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As of 2023, the Cove dishwasher finally became a legitimate option for families remodeling their high-end kitchens. After a year of rigorous testing in my own kitchen and hearing from my customers, I'm excited to share my insights with you.

As the founder of Designer Appliances, the leading appliance store in New Jersey, I am passionate about helping my clients find the perfect appliance to fit their needs. With 15 years of experience and a unique approach to testing and evaluating products, I'm confident I have something valuable to share with you. Here is an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at the Cove dishwasher.


Our exclusive Cove dishwashers video review with great visuals

Appliance Matchmaker

Is the Cove dishwasher a match for you?

Pros: Reasons To Buy a Cove Dishwasher

Cove Dishwasher
  • To complete a Sub Zero kitchen package. Having all of your kitchen appliances from one manufacturer creates a cohesive look and provides peace of mind regarding compatibility and service. As a luxury brand, Sub-Zero is known for its high-quality products, and the Cove dishwasher is no exception. By purchasing a Cove dishwasher, you can ensure that you're getting a top-of-the-line appliance that performs exceptionally well and lasts for years to come.
  • You need a larger interior. You'll gain about 1-inch depth compared to market leading Bosch and Miele dishwashers. Beyond the obvious benefit of having extra space, keep in mind that a larger interior allows for additional spacing between tines; which translates to a better fit for thicker plates or pots and pans in a Cove dishwasher.
  • Superior cleaning performance. The Cove dishwasher boasts a powerful cleaning system with three spray arms and 43 specialized jets designed to remove tough grease and food residue from your dishes. The bottom compartment features a fine filter that prevents soiling from one dish from transferring to another, ensuring that every dish comes out sparkling clean.
  • Your dishes will come out dry. Many modern dishwashers use condensation drying to conserve energy, but this method can leave plastic and concave dishes damp. The Cove dishwasher combines condensation drying with a hidden heating element to deliver a thorough, efficient, and effective drying performance for all types of dishes, including plastics, ceramics, and Tupperware.
  • Silent. The Cove dishwasher boasts a low noise level of 41 decibels, making it nearly silent in operation. The appliance features a status light projected onto the floor to let you know when it is running. This simple yet effective design prevents family members from accidentally opening the dishwasher door during a cycle.
  • Quick cycle time. Wrap up a cycle in under an hour within 58 minutes.
  • Easy to use control panel. In the age of myriad choices and touchscreen controls, Cove keeps things simple. Just push the button to select your program and hit start - off you go.
  • Will give you design flexibility. Cove dishwashers are available as "panel ready," which means that you can customize the front to match the wood and handles of your cabinets. This sophisticated look is popular with interior designers, as it allows the dishwasher to blend seamlessly with other large appliances, such as the refrigerator, in a kitchen. For those who prefer a stainless steel look, the company offers panels and signature Sub Zero handles to match your appliance suite.
  • Upscale interior. As befitting an elegant brand, the Cove dishwasher features a stainless steel interior and coated racks that won't discolor. The racks are adjustable; you can choose between the silverware rack or the basket to hold your utensils. The interior lights add a luxurious touch, further reinforcing your decision to purchase.
  • Strong promotional support. In 2023, Cove dishwashers became more affordable with a $1,000 rebate in a kitchen package of Sub Zero fridge and Wolf range.

Cons: Reasons To Avoid a Cove Dishwasher

Cove Dishwasher
  • Limited selection. Cove focuses exclusively on delivering luxury dishwashers, catering to those seeking the ultimate in premium home appliances. The brand doesn't pursue the mass-market with varying price points and selection levels.
  • Missing advanced features found in German dishwashers. The bulk detergent dispenser (in Miele dishwashers) and auto-open door technology offer convenience. Another great example is the CrystalDry found in Bosch dishwashers, which provides superior drying without melting plastics.
  • Remind your cabinet maker about the depth. When designing a kitchen, it's vital to ensure that the cabinet professional has experience working with the type of dishwasher you choose. Many kitchen professionals are familiar with German dishwasher brands, so if you're considering a flush-to-the-cabinet finish, remind your pro.
  • Limited availability. Consider the wait time before making your purchase, as the demand for home improvement products has increased significantly following the pandemic. If you're planning a kitchen renovation, it's best to start the process early.

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Features of Cove Dishwashers

We evaluate dishwashers in our buying guide primarily using the following four metrics: Quietness, Design, Cleaning & Drying Ability, and Reliability/Longevity. Let's look at how Cove fares in these areas.

(1) Quietness

The Cove features an absolutely astounding noise level of 41 dB. That's so gentle that the machine requires an illuminated light to tell you that it's even running. Over 23 pounds of insulation material are used in each Cove machine, making them one of the most quiet dishwashers available anywhere on the market.

And silent operation matters because a dishwasher is often located near the central living area of your home. A noisy dishwasher can distract from the game night or make it difficult to hear the television. As a result, appliance makers have been working hard for years to reduce the noise level of their machines.

