LG LDS5540 Review

ProductReportCard Editors' In-Depth Review

Specifications

Cleaning Technology

ENERGY STAR® qualified, the LG Semi-Integrated Dishwasher with Flexible EasyRack™ Plus System LDS5540[ ] is a standard size, built-in dishwasher. It will use 279kWh/year and LG estimates that it will costs around $27/year to run (estimate based on an electric water heater, four loads/week and average electricity prices from 2007). It has two spray arms, a dual self-cleaning filtration system, and a 5-level wash system. It is also designed with the SenseClean™ Wash System, which uses sensors to detect the size of the load and the soil level in order to adjust the wash cycle accordingly.

The lower spray arm and self-cleaning filtration system on the LG LDS554[ ].

Credit: Mary Griffin

The LG LDS5540[ ] has five different wash cycles including "Power Scrub", "Normal", "Delicate", "Quick" and "Upper Only". It also has three options that you can add to any wash cycle including "Sanitary" (NSF certified), "Extra Rinse" and "Extra Dry". On average, a normal cycle will take around 141 minutes. For energy efficiency purposes, keep in mind that the dishwasher is designed with a Hybrid Condensing Drying System, so it doesn't have a heating element. Therefore, if you opt for the "Extra Dry" feature, please note that it will add 60 minutes of drying time to the cycle.

The LDS5540[ ] has an exposed control panel where you can program a cycle, delay the start of a cycle or set the child lock.

Credit: Mary Griffin

Rack System

The LG LDS5540[ ] has a two-tier rack system and can accommodate up to 14 place settings. It has BPA-free nylon coated racks with rounded tips for additional safety and durability, and it features the EasyRack™ Plus system for maximizing the dishwasher.s useable capacity. The EasyRack™ Plus system includes a one-touch height adjustable upper rack and color-coded foldable tines in the upper and lower racks. The upper rack also has 2 foldable cup shelves with stemware holders and will fit dishes that have a maximum height of 12 inches. The lower rack can fit dishes up to 14 inches in height and also features foldable tines and a cutlery basket. The basket can be broken down into three sections, any of which can be removed or placed in different areas of the rack.

The LDS5540[ ] can accommodate up to 14 place settings.

Credit: Mary Griffin

Features

The LG LDS5540[ ] is designed with a NeverRust™ Stainless Steel tub, which is superior to plastic (particularly when the dishwasher isn.t designed with a heating element for energy efficiency purposes) because stainless steel is better at conducting heat energy and condensing/evaporating water droplets. From the dishwasher.s exposed control panel, you can program a wash cycle, see the time remaining on a cycle, delay the start of a cycle by up to 19 hours or set the child lock to prevent the door from being opened during a cycle. The dishwasher is also relatively quiet when running (~48 dB) due to LG.s LoDecibel™ Operation, which combines innovative technology like the Inverter DirectDrive motor and an advanced self-cleaning filtration system. The LG LDS5540[ ] also comes equipped with the Safety Water Overflow Detector to prevent leakage and LG.s Smart Diagnosis, which saves you time by allowing you to diagnose problems with the service center either over the phone or using a smart phone app.

The detergent and rinse aid dispenser are located on the door of the LG LDS5540[ ].

Credit: Mary Griffin

Exterior Style

The LG LDS5540[ ] comes in three different finishes including Stainless Steel (LDS5540ST), Black (LDS5540BB) and White (LDS5540WW). It has a semi-integrated control panel with SmoothTouch™ Controls and an LED display. It also has an inlaid door handle for a smooth, sleek exterior.

This particular model is Stainless Steel (LDS5540ST), but the LDS5540 also comes in a Black or White finish.

Credit: Mary Griffin

Brand Reputation

As a brand, LG dishwashers have a very good reputation. In a 2014 survey of dishwasher customers by J.D. Power & Associates, LG customers reported higher than average ratings (4/5) when it came to "Overall Satisfaction", "Ease of Use", "Performance and Reliability" and "Price". They also reported the highest ratings (5/5) for "Styling and Feel", "Features" and "Warranty". Despite this glowing feedback, a Consumer Reports study of dishwasher manufacturers actually found LG to be among the more repair prone brands. The LG LDS5540() was specifically tested by Consumer Reports however, and it earned a 71/100 (highest overall dishwasher earned 85/100). Consumer Reports found this model to be exceptionally easy to use and its washing performance, energy use and noise level to be "very good". It did lose points however because it was only considered to be mediocre at drying dishes, a sentiment which you will see was echoed by customers in the next section. In terms of warranty, the LDS5540[ ] comes with a 1-year limited warranty on parts & labor, a 2-year limited warranty on parts, a 5-year limited warranty on the control board and rack, and a lifetime limited warranty on the steel tub and liner.

As a dishwasher brand, LG has a good reputation for reliability.

Credit: Mary Griffin

User Feedback

The LG LDS5540[ ] has received excellent feedback from customers online. In particular, it has received a 4.6/5 on LG.com (218 reviews). The majority of people have been very happy with the dishwasher.s overall cleaning performance and noise level. There were a few complaints about the dry cycle not working very well, but complaints that seemed to pop up more had to do with the rack system. People had issues with the lower rack coming off its hinges easily, as well as the design of the tines in the lower rack causing dishes to fall onto each other. With that said, most people were very pleased with their purchase and we definitely recommend this dishwasher if it is in your price range. If you are interested in purchasing the LDS5540ST dishwasher, please note that the Stainless Steel finish isn't fingerprint- or smudge-proof.

Need help purchasing a new dishwasher? We encourage you to read our Dishwasher Buying Advice.

Reviews

Write a Review

* indicates required field