Tips for your brand new dishwasher that nobody talks about

I had this exact thing happen with my Bosch 800 series last fall. When I pulled the unit out of the box, the bottom was covered in droplets and there was a wierd chemical smell. I acutally called the local appliance shop where I bought it, convinced that someone had returned a used unit and they sold it to me as "new." The guy on the phone told me the same thing about the factory testing, but I was still skeptical becasue the insulation felt a bit damp too.

After I got it installed and finished the first heavy cycle, everthing cleared up. It turns out that those factory tests are pretty thorough, and if the unit sits in a cold warehouse for a few months, that moisture just condenses and sticks around. I ended up checking my drain line three times just to be safe. I even went back under the sink to ensure the high loop was tied off properly against the cabinet wall because I was paranoid about leaks. My old KitchenAid never had that issue, but I guess newer high-efficiency models are tested differently to meet those tighter specs. Just keep an eye on the door seal during that first week; if it's just condensation from the factory, it won't come back once you start using the heated dry.

Seen this a hundred times on the GE Profile PDT715 lines. People freak out about the 'swamp smell' when it's just the factory water reacting with the bitumen sound deadening pads. If you relly want to be sure it's just test water and not a cracked pan, check the turbidity sensor housing on the bottom. I’ve seen some LG QuadWash units get hairline fractures during rough transit that look like factory condensation but acutally slow-drip during the first run. Pro tip: always check your junction box for moisture too; if that factory water hit the wiring during a bumpy ride, you’ll be chasing a ground fault before you even get to the first cycle.

Exactly, it's definitely standard procedure for the high-end units. What I’ve noticed is that those little red or blue plastic shipping plugs on the water inlet and drain ports are designed to keep that test water inside during transit. If one of those plugs isn't seated perfectly or pops off in the box, you'll see alot more standing water than usual. Just make sure you acutally pull those plugs out before you try to hook up your lines; I've seen DIYers try to shove the hose over them, wich causes a way bigger mess than the factory moisture ever woud.

This is such a relief to read becasue I'm about to buy my first house and I've never had to shop for appliances before. I honestly would have thought the store sold me a used return if I saw water inside! I don't know much about the mechanics, but you mentioned a 'high loop' for the drain hose. Is that somthing I have to build into the cabinet myself, or does the dishwasher come with something to hold it up? Also, does the 'swamp smell' from the factory water go away after just one wash, or should I buy a specific cleaner to use for the first run?