Equator SBT 2440 Dishwasher Review

The machine offers a lot of loading flexibility for a 24-inch built-in. It has three racks, including a third rack for cutlery and small items, an upper rack you can raise or lower, and adjustable tines in the lower rack.

Eight wash programs cover the usual ground: Auto Sensor, ECO Sensor, Daily, Heavy, Pots & Pans, Delicate, Fast 50 and Rinse. On top of those you can add Sanitize, which brings the final rinse to 150°F, plus High Temp, Extra Dry, Half Load for the upper or lower rack alone, and a delay start set in one-hour steps.

Efficiency and build

The dishwasher is Energy Star certified, at 239 kWh/yr and 3.1 gal per cycle on the Energy Star listing. Equator's own product copy gives 3.4 gal per cycle, which is the figure on the product sheet. The tub and racks are stainless steel, there are dual spray arms, and the controls sit hidden along the top edge of the door. The stainless finish is fingerprint-resistant, and the machine has leakage protection, a rinse-aid indicator and a buzzer at the end of the wash.

Noise and fit

Rated noise is 51 dB, roughly the hum of a refrigerator. That is fine in an open-plan kitchen and audible in a small apartment; this is not a whisper-quiet machine. The depth is 22.4 inches, shallower than many US built-ins. The warranty is one year parts and labor.

Drying is the headline limit. The machine uses fan-assisted drying with no exposed heating element in the tub, so plastics and cups often come out beaded with water. The wet finish is how the machine works, not a defect.

Cycles, controls and maintenance

A sensor or normal program with the high-temperature options runs around 185 minutes. The controls take learning: the power button needs a press-and-hold, and the option buttons are not obvious on first use.

There is no Wi-Fi or app control, and the panel has no remaining-time display. These are the machine's characteristics, stated so you can decide.

The 22.4-inch depth is the fit story. At 51 dB the dishwasher sits mid-pack on noise, quiet enough for a kitchen you sit in but not silent.

Keep a towel nearby at unloading time: plastic and cups with a concave base usually need a quick wipe.

Loading the racks

Keep tall dinner plates angled back from the upper spray arm rather than standing them straight up, and check that the arm spins freely before you start a cycle.

Noise in context

At 51 dB the dishwasher runs quietly enough that a small apartment with the machine near a sofa will still hear it. In a small apartment with the machine near a sofa, you will know when it is running.

Everyday rhythm

The sensor and normal programs run long, around 185 minutes with the high-temperature options. Fast 50 handles a quick partial load, and Half Load lets you run only the upper or only the lower rack when the machine is not full.

Error codes worth knowing

• F1: overflow.
• F2: not draining.
• F3: continuous water input.
• F4: flow meter fault.
• F5: pressure system fault.
• F6: heater sensor fault.
• F7: overheating.
• F8: heater error.
• F9: diverter motor fault.
• HI: high voltage.
• FF: water inlet problem.

Installation notes

The machine needs a 120 V circuit rated at 12 A. Secure the machine to the cabinetry with the brackets, and set the drain hose at the height the manual specifies.