LG LDT9965BD Built-In Dishwasher: Welcome to the Future

Welcome to the dawn of a new era, where we can ask hockey pucks for cookie recipes, where cars drive themselves, and where we can put dirty dishes in the dishwasher without rinsing first. Dishwashers such as the LG LDT9965BD fit right into the modern world. They come loaded with smart technology such as sensors that detect dirt. LED displays are standard, and some even have adjustable racks. Like home automation, dishwashers have stayed on top of the newest technology.

Do you remember the first dishwasher you owned? I remember mine. I didn’t actually own it because I was renting at the time, which is a good thing because I had to fill a sink full of soapy water and soak the dishes before I put them in. This dishwasher was a boxy, off-white contraption that left soap spots all over everything. Nevertheless, I was the only one of my friends who could boast of having a dishwasher, so I used it all the time. Chances are your first dishwasher wasn’t too different.

But now we have the LG LDT9965BD and others like it. And that’s a good thing.

What You Need to Know About the LG LDT9965BD Dishwasher

The LG LDT9965BD will fit any home that has enough counter space. It’s a built-in dishwasher, so this thing isn’t going to move around much. We always recommend that people have professionals install inbuilt dishwashers, just to avoid ruining your home or voiding the warranty. If your home has some smart technology already, such as an Amazon Echo or a Google Home, then the LG LDT9965BD will fit right in. That’s because this dishwasher features advanced technology and sensors designed to make every dish sparkling clean.

But first, you’ll want to make sure that the industrial stainless-steel design of the LG LDT9965BD matches your kitchen. We love that LG bucks the all-stainless steel trend of every other manufacturer and uses a dark-grey, brushed metal finish on their steel. This dishwasher is part of that design philosophy, and it looks stunning. There’s a sense of maturity and sophistication to this dishwasher, thanks to its darker metallic finish. You won’t find any buttons or knobs on the face of it, either. There are four small LED lights on the top right corner of the dishwasher, and a solid brushed metal handle across the face. And that’s it: Simple, elegant, and classy.

Specifications

The LG LDT9965BD requires a minimum six-foot water line with a shut-off and a power connection within six feet. Also, your cabinet space needs to be at least 24 inches wide by 24 inches deep by 34.5 inches high. If you’re going to install it yourself, make sure you have a new dishwasher connection kit.

  • Size: 24 inches
  • Dimensions: 33.5 inches by 24.6 inches by 23.7 inches
  • Power: 15 amps, 120 volts
  • Sound rating: 42 decibels
  • Rack space: 3 racks, adjustable
  • EnergyStar rated

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Features

In addition to great 21st Century specs, the LG LDT9965BD bursts with modern features. For starters, there’s a “SenseClean” wash system that measures soil levels inside the machine and adjusts water pressure and nozzle direction accordingly. Because the interior of the dishwasher takes the most punishment, it’s often where most breakdowns occur. LG prolongs the life of this washer by including a stainless steel interior. No more leaks or cracked plastic or moldy walls.

  • SmoothTouch LED controls in the top lip of the door
  • Dual Control Cycle to use different wash cycles on different racks, simultaneously
  • TrueSteam function so you don’t have to pre-rinse your dishes
  • Steam-dries your dishes, eliminating the need for a heating element
  • Interior lighting
  • Most energy-efficient dishwasher in its class

Customer experience

Specifications on paper don’t always tell the entire story. Often a dishwasher we like turns out to be a complete dud when out in the real world. That is why we checked out some reactions from real customers. Almost everyone said it does a fantastic job of washing the dishes the first time around. Also, customers loved how sleek it looks.

On the other hand, a few customers complained that this dishwasher isn’t as quiet as advertised.

Strengths and Weaknesses

After we took a long look at the LG LDT9965BD built-in dishwasher and read through a bunch of real-life experiences from people who had purchased the machine, we had a good idea of what we’re dealing with. All in all, this is a fantastic machine. LG usually impresses us with its style and technology, and the company has gone out of their way this time around.

Strengths

To say that we were impressed by the LG LDT9965BD would be an understatement. We strive to bring you a fair and balanced review of every dishwasher. When we come across a dishwasher as good as the LG LDT9965BD, we are excited to tell you about it. Here’s what we loved the most about it:

  • Beautiful darkened metal look
  • Sleek, minimalist design elements
  • Three adjustable racks
  • Smart sensors blast away dirt
  • Interior lighting
  • Stainless steel interior
  • No heating elements required
  • Exceptional energy rating
  • Amazing lifetime warranty

Weaknesses

Of course, not everything can be perfect, and the LG LDT9965BD dishwasher is no exception. While there’s a lot that we liked about this machine, there were also a few things we didn’t like.

  • Very expensive
  • Noisier than advertised
  • Control panel is in an awkward place

How We Reviewed

After wading through the long spec sheet that comes with this machine, and reading what real customers had to say about it, we were impressed. We may have one of the best dishwashers of the year on our hands here. But that’s a tall claim to make, so we put it up against some of its competition to see how well it fares. For instance, can it clean as well as a Whirlpool? Or does it have the same after-sale support as a Maytag?

We wanted to know the answers to these and other questions.

How Does It Compare?

