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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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