Unless your dryer suddenly dies and you are in need of a new one, they are pretty much an afterthought. I have seen people agonize over picking out a washing machine, but the only thought they really put into the dryer whether it's gas or electric. That's because when a consumer buys a washer, they usually also buy the dryer so they will have a matching set.
I remember this couple who came into the store one day shopping for washers. The husband just kind of stood there with his hands in his pockets while his wife looked at all of the washers we had on display. She turned the dials, lifted the lids, and asked all the right questions. He stood motionless, silent except for the occasional sigh. She'd ask him a question every once in a while, just to make him think his opinion mattered, and he'd look at her like she was speaking Klingonese.
After about two hours, she had finally zeroed in on a model she wanted. Of course, then she had to determine what color she wanted. (Damn you, LG!) Once that was out of the way, we sat down to write up the order. And that's when he finally broke his silence.
"What's your best price?"
"Is that the best you can do?"
"You know I could just take your price over to Best Buy and they'll just beat you."
"How's business been? You could probably really use this sale, couldn't you?" (I told the asshole I didn't work on commission. Ha! I really effing hate people sometimes.)
We finally agreed on a price. It was my original price, but I had thrown in three tubs of pretty good detergent.
Just then the wife piped with, "Oh, and we'll need the dryer to be electric."
"Dryer?" the husband replied, and then he looked right at me with an almost maniacal look of urgency and said, "Six tubs! I want six tubs of detergent!"
Anyway, the point of my post wasn't that people can be real douchebags sometimes, although it quickly degenerated into just that. My point was that when it comes to the dryer, people don't really put a whole lot of thought into the decision. They'll decide on a washer, but how they arrive at that decision does not usually involve the dryer.
Believe it or not, dryer capacity is important. When it comes to the dryer, the size of the drum will not so much effect how much laundry you can do at once. After all, you are only going to put into the dryer what you put into the washer. However, the size of the dryer will have an effect on what condition the clothes are in when they come out of it.
Generally speaking, you want the dryer to be twice as large as the washer. So for a 3.2cf capacity washer, you want a dryer to be at least 6.4cf. As you get into the bigger washers, that guideline can be more difficult to meet as the dryer sizes have not kept up with washer sizes. For instance, Electrolux offers a 4.7cf washer, while the companion dryer is "only" 8.0cf, instead of 9.4cf.
A larger dryer will provide the following benefits:
* less pilling: The clothes have more room to spread out so the fabric does not rub together so much throughout the cycle
* less wrinkling: Again, more room equals more room for the clothes to spread out
* faster dry times: More room equals more airflow and that equates to faster dry times
* more even drying: Yep, you guessed it. A larger drum will provide more room for the clothes to spread out while tumbling, and that will allow the items to dry more consistently (ie, the clothes won't be a massive ball with a big wet spot in the center).
So yes, dryer capacity is important. And that's always why I've hated Frigidaire dryers. Tiny little boxes with crappy airflow that really just tumble the clothes and bake them dry. And then there's that damn thing at the top of the drum, above the door, that clothes always seem to snag on.
Yeah. Frigidaire dryers really kinda suck.
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We are shopping for a new washer and dryer right now and I am totally eating up your blog. You are awesome. Thanks for all the info!!!
Hi Anna! Thank you very much for visiting, and taking the time to comment. It is very gratifying to know that this is helpful to others!
After immersing ourselves for weeks in washer and dryer data, reviews, etc., we bought the Samsung 448 set at Lowe's last night. We didn't go in to get that one -- it was way out of our range and we were looking at the 328s -- but they had a great price on some white 448s. Hasn't been delivered yet, but I think/hope this will have been a good purchase! Thanks again for the informative site. We used a ton of sources, both commercial and private, and yours was a very helpful one.
I'm doing the same thing Anna did in eating this site up. You deserve a huge thank you for taking the time to inform the public like you have!
Your empathy for your customers is touching ('asshole', 'douchebag').
Could be that people are tired of paying $2000 for cheapshit Korean laundry appliances that don't last three years before they breakdown and repair costs exceed the value of the appliance. So they try to get any kind of advantage they can - even though it's a pathetic tub or detergent or two.
If you wanted to 'inform the public' you should have told them that the stuff being sold today has a life expectancy of five years or less, and to hold onto their old-school top-load machines and dial-knob dryers as long as possible. I have a '68 Whirlpool dryer I'd match against ANY LG or Samsung for longevity - even though the Korean junk has a 41-year head start!!
If you spend anytime reading this blog, you will see that I tend to be pretty forthright about the reliability of modern appliances. Yes, I have no doubt your dryer is a well-built machine. Yes, the vast majority of the stuff being built today is inferior to stuff built 40 years-ago. And that is regardless of brand, or country of origin.
So maybe someone here can help me decide. We purchased the Electrolux set during Lowe's Labor Day Sale now the washer has started leaking water from the front right corner. Lowe's is great they offered to replace my Electrolux washer for a new one or I can return the Electrolux for the new Platinum Samsung 448 set. I thought Electrolux was top of the line but if I exchange for the Samsung I owe $250. There aren't many reviews on Electrolux andyone have any opinion should I keep them or trade in for Samsung?
All of them are crap except Miele, and they are over priced by about 500.00- 1000,00 dollars The set I want is aprox, $4,000. A second choice is about $3500. But I loose the RPMs. I choke at these prices. But the life span is 15-20 years. A set of Kenmores used to last 10-15 years at $500-$600 (with all the bells and whistles). NOT MY LAST THREE KENMORES. THEY SUCK NOW! 5 years max and close to $3,000. with tax and a warranty that runs out a few days before they break down. I prefer American made, but all is JUNK NOW! This German set is the best that money can buy now, even with all the cons and pros. Yet, they are still over priced. I could get a used car for that. Half a remodel in my kitchen... but 3-4 thousand dollars to wash your clothes. Theses other Koren / Japan models could at least add a few more gallons of water to actually clean your clothes. I am all for saving water, but dirty clothes...Look at You tube Miele washers. I never thought I would lust over a washing machine. I want the Miele W5922 washer and the T8685c Dryer. Go look. More water in the front loader and 1700 RPM. Towels would be dry in 30 minutes verses an hour. You can control the RPM's for silks (no wrinkles and delicate dry etc.. Your dry cleaners would hate you....GO Look. If you are fortunate enough that you can afford these, remember me, you can treat me to a set for sharing my many hours of research. And to all you others, do not bother me with you could buy three sets of Samsung over the 20 years. I have already considered it. If I could afford Miele, I would not be hear still trying to figure out what is the second best in my price range. If I pay even 3 thousand, I want it to clean my close and give me at least a little control over how I wash my laundry, The market is dictating to us the consumer, and I am not happy aout it AT ALL.
Sorry about the typos above. I am so ticked about the junk machines we consumers are having force feed down our throats that I am about to tear the keys off my computer. This is not healthy. I will be glad when this nightmare has passed and I am washing again.
TYPOs galore
I would not be here still trying to figure out what is the second best in my price range. If I pay even 3 thousand, I want it to clean my close and...