Author Topic: Best brand name(s) for a new dryer?  (Read 5209 times)

jeromedawg

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Best brand name(s) for a new dryer?
« on: September 21, 2015, 03:24:58 PM »
First off, without a doubt, don't ever buy an LG appliance... or at least a gas dryer. Mine is leaking gas possibly due to a bad control board, which costs at least $350+ to fix and is on backorder for 2-3 weeks. :T

At this rate, I might as well buy a new dryer! What brands do you guys swear buy or have? And is it worth buying an extended warranty (at least on the dryer esp if it's gas)?

Spork

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Re: Best brand name(s) for a new dryer?
« Reply #1 on: September 21, 2015, 03:57:24 PM »
I can't say I know the answer.  But I think the question may be more complicated than "what is the best brand?"  Appliances have become schizophrenic ...  They will make one model and sell it under 4-5 different brand names.  (They'll change the displays/controls ever so slightly just so it looks different.)  I know ours is sold as a Whirlpool, a Maytag and a Kenmore minimally.  And other than display parts, they're fully interchangeable.  The plus side of this is that often one brand's part will be significantly less expensive than the next -- even though they are the same. 

Another Reader

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Re: Best brand name(s) for a new dryer?
« Reply #2 on: September 21, 2015, 04:27:50 PM »
Buy yourself a used Whirlpool off Craigslist.  Get the basic dryer with the larger capacity.  Should be around $100 for one that is a few years old.  If you need a gas dryer, they are less common and might cost a little more.

jeromedawg

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Re: Best brand name(s) for a new dryer?
« Reply #3 on: September 21, 2015, 04:41:35 PM »
Buy yourself a used Whirlpool off Craigslist.  Get the basic dryer with the larger capacity.  Should be around $100 for one that is a few years old.  If you need a gas dryer, they are less common and might cost a little more.

I'm tempted to convert to electric. Gas is such a PITA when something goes wrong...

Easye418

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Re: Best brand name(s) for a new dryer?
« Reply #4 on: September 21, 2015, 05:29:25 PM »
Samsung. Expensive, but worth it.

jeromedawg

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Re: Best brand name(s) for a new dryer?
« Reply #5 on: September 21, 2015, 07:54:28 PM »
Samsung. Expensive, but worth it.

I've heard just as bad if not worse things about Samsung as I have LG. I'm steering clear of any Korean-made appliances...that's for sure.

Easye418

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Re: Best brand name(s) for a new dryer?
« Reply #6 on: September 21, 2015, 09:10:45 PM »
Samsung. Expensive, but worth it.

I've heard just as bad if not worse things about Samsung as I have LG. I'm steering clear of any Korean-made appliances...that's for sure.

Well, if one person has a bad experience, it must be shit....

I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Samsung. I've had it over a year and have not had one issue with it. Prompted cleaning and drying. It is possible that you had a lemon.

jeromedawg

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Re: Best brand name(s) for a new dryer?
« Reply #7 on: September 21, 2015, 09:19:18 PM »
Samsung. Expensive, but worth it.

I've heard just as bad if not worse things about Samsung as I have LG. I'm steering clear of any Korean-made appliances...that's for sure.

Well, if one person has a bad experience, it must be shit....

I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Samsung. I've had it over a year and have not had one issue with it. Prompted cleaning and drying. It is possible that you had a lemon.

Perhaps mine is a lemon.... it just sucks that you find out something is a lemon 5-6yrs later and when the warranty is only 1 year (and probably for good reason from LG's perspective). I thought I read somewhere that LG and Samsung have some of the worst customer ratings ever as far as appliances are concerned. Maybe stuff has changed lately. I suppose most new appliances are crap anyway that aren't built to last more than 10 years if even that close. If it were just replacing the gas valve in this case, that would be fine since that seems to be one of the more common issues. But once stuff starts going wonky with control boards or anything electronically controlled, sht gets expensive.