What-kind-of-noise-level-is-acceptable

Nowadays, any machine that operates under 48dB is considered quiet. For some reference, the noise level of a library is right around 40dB while normal conversation is usually about 55 dB in volume. That's what makes the Cove's astounding 42dB quietness rating so impressive. You'll have to put your ear up to the dishwasher's front panel just to hear it.

Quietest dishwashers with live audible sound test

(2) Design consistent with Sub Zero and Wolf lines

In addition to its silent operation, the Cove dishwasher features a gorgeously designed exterior. It boasts a panel-ready design that allows it to be matched to any home décor, and also can be ordered with an optional stainless steel panel and handles designed to match existing Sub Zero-Wolf steel grain and handle designs. The Cove also features a perfectly flush installation with your existing cabinets.

Cove_Dishwasher_Stainless-Steel-Exterior

Inside the machine, you’ll enjoy LED interior lights with a luxurious gradual dimming setting. Flexible tines and racking setups feature green elements to signal where you can customize the arrangements. This lets you easily organize your unique dishes, pots, and pans.

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Thanks to built-in stemware holders, the Cove can handle up to 24 wine glasses and treat them gently with a dedicated China/Crystal program. A 3rd rack offers space for silverware and cookware as well as its own dedicated full-length spray arm.

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Many homeowners find that installing their dishwasher perfectly level is a challenge. Not the Cove. It features front-leveling legs to make installation a breeze and ensure that you’ll always get perfect alignment between your dishwasher and your countertops.

With 60cm panels and 4 inches or 6 inches toe-kick options, the Cove is also an ideal match for European-style cabinets.

(3) Cleaning and Drying Ability

The cleaning and drying ability of the Cove is also impressive. The Cove also features a built-in water softener, which helps by both eliminating water spots and also increasing the longevity of your dishwasher by avoiding calcium build-up in the pump, motor, or internal pipes and tubes. This is particularly helpful for customers in the state of New Jersey, where hard water is common.

The hidden heat element and fan-assisted drying power dissuade any fears of European brands’ chief complaint, which is that they don’t perform well when drying plastics. The hidden 900-watt element is sure to make that concern a thing of the past, particularly when you consider the special Plastics drying cycle. The heating element is hidden to protect lower-rack dishes from being melted from close contact with the element.

The heart of any dishwasher is its filtration of water during the cleaning cycle. Cove uses a 4-stage system to constantly separate soils from the water and provide fresh cleaning power. It also boasts a Sensor Wash, which automatically adjusts water consumption and varies temperature to provide the most optimum clean for any scenario.

The Cove is the only dishwasher in the world with two pumps and two distinct motors, which help separate the water intake from discharge. This dramatically improves performance and longevity and ensures fresh water intake without re-deposits.

As is customary with premium dishwashers, Cove meters the water intake to account for changes in pressure during inflow—rather than a timed water intake which can become a problem during peak water usage hours.

If you have babies who use baby bottles at home, you’ll love the high-temperature Sanitize cycles designed to rid items of germs for an NSF-grade clean.

Cycles and Wash Programs in-depth:

The Cove brings plenty of cycle options to the table, many of which are familiar and some of which will come as a welcome surprise. Auto is perfect for all soil levels, automatically adjusting to optimal wash time, temperature, and water consumption. Normal is ideal for average cleaning needs resulting from daily use, while Heavy is excellent for heavily soiled dishes that need more time, heat, and water. Alternatively, the Quick cycle is great for a fast, efficient wash for minor soiling.

Cove_Dishwasher_Cycles

Other cycles include Pots & Pans, which increases wash time and temperature, Soak & Scrub, for the most heavily soiled dishes, and Light, for very lightly soiled dishware. You'll also enjoy cycles for China/Cyrstal, Rinse/Hold (which rinses off dishes for future cleaning), Plastics, Energy (designed to reduce energy consumption), and Extra Quiet for an absolutely silent cycle.

In addition to these cycles, the Cove also features a long list of wash options. These include Delay Start, which can delay the wash cycle by 1-12 hours, High Temp Wash, which increases the main wash water temperature, and Sani Rinse, which increases the rinse water temperature and extends the rinse time by 15 minutes (sanitizing dishes per NSF/ANSI standards for residential dishwashers). You'll also love the Extra Dry cycle that extends drying time by 30 minutes as well as the Top Racks Only cycle which focuses washing power on just the upper racks.

(4) Reliability and Longevity

The Cove dishwasher is designed, tested, and proven to stand up to 20 years of regular use, and features an industry-leading 5-year warranty plus a limited lifetime parts warranty. Using a factory-certified installer from Designer Appliances can even extend that warranty an extra year, for a total of 6 years. Additionally, there is a built-in leak detection system, designed to shut off water flow in the event of a leak to prevent damage to your home.


FAQs

Is Sub Zero the same company as Wolf ranges?

Correct, Sub Zero refrigerators are part of the same company as Wolf appliances. While Sub Zero is the gold standard of built-in refrigeration Wolf ranges are a staple of the most luxurious pro kitchens.

In our family, we always argue about how to load our dishwasher. Do you have any recommendations on how to load the Cove dishwasher?

How to load a dishwasher is a very relevant question and Cove published a recommended organization diagram for your convenience:

Cove_Recommended_Organization