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Thread Number: 84414
/ Tag: Modern Dryers
Let's Talk Dryers |
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Post# 1088019 9/5/2020 at 11:12 (1,322 days old) by littlegreeny  (Milwaukee, WI) |
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Let's show dryers some love and attention. What makes a good and safe dryer? It seems like a moisture sensor is a must have as well as a metal blower housing. What manufacturers make dryers with metal blower assemblies? I was surprised to see the beloved Speed Queen has a plastic blower housing. Is gas better than electric and why? Who makes the best dryers and why?
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Post# 1088029 , Reply# 1 9/5/2020 at 13:26 (1,322 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.) |
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 I used Whirlpool/KitchenAid from 1960s through 1999. The 1976 WP's thermostatic auto-dry performance was variable depending on the seasonal ambient temperature (installed in a garage). The 1992 KA's moisture sensor (mechanical timer) was lax on towels & jeans (had to always set the maximum dryness level), good on everything else. Rebadged GE (Fisher & Paykel) 1999 to 2004. Moisture sensor (mechanical timer) was aggressive so could set less than mid/Normal dry. Fisher & Paykel (topload design) 2004 to current. Moisture sensor and electronic controls is spot-on, Normal dry is good for everything. | ||
| Post# 1088050 , Reply# 2 9/5/2020 at 17:19 (1,321 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806) | ||
From my experience with the 1963 Whirlpool Imperial 29” dryer I bought a little over a month ago, it’s probably one of the most gentle dryers I’ve used since it was a wide array of temperature options and you can either have the full 5600 watt heat output on the super setting or a gentle 4500 watt heat output on normal speed.
In terms of gas vs electric dryers, I’d choose gas where electric is more expensive but since I have solar either one works for me since I have a hookup for gas and electric. | ||
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Post# 1088060 , Reply# 3 9/5/2020 at 18:21 (1,321 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.) |
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Post# 1088075 , Reply# 4 9/5/2020 at 21:12 (1,321 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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Fisher & Paykel TL Dryers | ||
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Post# 1088081 , Reply# 5 9/5/2020 at 22:05 (1,321 days old) by GELaundry4ever (Nacogdoches, TX, USA) |
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lg and kenmore elite dryers in my experience have/had higher airflo power than the GE's that I had. I use normal cycle with medium on the sensor cycle. That may explain why the matching washers spin super fast. Much faster than the matching washers I'v had to their dryers I've had. | ||
| Post# 1088088 , Reply# 6 9/6/2020 at 00:25 (1,321 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806) | ||
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| Post# 1088090 , Reply# 7 9/6/2020 at 04:12 (1,321 days old) by mark_wpduet (Lexington KY) | ||
My 2019
WP DRYER is just over a year old. I really like it. Now, it doesn't have the bells/whistles that my Duet dryer had, but it does the job. I use auto dry mostly and I can say that it's mostly accurate, but at times it's not. Just the other day I washed the large load of whites which included towels. I put it in 'more dry' and when it buzzed, they were still very damp. On the dial, you can go way past more dry, maybe that's what I'll try next time. But on mixed loads, I can turn it just a little above normal but not quite to more dry, and it's really accurate. I feel like it's the larger loads where it loses it's accuracy......but I didn't know it had anything to do with ambient temp...
I've thought about just using timed-dry with larger loads because I know just about how long it would take to dry...
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Post# 1088105 , Reply# 8 9/6/2020 at 05:35 (1,321 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.) |
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Mark, that's what I did with the KA ... turned the timer backwards from Off into the Regular cycle just to the the point that it'd turn on with the heat contact engaged to get the maximum possible dryness level. John, yes production was discontinued but they didn't issue a mandatory recall so mine from 2004 is running (which my mother is using now), plus the 2nd one that I found two years ago that I'm using, and a 3rd that's in abused condition but is fixable. | ||
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Post# 1088123 , Reply# 9 9/6/2020 at 10:18 (1,321 days old) by littlegreeny (Milwaukee, WI) |
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| Post# 1088128 , Reply# 10 9/6/2020 at 11:04 (1,321 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806) | ||
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The dryer that was left behind at my old house was a 1987 Kenmore 70 or 60 series dryer and only had a timed drying cycle and a auto dry cycle and I believe it had a moisture sensor but it’s been 14 years since I’ve last seen it. My mom always used the timed drying cycle since the auto dry never completely got things dried and the only dryer with a auto dry timer that actually worked I owned for a brief time was a early 90’s Maytag SOH dryer and it did actually work very well on the auto dry setting. All the dryers I own currently at the moment are only timed drying dryers with the exception of my Maytag DG810 dryer but the rest are only timed drying dryers.
