Description
The Frigidaire FFBD1831US is the compact machine in this catalog: an 18 inch wide built in dishwasher rather than the standard 24 inch. Frigidaire records built in installation, 8 place settings, a 52 decibel noise level, a silver color, front control layout, a stainless steel material, ADA compliance, Energy Star qualification, an NSF certified sanitize cycle, dimensions given as 18 inches deep by 22.5 wide by 35 tall, and a power cord included.
What it is and where it fits in a home
An 18 inch dishwasher exists for kitchens that cannot give up 24 inches of cabinet run. Galley kitchens, city apartments, small houses and second kitchens are where this format belongs, and in those spaces the choice is often between an 18 inch built in machine and no built in machine at all, which makes the comparison with the countertop units such as the HAVA TDQR07 a real one rather than academic.
The ADA compliance is the other reason to choose it. ADA compliant dishwashers are built to a reduced height so the counter above can sit lower for wheelchair access, and Frigidaire states compliance explicitly rather than leaving it to be inferred. Anyone building or adapting a kitchen for accessibility should note that the dimension figures on this listing appear transposed: 18 inches is the width of an 18 inch dishwasher, not its depth, and 22.5 inches is closer to a standard cabinet depth than a width. Take the opening dimensions from Frigidaire’s installation sheet rather than from these numbers, because on an accessible installation the height in particular has to be right.
Living with it day to day
8 place settings is the honest constraint. A 24 inch machine such as the Bosch SHEM63W55N takes 16, so this holds half as much. For one or two people it is a daily run rather than a chore. For a family of four it means running it twice, and at that point the space saving is being paid for in cycles.
52 decibels is the loudest of the built in machines in this catalog. Against the Bosch SHE53B75UC at 46 decibels and the 42 decibel machines here, that is a substantial difference, and decibels being logarithmic it is more of a gap than the numbers suggest. In a small apartment where the kitchen is the living room, this is a machine you notice running. Against a countertop unit at 60 decibels it is still much quieter, which is the fair comparison for the space it occupies.
The dual spray arm system serves both racks rather than relying on a single arm below, which matters more in a narrow tub where water has less room to travel. The stainless interior is the durable choice and resists staining and odor better than a plastic tub.
Controls and what works without an app
There is nothing connected here. No Wi-Fi, no app, no notifications. The front control layout is the entire interface, and everything works with power, water and nothing else.
Front controls are the right choice on an accessible machine specifically. Top edge controls, the kind used on the Bosch SHPM78Z55N for a seamless look, require the door to be opened to reach them and are read from above. Controls on the front face can be seen and operated from a seated position, which matters on a unit sold as ADA compliant. That is a design decision that lines up with the purpose of the appliance rather than fighting it.
Running cost and upkeep
Detergent and rinse aid are the routine consumables, in smaller doses than a full sized machine takes given the load size. No water softener or salt reservoir is described, so hard water is managed by descaling and rinse aid rather than by the machine.
The tub filter, the spray arms and the door seal need periodic attention. On a narrow machine the spray arm jets are worth checking more often than on a wide one, because there is less margin for a partially blocked jet before a rack stops getting properly cleaned.
Energy Star qualification is published, though Frigidaire does not publish the annual kilowatt hour figure or the water use per cycle on this listing, which the Sharp SDW6757ES does at 249 kilowatt hours a year and 3.5 gallons per cycle. Energy Star on an 18 inch machine is measured against 18 inch machines, so the certification does not make it more efficient in absolute terms than a larger unit, and it should not be read that way.
On the electrical side, no voltage and no amperage are published at all. A built in dishwasher requires a specified supply and, in an accessible installation, the electrical rough in has to be planned before the cabinetry. That information comes from the installation manual and the rating plate, and none of it should be assumed from this listing.
Highlights
- 18 inches wide, which fits kitchens where a 24 inch machine simply will not.
- ADA compliance is stated explicitly rather than left to be inferred.
- Front controls, operable and readable from a seated position.
- A dual spray arm system, which matters more in a narrow tub.
- Energy Star qualified and NSF certified on the sanitize cycle.
Things To Consider
- The published dimensions appear transposed and should not be used for a cabinet opening.
- 52 decibels is the loudest built in machine in this catalog.
- 8 place settings means a family of four runs it twice a day.
- No annual energy figure, water consumption figure, voltage or amperage is published.
- No water softener or salt reservoir for hard water areas.
Who it is not for
Any kitchen with room for a 24 inch machine should use one, since capacity per cycle is where dishwashers earn their place, and the built in dishwasher category has the wider options. Households sensitive to noise in a small open plan space should compare the 52 decibel figure honestly against the 42 to 46 decibel machines. Renters without plumbing provision need a countertop machine. And anyone planning an accessible kitchen should get the real dimensions from Frigidaire before committing, because the ones on this listing do not describe an 18 inch appliance.