Comparing the LG LDT9965BD to the competition was fairly straightforward. We chose a few of the biggest brands that we’re all familiar with and looked at their specs and features. All of these are built-in dishwashers, and they’re all roughly the same size.

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Whirlpool WDT730PAHZ

First up in our comparison is the Whirlpool WDT730PAHZ. Of course, you’ve heard of Whirlpool. They’re one of the biggest names in home appliances, and they’ve been giving us dishwashers for more than 40 years. Therefore, the Whirlpool WDT730PAHZ could be mistaken for the LG LDT9965BD with its top-facing LED control panel, darkened stainless-steel face, and large industrial metal handle. All in all, this machine boasts similar specs as the LG model but has a lower EnergyStar rating. At 51 decibels, it is a little louder.

Feature-wise, the Whirlpool includes a Cycle Memory which will remember your last cycle and use that again with the push of a single button. The machine also has sensors inside that help fight dirt and grime. There is an adjustable upper rack, but it only raises or lowers by 0.02 inches. And unlike the LG machine, this one uses a heating element and a fan to dry your dishes.

Most users say it does a great job cleaning the dishes. However, many people complained that it is noisy, that dishes require pre-rinsing, and that many times, the dishes come out still wet.

KitchenAid KDTE334GPS

Next, we looked at the KitchenAid KDTE334GPS. KitchenAid is another of those gigantic international brands that are rebranding themselves as a stylish, youthful kitchen appliance company. When it comes to a smart built-in dishwasher, however, KitchenAid hasn’t strayed very far from the rest of the herd. The machine is a stainless-steel box with a nifty tubular handle, and no buttons or gizmos to blemish the face. Like both the LG and the Whirlpool dishwashers, the KitchenAid features a top-facing LED control panel. And, like the LG LDT9965BD, it also has a third rack.

When it comes to features, this KitchenAid washer is nearly a carbon-copy of the LG LDT9965BD. There are sensors inside to monitor water soil level. The interior is stainless steel. And it’s extremely quiet, at 39 decibels. However, it doesn’t use a smart steaming system and instead relies on conventional heating elements to dry dishes, and the racks are not adjustable.

The KitchenAid dishwasher comes with a limited five-year warranty on most parts, while the door liner has lifetime protection. Customers seem to like this machine. Almost everyone raved about how quiet this machine is. It seems to work extremely well at getting dishes clean, too. On the other hand, a few complained that it doesn’t do a good job drying the dishes.

Maytag MDB4949SHZ

We also looked at the Maytag MDB4949SHZ, which is another of those big brand names we’re sure you’re familiar with. Maytag prides themselves on their after-sales support, and the Maytag repairman is the Ronald McDonald of home appliances. When it comes to dishwashers, Maytag has decided to keep a somewhat more traditional look and feel. For instance, this particular model has a standard front-facing control panel running along the top of the door. It actually looks futuristic because the entire thing is stainless steel and it has blinking lights.

In addition to a Star Trek look, this machine features the most powerful motor of any dishwasher in this range. We’re talking about eight amps of power and a patented “Power Blaster” cycle with intense high-pressure spray jets, high temperature, and steam. Any food stuck to your bakeware doesn’t stand a chance. The interior is stainless steel, and the exterior features fingerprint and smudge-proof protection. While it only has two racks, the upper rack is tiered, giving you more room for glasses. Finally, this machine has an EnergyStar rating that’s comparable to the LG LDT9965BD.

You get all of this along with a limited lifetime warranty. Everyone said the washer works great, and many people praised how quiet it is when it’s running, even on the Super Blast cycle. There were a few complaints that the dishes didn’t dry completely.

Amana ADB1400AGS

Lastly, we looked at the Amana ADB1400AGS built-in dishwasher. If you haven’t heard of Amana, that’s because they’re not as big as the other four we’ve looked at so far. However, Amana enjoys an 80-year history as an American appliance manufacturer, so they’re not exactly a small company. In the case of this dishwasher, they’ve given us a dark stainless steel machine with a front-facing digital control panel. While it doesn’t win any design awards, it is utilitarian and looks like a dishwasher.

Inside, there’s a stainless steel tub and two racks for loading dishes. Amana claims you can get up to 12 place settings in there. The machine uses a triple filter wash system to get your dishes clean, but you may still need to scrape off any cookware that has stuff baked on. Also, this is a more conventional washer, using a single heating element to dry your dishes. And, at 63 decibels, it’s significantly louder than any of the others we looked at.

There’s a limited one-year warranty included. Some customers said it did a decent job of washing dishes and the other half reported problems. Also, there were a few complaints that this machine leaks water out of the door, which is a little concerning.

Here’s What We Think

The LG LDT9965BD is an appliance purchase you won’t regret. We wholeheartedly recommend this product to anyone looking for a large built-in dishwasher. The warranty protects your investment, and the construction of the dishwasher means you shouldn’t have problems for a long time. The fact that it is so energy efficient means that you’ll save enough money in electricity costs over a year or two to make the investment worth it. It will be like having a free dishwasher!

You should also consider the amazing Maytag MDB4949SHZ. You get almost all the same bells and whistles, as well as a decent EnergyStar rating. Either way, you and your dishes are joining a smart new age of technology.

What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments!

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