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Post# 1088139 , Reply# 11 9/6/2020 at 13:02 (1,321 days old) by appnut (TX) |
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| Post# 1088159 , Reply# 13 9/6/2020 at 16:01 (1,320 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806) | ||
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Whirlpool 29” dryers are one of the best dryers you can buy today, and they will out perform most newer dryers as well especially when drying smaller loads of laundry in them. My ‘63 Whirlpool Imperial dryer is the first 29” dryer I’ve owned and so far I am happy with it and the lint screen is easy to clean since it never really gets filled with lint and is small and square compared to the rectangular lint screens in the newer Whirlpool 29” dryers.
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| Post# 1088179 , Reply# 14 9/6/2020 at 17:11 (1,320 days old) by panasonicvac (Northern Utah) | ||
I actually was going to bring something up related to dryers. One of my grandparents has an electric dryer BUT it doesn't have a ventilation in the laundry room to blow most of everything outside. How bad is it to not have one of those put in? At least during the winter it does help keep the laundry room warm while the dryer is on but it does moisturize the windows and walls a little bit.
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| Post# 1088226 , Reply# 15 9/7/2020 at 05:18 (1,320 days old) by mark_wpduet (Lexington KY) | ||
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I don't know for sure but I don't think mine has a moisture sensor....at least when I look inside I can't see one anywhere.
I agree about dryers. To me a dryer doesn't need to be overly complicated.....I'd rather spend more on a FL washer than some old boring dryer. Oh, and my next FL washer, I'm just not going to get a pedestal. If I can bend over for the dryer, I can bend over for the washer. I will admit though, having that extra height is convenient...but I can live without a pedestal. and my washer will be closer to the height of my dryer. Right now the duet towers over it. My duet washer that just WILL NOT DIE (not that I want it to) I have a vacuum that stays in the laundry and I have this attachment that goes down deep into the dryer where the lint screen goes...I hate dealing with dusty lint so I just vacuum it. The attachment is more designed for top lint screens but it can be used with other designs..Top screen lint filters are my favorite. | ||
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Post# 1088246 , Reply# 16 9/7/2020 at 08:59 (1,320 days old) by littlegreeny (Milwaukee, WI) |
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Post# 1088247 , Reply# 17 9/7/2020 at 09:02 (1,320 days old) by appnut (TX) |
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Post# 1088251 , Reply# 18 9/7/2020 at 09:12 (1,320 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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Cleaning The Lint Filter On 29" WP Built Dryers I always clean the filter just after starting the dryer, with the strong vacuum of air sucking down into the dryer nearly all the dust you stir up cleaning the filter is just sent outside and the dust that falls on the dryers top I just wish toward the filter opening with my hand.
Letting this dry lint rush through the exhaust duct actually helps clean your duct work.
The only caution to doing this is if you have all kinds of small items sitting on the top of the dryer as something could be sucked into the blower.
John L. | ||
| Post# 1088280 , Reply# 19 9/7/2020 at 11:15 (1,320 days old) by mark_wpduet (Lexington KY) | ||
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@ John | ||
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Post# 1088287 , Reply# 20 9/7/2020 at 12:05 (1,320 days old) by littlegreeny (Milwaukee, WI) |
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Bob, I have a unitized Frigidaire washer/dryer. The washer is that infamous agitub unit Eugene (and I) despise. The dryer is electric and has a moisture sensor. We currently rent and these came with the apartment. I really do not like them but have figured out what cycles will get an acceptable level of clean. I tried getting them removed so we could buy our own set but the building management wouldn't allow that.
