Fisher & Paykel DishDrawer DD24 Dishwasher Review

Cleaning

With a Cleaning score of 7.6, this Fisher & Paykel lands in the template zone of "Mostly clean, occasional spots." In practice, the two-drawer layout makes it easier to split mixed loads. It helps you wash light items below while heavier items go where you need them. The listing also calls out 6 wash programs, including Normal, Heavy, Eco, Fast, Delicate, and Rinse. That is enough choice to handle everyday dishes and the odd mess without running the same cycle every time.

The load size matters, too. It is rated for 14 place settings, which is high for its countertop format. That capacity helps on busy weeks, but it also raises the stakes. If you pack too tightly, residue can hold on, especially when food dries before the next run. The known weak point is "Top-drawer residue." That lines up with why some owners end up rewashing when they do not manage the upper drawer carefully.

Cycle choice and loading habits are the difference here. You get a Heavy and an Eco option among the 6 cycles. Use Heavy when you expect baked-on starch or stuck-on grease. Use Eco when loads look routine. If you treat every load like a Heavy load, you may waste energy and still miss stubborn spots. If you treat everything like Eco, you risk those occasional top-drawer patches. The unit does well when you match the program to the soil level.

Quietness

Quietness scores 8.7, mapping to "Unobtrusive, low hum." The spec support is clear: it lists 45 dBA. That is the kind of number that usually stays background-level during wash and drain. Even if you hear it, it tends to feel like a gentle sound. The mini-review also points to a lack of harsh wash noise, and this matches what you would expect from a system built around quieter operation.

The real test for noise is not just the stated rating. It is also what phase you catch. A drawer dishwasher can still sound different when water jets hit load areas versus when it transitions to draining. With a low 45 dBA rating, you are less likely to get jolted by sudden bursts. In open kitchens or shared dining spaces, that matters. You can run a cycle while doing other things without the sound taking over the room.

Noise also affects how often you run smaller loads. This model fits the daily rhythm of running more frequently. Since it is rated for 14 place settings, it can handle everyday volume without forcing you to wait for a full batch. That reduces the temptation to skip rinsing, which can improve cleaning consistency and indirectly helps reduce rewash cycles.

Build Quality

Build Quality scores 7.0, which maps to "Slight wobble, average longevity." The spec set you have for this model does not include tub material or detailed construction notes, so you have to judge it through the other available data points and the product category it belongs to. This Fisher & Paykel is a countertop installation, sized at 23.5625 x 22.5625 x 32.3125 inches. That compact footprint means the unit sits closer to your countertop. Any minor movement can feel more noticeable than it would in a built-in form.

The drawer format also brings a different feel to reliability. Drawer systems depend on seals and drainage paths that remain stable across repeated cycles. Here, the primary build-related concern shows up in the weakness list: "Drainage failure risk." That points less to a simple noise issue and more to how well the unit clears water over time. If drainage goes wrong, you can get lingering moisture, odors, or spotty performance that looks like poor cleaning, even when the wash itself was fine.

So the build story is mixed. You get a quiet unit at 45 dBA and a workable capacity of 14 place settings. But your confidence in long-term smooth operation depends on drainage behavior, and that is specifically called out as a risk. If you tend to run cycles often, you should take special care with how you load, since drawer dishwashers can show problems faster when water cannot clear properly.

Features

Features score 7.8, landing in the "Decent options, mixed drying" zone. The model has 6 wash cycles, which is a solid range for a countertop drawer unit. You also get dedicated modes like Eco for routine efficiency and Heavy for tough soils. Normal handles the bulk of daily loads. Fast and Rinse help with time-saving and pre-rinse needs.

Energy use is one area where the specs are concrete. It is Energy Star certified, listed as "Yes." Energy Star certification matters because it ties the unit to tested efficiency targets. That pairs well with having an Eco cycle in the 6-program list. In other words, you are not guessing whether Eco actually aligns with the efficiency label. The match is built into the program naming and certification status.

However, drying system specifics are not listed in the extracted specs, so you cannot use the data table to verify how the drying cycle performs. Since "mixed drying" fits the score well, expect that some loads may come out wetter than you want, especially with mixed materials. The practical workaround is smart loading and cycle selection using the 6 available programs. If you rely on air-dry time in a drawer model, you may need to adjust your habits when drying varies by load.

Value

Value scores 7.9, mapping to "Worth every penny." This is not because everything is perfect. It is because the unit hits two key daily needs: quiet operation and usable capacity in a compact setup. The specs support both. Noise is rated at 45 dBA, and capacity is listed as 14 place settings. Those two numbers together explain why many people accept the trade-offs of a drawer dishwasher.

Energy Star certification adds another value layer. Since it is listed as Energy Star certified, "Yes," you get the benefit of an efficiency benchmark rather than just a vague promise. That matters most when you run cycles regularly. The 6 wash programs also help you avoid overusing harsher or longer cycles. Choose Eco for lighter soil. Choose Heavy for the heavier stuff. That can reduce the chance you will feel stuck running the same cycle repeatedly.

Still, the value story includes the downside list. "Top-drawer residue" lowers friction only if you learn the loading pattern quickly. It is also paired with "Childlock inconvenience." Without detailed specs on how the childlock works, you should treat it as a real usability trade-off. Finally, there is the "Drainage failure risk." When drainage becomes unreliable, the cost of ownership shows up in rewash, troubleshooting time, and frustration. In value terms, this dishwasher makes sense if your priorities are low noise and frequent small-to-medium runs, and if you are willing to manage loading carefully for the top drawer.