Yea, just wait till yours gets to 5 years and something like the control board goes out and you find they don't even make that part anymore or that it costs $400+ to replace :T If yours is an electric dryer it's probably not as big of a deal, but the fact that mine is gas makes it a real safety concern.
« Last Edit: September 21, 2015, 09:31:50 PM by jplee3 »

lbmustache

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Re: Best brand name(s) for a new dryer?
« Reply #8 on: September 21, 2015, 09:19:48 PM »
I have this: http://www.lowes.com/pd_66439-83-GTDP180EDWW_1z11pmlZ1z140u3__?productId=50309961&Ns=p_product_price|0&pl=1

It's been great, had it for a few years now and no issues. I think the one I had before that lasted over 10 years. Always had GE.

worms

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Re: Best brand name(s) for a new dryer?
« Reply #9 on: September 22, 2015, 12:43:46 AM »
Best brand? Rope'n'pegs!

Easye418

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Re: Best brand name(s) for a new dryer?
« Reply #10 on: September 22, 2015, 08:23:13 AM »
Samsung. Expensive, but worth it.

I've heard just as bad if not worse things about Samsung as I have LG. I'm steering clear of any Korean-made appliances...that's for sure.

Well, if one person has a bad experience, it must be shit....

I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Samsung. I've had it over a year and have not had one issue with it. Prompted cleaning and drying. It is possible that you had a lemon.

Perhaps mine is a lemon.... it just sucks that you find out something is a lemon 5-6yrs later and when the warranty is only 1 year (and probably for good reason from LG's perspective). I thought I read somewhere that LG and Samsung have some of the worst customer ratings ever as far as appliances are concerned. Maybe stuff has changed lately. I suppose most new appliances are crap anyway that aren't built to last more than 10 years if even that close. If it were just replacing the gas valve in this case, that would be fine since that seems to be one of the more common issues. But once stuff starts going wonky with control boards or anything electronically controlled, sht gets expensive.

Yea, just wait till yours gets to 5 years and something like the control board goes out and you find they don't even make that part anymore or that it costs $400+ to replace :T If yours is an electric dryer it's probably not as big of a deal, but the fact that mine is gas makes it a real safety concern.

1.5 years old now and running like day 1.  I actually had to use Samsung Customer Service and the tech was fantastic.  We were the actual ones causing an issue with it and he "brushed it under the rug" and claimed it was the unit so we didn't pay anything. 

I think this also has to do with how often you run it.  We run ours 2 times a week sometimes 3. 

I paid $1500 for middle of the road SS Samsung front loader washer and dryer with pedestals (before my MMM days).  I was supposed to get used units but Best Buy screwed up big time and covered $500 dollars and gave me brand new units.

Honestly, with proper usage, I can see these things lasting another 5 years+.  I have yet to have a bad experience with them.

Spork

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Re: Best brand name(s) for a new dryer?
« Reply #11 on: September 22, 2015, 08:46:30 AM »
Just for grins, I looked at the Consumer Reports recommended dryers.   Every brand seems to have models that rate both high and low... so I wouldn't judge by brand.  The ones they recommended are F'ING EXPENSIVE... so if you can find them used/scratched/dented... that might be a plus.  I'll also mention that CR doesn't always rate the full line of things... so there may be good (or bad) models that just are not in the rankings.


That said, this is what they recommended.  I'm assuming the Kenmore is made by another major brand.  I don't think Kenmore is anything but a rebranding of other appliances.

    Samsung DV56H9100EG
    Price as tested:
    $1300

    Samsung DV56H9000EP
    Price as tested:
    $1100

    LG DLEX8500V
    Price as tested:
    $1450

    Kenmore Elite 61623
    Price as tested:
    $1050

    Samsung DV50F9A8EVP
    Price as tested:
    $1100

    LG DLEX7700VE
    Price as tested:
    $1450

jeromedawg

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Re: Best brand name(s) for a new dryer?
« Reply #12 on: September 22, 2015, 09:22:57 AM »
Samsung. Expensive, but worth it.