We're house hunting and I'm still trying to decide what washer and dryer we're going to get once we have our own house. | ||
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Post# 1088303 , Reply# 21 9/7/2020 at 13:52 (1,320 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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Dryer Vents Hi Mark, there is nothing inherently wrong with a dryer venting through the roof, Is it excessively long ?, if it goes through an attic the outside of the rigid metal vent pipe needs to be heavy insulated and a proper roof cap that does not restrict the air-flow should be used.
All things considered a vent that goes up is better than one that goes down through a basement.
John L. | ||
| Post# 1088340 , Reply# 22 9/7/2020 at 17:27 (1,319 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas) | ||
 I have had several Whirlpool built dryers (of various marques) throughout the years. They were all durable and performed exceptionally well. I was rather disappointed with the Speed Queen dryer (that I gave to my Mom about three months ago). I loved the washer, but disliked the dryer. It performed well on timed dry but the automatic cycles took too long and tended to over dry on the normal setting and under dry on a less dry setting. I currently have an LG dryer that I'm very happy with. This post was last edited 09/07/2020 at 20:47 | ||
| Post# 1088356 , Reply# 23 9/7/2020 at 18:17 (1,319 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806) | ||
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Reply #22
Speed Queen dryers are built well like you said but they tend to get quite hot and over dry things at times. My aunt had a 1999 Whirlpool Ultimate Care II set until 2016 and got a Amana (Speed Queen) set and my aunt doesn’t much care for the dryer since it gets very HOT, even more so than my new ‘63 Whirlpool dryer and I’ve used it before and it does get HOT. The dryer is gas but if it were my dryer I’d put a 18,000 btu nozzle in the burner so it would make it more gentle and that may not be the correct fix but honestly I would rather have a dryer that takes longer to dryer and is overall more gentle on clothes rather that have a dryer that gets very hot.
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Post# 1088361 , Reply# 24 9/7/2020 at 18:27 (1,319 days old) by littlegreeny (Milwaukee, WI) |
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Speed Queen Dryers
I wonder if the lack of a moisture sensor on all but the most expensive Speed Queen dryers is the root cause of the frustration with their performance? I'm surprised the blower assembly of Speed Queen's are plastic. I'd think a dryer that costs upwards of a $1000 would have all metal construction and a moisture sensor.
Is there something I'm missing that justifies their high price tag or are they pretty much built like any other dryer? | ||
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Post# 1088362 , Reply# 25 9/7/2020 at 19:26 (1,319 days old) by wayupnorth (On a lake between Bangor and Bar Harbor, Maine) |
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Post# 1088369 , Reply# 27 9/7/2020 at 20:20 (1,319 days old) by appnut (TX) |
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| Post# 1088486 , Reply# 28 9/8/2020 at 14:56 (1,319 days old) by agiflow4 () | ||
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Oh yeah I knew that Bob. No there manufacturer ever had a pull out lint filter on the top of the machine. Would be nice if they had made the drum with the integrated baffle they used to have. | ||
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Post# 1088490 , Reply# 29 9/8/2020 at 15:30 (1,319 days old) by GELaundry4ever (Nacogdoches, TX, USA) |
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whirlpool 29 inch dryers had a distinct blower hum you could hear. I'm talking about the ones that the typical match to the direct drive washers. | ||
| Post# 1088501 , Reply# 30 9/8/2020 at 17:04 (1,318 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806) | ||
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Reply #28
When you say integrated baffles on the 29” dryers are you referring the the stamped baffles like on my ‘63 Whirlpool Imperial dryer?
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| Post# 1088508 , Reply# 31 9/8/2020 at 17:55 (1,318 days old) by agiflow4 () | ||
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Yes indeed Sean. | ||
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Post# 1088510 , Reply# 32 9/8/2020 at 18:07 (1,318 days old) by CleanteamofNY ((Monroe, New York) |
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What makes a good and safe dryer?
