology, which uses 40 spray jets targeted at the back of the lower rack to eliminate the need to scrub or soak dishware with baked-on food residue. The KDTE334D also has ProWash™ technology that uses sensors to detect the load size and soil level/toughness in order to adjust the wash cycle accordingly.
In terms of wash cycles, the KitchenAid KDTE334D offers 6 cycles including "ProWash™", "Tough", "Normal", "Light", "Express Wash" and "Rinse Only". There are also 4 options that you can use including "Heated Dry", "ProScrub®", "Hi Temp Wash" and "Sani Rinse®" (an NSF certified sanitization step). A normal wash cycle should run around 120 minutes.
The KitchenAid Architect® Series II KDTE334D dishwasher can accommodate up to 14 place settings. It has a three tier rack system with nylon coated racks for additional durability and KitchenAid's SatinGlide® Max technology in the upper rack for making smooth, easy adjustments to the entire rack. In the upper rack, there are two rows of foldable tines, one plastic cup shelf (with four stemware holders), four clips for securing lighter items and a utility basket. The upper rack also moves up and down, so you can make room for oversized items in it or below it. The utensil rack above the upper rack offers additional useable space, but it can be removed if you need to fit larger items below. In the lower rack, there is one row of sliding tines, a full-length non-splitable silverware basket and Culinary Caddy® utensil basket.
The KitchenAid Architect® Series II KDTE334D has a completely stainless steel tub that offers better drying performance and improved energy efficiency as compared to plastic because stainless steel is a better conductor of heat. The dishwasher has a concealed control panel where you can program a wash cycle, delay the start of a cycle by 4 hours and check the status of a current cycle. The dishwasher also features a child control lock, so you can make sure that little hands won't accidentally open the door mid-cycle and get water all over the floor. Additionally, the dishwasher can be programmed not to emit a beeping sound when a cycle has completed. In terms of overall noise level, the KDTE334D features KitchenAid's Whisper Quiet® System and operates at an average decibel level of 45 db.
The KitchenAid Architect® Series II KDTE334D comes in a Stainless Steel (KDTE334DSS), Black (KDTE334DBL) or White (KDTE334DWH) finish, but it cannot be fitted with a custom panel. As mentioned, the control panel is concealed, so the dishwasher has a sleek, streamlined appearance that should blend well in almost any kitchen style.
In the 2014 J.D. Power & Associates survey of dishwasher customers, KitchenAid received average feedback in terms of customers' "Overall Satisfaction". It received above average feedback when it came to "Performance & Reliability", "Styling & Feel" and "Features", but it only received average ratings for "Ease of Use" and below average ratings for "Warranty" and "Price". However, a very similar model to this one has received the highest possible ratings from Consumer Reports as of August 2014 (earning an 85/100). The Consumer Reports test found that its washing performance and energy use were "excellent", and its noise level and ease of use were "very good". As a brand, KitchenAid received average ratings from Consumer Reports for its reliability. This particular model comes with a 1-year limited warranty for parts and labor, a 5-year limited warranty for parts only and a lifetime limited warranty for the stainless steel tub and inner door liner.
The KitchenAid Architect® Series II KDTE334D dishwasher is mainly sold at independent dealers, so it hasn't received as many online reviews as dishwashers sold at major home improvement retailers. However, the vast majority of reviews we did see online were positive. For example, it has received a 4.4/5 (57 reviews) on pcrichard.com and 88% of those reviewers indicated that they would recommend the dishwasher to a friend. Most reviewers were very happy with the dishwasher's overall cleaning performance and noise level. There were a few complaints that dishwasher didn't dry effectively, but most people felt the dishwasher did a good job considering its energy usage.
Need help purchasing a new dishwasher? We encourage you to read our Dishwasher Buying Advice.* indicates required field
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