I've heard just as bad if not worse things about Samsung as I have LG. I'm steering clear of any Korean-made appliances...that's for sure.

Well, if one person has a bad experience, it must be shit....

I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Samsung. I've had it over a year and have not had one issue with it. Prompted cleaning and drying. It is possible that you had a lemon.

Perhaps mine is a lemon.... it just sucks that you find out something is a lemon 5-6yrs later and when the warranty is only 1 year (and probably for good reason from LG's perspective). I thought I read somewhere that LG and Samsung have some of the worst customer ratings ever as far as appliances are concerned. Maybe stuff has changed lately. I suppose most new appliances are crap anyway that aren't built to last more than 10 years if even that close. If it were just replacing the gas valve in this case, that would be fine since that seems to be one of the more common issues. But once stuff starts going wonky with control boards or anything electronically controlled, sht gets expensive.

Yea, just wait till yours gets to 5 years and something like the control board goes out and you find they don't even make that part anymore or that it costs $400+ to replace :T If yours is an electric dryer it's probably not as big of a deal, but the fact that mine is gas makes it a real safety concern.

1.5 years old now and running like day 1.  I actually had to use Samsung Customer Service and the tech was fantastic.  We were the actual ones causing an issue with it and he "brushed it under the rug" and claimed it was the unit so we didn't pay anything. 

I think this also has to do with how often you run it.  We run ours 2 times a week sometimes 3. 

I paid $1500 for middle of the road SS Samsung front loader washer and dryer with pedestals (before my MMM days).  I was supposed to get used units but Best Buy screwed up big time and covered $500 dollars and gave me brand new units.

Honestly, with proper usage, I can see these things lasting another 5 years+.  I have yet to have a bad experience with them.

Yea, I mean with anything - it always runs great until it doesn't, right? As far as how long it is before that point, who knows... we weren't doing that many loads of laundry per week - maybe two at most. These units saw very light usage over the past 5 years. In fact, my dryer dries just fine... it's not the fact that it doesn't work well; it's the fact that there's a major safety issue with gas leaking. Recall or not, I think this is the kind of thing that *should* warrant a company checking out as a courtesy. Especially if this type of issue is supposedly "uncommon," they shouldn't act as if it's not an issue just because they haven't heard of it before. That's just plain irresponsible.

And based on my experience with LG, I know for a fact I am definitely not giving that company any more of my money.

jeromedawg

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Re: Best brand name(s) for a new dryer?
« Reply #13 on: September 22, 2015, 09:26:31 AM »
Just for grins, I looked at the Consumer Reports recommended dryers.   Every brand seems to have models that rate both high and low... so I wouldn't judge by brand.  The ones they recommended are F'ING EXPENSIVE... so if you can find them used/scratched/dented... that might be a plus.  I'll also mention that CR doesn't always rate the full line of things... so there may be good (or bad) models that just are not in the rankings.


That said, this is what they recommended.  I'm assuming the Kenmore is made by another major brand.  I don't think Kenmore is anything but a rebranding of other appliances.

    Samsung DV56H9100EG
    Price as tested:
    $1300

    Samsung DV56H9000EP
    Price as tested:
    $1100

    LG DLEX8500V
    Price as tested:
    $1450

    Kenmore Elite 61623
    Price as tested:
    $1050

    Samsung DV50F9A8EVP
    Price as tested:
    $1100

    LG DLEX7700VE
    Price as tested:
    $1450

LOL, what are the criterion for "highly rated" units? The # of bells and whistles and how dry they can make a piece of toast without burning it?
I bet the one thing that probably isn't factored in is durability....and that would make sense - how could they test how long one of these things might last? Psh, they just don't make stuff the same as they did before.... my parents are still using their old school washer/dryer from the 80s or 90s. Except, I'm pretty sure the dryer doesn't dry that well lol.