Dryers are as safe as long every laundry machine owners do the once a year maintenance cleaning to reduce interior cabinet and exhaust duct lint buildup that could cause a dryer fire.
It seems like a moisture sensor is a must-have as well as a metal blower housing.
It depends on the specks of the MFG's as well of the price we are willing to pay for units. Moisture sensors are better at detecting moister in the load over an exhaust thermostatic sensor.
Is gas better than electric and why? This is an on the fence answer: Both get the job done. Gas tends to leave a little moister in the load where electric tends to slightly (by a small margin) over dry. Gas dryer is cheaper to run over electric but the drawback is the scent of burning gas is left on the load and can be most pronounced if the gas company adds too much mercaptan.
Who makes the best dryers and why? Everyone has their personal favorite dryer and since I've owned both 29" and 27" Kenmore's made by Whirlpool. For me, they both win hands down. 1. For speed 2. Flexible drying temps. 3. Capacity 4. Longevity and easy to service
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| Post# 1088511 , Reply# 33 9/8/2020 at 18:08 (1,318 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806) | ||
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Reply #31
For some reason the lint screen never really seems to get full on my ‘63 Whirlpool Imperial dryer even with things such as towels which generally generate a lot of lint. I can literally clean the lint screen after every couple of loads but I usually clean it after each load I dry in it just because. Sometimes there is NO to very little lint when I dry small loads of laundry in it.
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Post# 1088515 , Reply# 34 9/8/2020 at 18:17 (1,318 days old) by littlegreeny (Milwaukee, WI) |
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Thanks Larry for your detailed reply.
I totally agree about cleaning the dryer. Yesterday I took mine apart and was stunned by the amount of lint inside. We've lived in this rental for seven years (moved in when it was brand new) and I never took it apart to clean it. The vent has also never been cleaned but I don't have a means to do that. Unfortunately our building maintenance is non-existent so they'd never clean the dryers or the vents. | ||
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Post# 1088522 , Reply# 35 9/8/2020 at 19:41 (1,318 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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Dryer Fires Are not caused by lint build-up on the bottom of a dryer or minor build-up in the exhaust duct etc.
Major warning signs that you are at risk of a fire are
1 a dryer that takes MUCH longer t dry a load than it did originally
2 a dryer that is extremely noisy, also one that has been catching and damaging clothing
Yes it is nice to clean and lubricate a dryer once in awhile but unless it is drying 5-10 loads a day you are wasting you time to do it every year and may be damaging the machine by taking it apart that often.
. For average users of around 5- 10 loads a week with none of the problems listed above I might think about service every 5-10 years and depending how bad it looks adjust your cleaning schedule accordingly.
John L. | ||
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Post# 1088524 , Reply# 36 9/8/2020 at 19:53 (1,318 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.) |
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This was the first disassembly of my 2004 SmartLoad in January 2014, age 9 years 3 months. I was surprised at how little lint had leaked out of the mechanism, although there was an accumulation in the filter housing (last pic), which is part of why I was servicing it. 2nd pic, there's a clean swipe on top of the motor control module. Plastic everywhere ... ! | ||
| Post# 1088532 , Reply# 37 9/8/2020 at 21:10 (1,318 days old) by IowaBear (Cedar Rapids, IA) | ||
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| Post# 1088538 , Reply# 38 9/8/2020 at 21:31 (1,318 days old) by qsd-dan (West) | ||
9 Years Of Use | ||
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Post# 1088543 , Reply# 39 9/8/2020 at 22:32 (1,318 days old) by appnut (TX) |
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Post# 1088575 , Reply# 40 9/9/2020 at 04:57 (1,318 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.) |
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Bob, it has always been my only daily-driver dryer for the duration. There's no place to run another in the house. I have several dryers stashed in the garage but the 240v outlet there is no longer conveniently accessible due to all the washers & dryers and other stuff in there. My original DEGX1 was swapped-out (went to my mother) a couple years ago for the AeroSmart model ... same mechanism, different control panel (any SmartLoad chassis can take any model control panel). | ||
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