Best BOL new dryers, and ? about sensors

[spookiness]

My Kenmore is 20 y.o. and I just have a suspicious hunch that it will be the next major appliance of mine to bite the dust.

Of the low-end dryers available, what is the better bet? The Admiral that matches my washer seems to be the best price, but I don't care if they match, so I'm open to GE or others. Also, we're talking about an electric model. I'd prefer gas, but I got an estimate once on getting a connection, and it was what I thought was ridiculously expensive ($4-500) even though the darned meter is only a few feet away.

I have looked at a few and noticed that they claim "automatic" dry control, but I don't see visible sensors like I have seen in other dryers. Are the sensors themselves just internal to the machines and not visible inside the drum?

 

[frigilux]

Some automatic dry controls run on a thermostat. The 'smarter' automatic dry control has sensors in the drum, which feel for moisture in the tumbling load, then shut it off when the clothes are dry.

 

[alr2903]

go back to sears!

Spookiness, if you have used a humongous Kenmore for 20 years with a drop down door and the big lint filter in the back get you a new or newer used one. I had an electric kitchenaid for 10 yrs in our other house, and we needed a gas dryer in this house. You know how it is when you move too much upheaval and i hurriedly bought a Frigidaire gas dryer. to be honest it works very well,, and gas is much faster to dry. on the downside i dont like the front mounted lint filter at all, and everytime i drop something clean on the floor, i realize how much I miss the KenWhirlAid, drop down door. the Whirlmade dryers are bit bigger than the frigidaire too. alr2903

 

[spookiness]

alr2903.....

I do like the drop down door, but mine has the filter in the front. As long as it runs I'm keeping it.

 

[qsd-dan]

Parts wise, just about everything internally is compatible from 1965-1997. If a motor or some electrical/gas part acts up, pull parts off of a used machine that's destined to be junked. Better yet, stock up on parts now for any future repairs.

 

[mixfinder]

Same Innards

The Admiral is a Whirlpool product and so is Sears. Sensors are foolproof and measuring the air temp going out the exhaust is second best. Not much cheaper than an Admiral. Personally the politics and added fees of Sears to buy a machine they don't even make, makes my butt suck lemons.

 

[toggleswitch2]

Gentlemen, I have to disagree on some issues.

Gas and electric dryers should in theory have the same drying speed as the heat input is similar.

I have found that true sensors are easily fooled with small loads, shutting off the machine prematurely. (The wet clothes don't contact the sensor enough, which reads as "DRY".

I actually prefer the thermostatic auto-dry...it gets things bone-dry, and is much simpler mechanically. HOWEVER...sensors work better in cold basments and garages, etc. where the thermostatically contolled auto-dry may possibly never shut off. This type depends on the heat to shut off to advance the timer. In a very cold location the heat may NEVER shut off..or be very retarded in donig so.

 

[spookiness]

My existing Kenmore/Whirlpool has a sensor, and it dries perfectly every time, so I'm definitely inclined for my next dryer to have a sensor.

 

[mixfinder]

My Dear Toggles

Having lived with Maytag auto sensor dryers for nearly 40 years I find them to work perfectly. The problem is drying mixed load. You must sort by weight or else your dainties get fried waiting for the overalls to dry. I sort like colors, like weight and also by intensity of soil. What goes in the washer comes out of the dryer at the same time.

 

[toggleswitch2]

AHA!

I have had great success with my sister's TOL Maytag set that I bought for her wedding 17 years ago. The dryer, of course, has sensors.

Other brands, not so much.

 

[rinso]

I haved to agree with Toggleswitch about the effectiveness of moisture sensor versus thermostatic auto dry. Moisture sensors are ok when you have a full load of regular clothing. But they don't deal well with small loads or anything with batting like comforters or pillows. They will more than often, shut off way before the items are fully dry. Thermostatic auto dry dryers are not as easily fooled.

 

[davek]

If you have a Whirlpool built dryer with the lint filter in the front by the door, that's the 27" chassis dryer when most are 29". I think that the size is similar inside. The 27" is probably a slightly better design as the drum is supported on more rollers. They're a little rare compared to the 29". You might want to consider fixing yours if you can-I like the rigid lint filter better than the big one in the top.

 

[toggleswitch2]

Was it maytag only that offered sensor auto-dry without any other cycles programmes (i.e. timed dry?)

IIRC other mannies always had a timed "back-up" cycle.

It is interesting to note that when Uncle Sam (U.S. Gov't) got involed in tree-hugging all dryers HAD TO HAVE an auto-dry cycle. So now BOL SEARS Kenmores, for example, have a thermostatic auto-dry but no timed cycle.