Spork

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Re: Best brand name(s) for a new dryer?
« Reply #14 on: September 22, 2015, 01:45:31 PM »
Just for grins, I looked at the Consumer Reports recommended dryers.   Every brand seems to have models that rate both high and low... so I wouldn't judge by brand.  The ones they recommended are F'ING EXPENSIVE... so if you can find them used/scratched/dented... that might be a plus.  I'll also mention that CR doesn't always rate the full line of things... so there may be good (or bad) models that just are not in the rankings.


That said, this is what they recommended.  I'm assuming the Kenmore is made by another major brand.  I don't think Kenmore is anything but a rebranding of other appliances.

    Samsung DV56H9100EG
    Price as tested:
    $1300

    Samsung DV56H9000EP
    Price as tested:
    $1100

    LG DLEX8500V
    Price as tested:
    $1450

    Kenmore Elite 61623
    Price as tested:
    $1050

    Samsung DV50F9A8EVP
    Price as tested:
    $1100

    LG DLEX7700VE
    Price as tested:
    $1450

LOL, what are the criterion for "highly rated" units? The # of bells and whistles and how dry they can make a piece of toast without burning it?
I bet the one thing that probably isn't factored in is durability....and that would make sense - how could they test how long one of these things might last? Psh, they just don't make stuff the same as they did before.... my parents are still using their old school washer/dryer from the 80s or 90s. Except, I'm pretty sure the dryer doesn't dry that well lol.

It is the normal consumer reports methodology.  I am not sure it qualifies as scientific, but it is at least not funded by the advertising of the products they test.

In the case of dryers, they are each scored according to "test drying performance, capacity, noise, and convenience."   They also do a survey of people that own the models to attempt to determine reliability.  (I am not sure how well that works with new dryers ... unless you just find out the hand full that are absolute lemons.  Most are going to not have issues in the first few months.)

It looks like they tested 166 electric models and 158 gas models.  It's behind a pay wall.  I just happen to have access.

matchewed

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Re: Best brand name(s) for a new dryer?
« Reply #15 on: September 22, 2015, 01:48:45 PM »
Buy yourself a used Whirlpool off Craigslist.  Get the basic dryer with the larger capacity.  Should be around $100 for one that is a few years old.  If you need a gas dryer, they are less common and might cost a little more.

Seconded, easy/cheap to repair as things go wrong. I moved into an apt recently and the landlord had some defunct washers and dryers but wouldn't fix them and said although there were hookups in the basement he was washing his hands of it. So I asked if I could repair and use them. $40 later and I have my own washer and dryer rather than using a laundromat.

jeromedawg

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Re: Best brand name(s) for a new dryer?
« Reply #16 on: September 22, 2015, 03:33:04 PM »
Buy yourself a used Whirlpool off Craigslist.  Get the basic dryer with the larger capacity.  Should be around $100 for one that is a few years old.  If you need a gas dryer, they are less common and might cost a little more.

Seconded, easy/cheap to repair as things go wrong. I moved into an apt recently and the landlord had some defunct washers and dryers but wouldn't fix them and said although there were hookups in the basement he was washing his hands of it. So I asked if I could repair and use them. $40 later and I have my own washer and dryer rather than using a laundromat.

This sounds like a good idea. I have gotten cheap/free washer and dryer units via Facebook and Craigslist but this was always on behalf of my in-laws. The washer we got for them was free from a friend. But the dryer I think cost some money. I think they bought some cheap old dryers for under $100 and one broke down on them... I think the one we got for them also broke down but it cost somewhere around $100 to fix. Kind of a pain but still cheaper than what we're dealing with currently.

Greg

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Re: Best brand name(s) for a new dryer?
« Reply #17 on: September 23, 2015, 09:09:21 AM »
I avoid fancypants appliances like the plague.  Anything with lots of buttons and LEDs, or a little screen.  A dryer, in particular, is a very simple thing and most companies ruin it with extra bells and whistles.

My gas dryer, a GE/Whirlpool basic model with knobs and a buzzer selector button, has worked great now for about 13 years.  It's literally the most basic we could buy. We may have had to order it.  I think the salesman at the store hated us.

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!